Walking along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal

The canal is an ideal place for short walks, well served by bus routes and railway stations. 34 walks have been waymarked on and around the canal, clearly signposted and documentated in specialist guides available from the local British Waterways office, the local Tourist Information Centres and local libraries.

There are some limits to towpath access in the Liverpool area. Keys are available from British Waterways (Tel: 01257 481054).

The full 127-mile length of the main line has achieved some renown as a long distance walk in its own right, from the banks of the Mersey in Liverpool crossing superb scenery to the very centre of Leeds.

Waterscape.com readers David and Heather Gibbs walked the whole of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in 31 stages over five years. They report: “Most towpath journeys were between approximately two and eight miles and depended on accessibility of starting points and, where possible, availability of convenient public transport for either the outward part of the section being covered or the return to the location at which the car had been parked.

“It is clear from the walk between the two cities of Liverpool and Leeds that the industrial landscape would not be recognised by anyone who knew the canal side 40 years ago.

“The overall impression gained was that this is a very worthwhile walk. During the five years it took to complete fully, we did not come across any trouble.

“There were a few towpath closures along the way, but we got around this by walking through some rather beautiful fields alongside the canal or along some adjacent paths. Friendly walkers will invariably acknowledge others with ‘morning' or ‘afternoon' greetings.

“At many times, the walk can be extremely peaceful and we walked for long distances in the country without actually seeing anyone else.

“The condition of the towpaths varied between tarmac and mud. They were generally in good condition.

“Throughout the length of the towpath, you will see some wonderful wildlife, such as swans nesting on the towpath and ‘landing' on the water, swifts darting across the water feeding on insects. At one point, we even saw a kingfisher.”