February half term on the canals

With the kids off school for a week, you might be in need of some inspiration when it comes to great family days out. Fortunately there are lots of exciting attractions on the canals and rivers that are running children’s events and activities this half term. Waterscape rounds up the best of what’s going on. Click the links to find out more.

Swan pedalo canal challenge for charity

David Walliams swam the length of the River Thames. Blue Peter’s Helen Skelton travelled to the South Pole. And now two BBC Radio Leeds presenters are taking on their own epic challenge in aid of Sport Relief. Katherine Hannah and Adam Pope are attempting to travel the entire length of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in a pedalo shaped like a swan.

Keep fit on the canals in 2012

When it comes to making New Year’s Resolutions, getting more exercise must be high on many people’s lists. And that’s hardly surprising, considering all the extra food and drink we often indulge in over Christmas. However, if you want to stick to your new regime beyond January, it’s important to choose a form of exercise that you really enjoy. Going to the gym can get boring and repetitive for many people, which can be a big factor in causing them to give up. However, if you try getting out and about on the canals and rivers instead, you might just find an activity you enjoy so much you actually want to exercise. Exercising on the waterways means you get fresh air, meet friendly people, and there’s always something new to see.

Christmas quiz 2011

Are you an expert on canals and Christmas? Test your knowledge with our annual Christmas quiz and win a Cool Canals book.

Christmas presents for canal lovers

Do you spend hours fretting over what to get your loved ones for Christmas each year? There’s no need to worry this December as we’ve decided to take all of the stress out of Christmas shopping for you. Take a look at our Christmas present ideas for the canal enthusiast in your life and get them something they really want this year.

A very merry canal Christmas

Father Christmas doesn’t just travel by sleigh – this December he’ll be paying a visit to canals and rivers up and down the country by boat. In fact, judging from waterscape’s big list of Christmas events, he’ll have a packed schedule. It’s a good thing he has magical powers, or he’d never be able to fit everything in!

Cycling and walking matters in London

If you’re a regular visitor who makes use of the canal towpaths in and around London the chances are you’ve already met Dick Vincent, British Waterways’ towpath ranger. Dick’s becoming a well-known face on the towpaths as he, along with a team of volunteer rangers, strives to make London’s towpaths more accessible to cyclists and walkers.

Winter canal activities

The weather has cooled down and the crowds have dispersed, but that’s no reason to turn your back on the canals until spring. Winter waterways have a charm all of their own, which the fair-weather canal-lovers are missing out on. There’s no better time of year to have your local canal all to yourself, so wrap up warm and get out there with waterscape’s guide to winter canal activities.

Introducing the Canal & River Trust

In 2012, British Waterways’ canals and rivers in England and Wales will be transferred to the care of a new waterways charity, called the Canal & River Trust.

Fundraising for the Canal & River Trust

If you are a regular canal or river user, then you may well have heard that big changes are afoot for the waterways. From April 2012, British Waterways’ navigations will be transferred to the care of a brand new waterways charity - the Canal & River Trust. Although the charity will still have a funding contract with the Government, it will also be able to generate income through fundraising.

Paddle power on the canal

With the main boating season behind us, the autumn months are the perfect time to take to the water in a canoe or kayak and see our canals and rivers from a brand new angle.

Canal Open Days 2011/12

Each year British Waterways carries out a winter maintenance programme on its historic network of canals and rivers. The programme, which has been in the planning stages since March, is vital to keep our 200-year old waterway network in working order.

Cooking on a narrowboat: Boaters’ recipes

Travelling the canals in a narrowboat is a wonderfully relaxing way to see the country and many boaters do not want the stress of cooking elaborate meals, especially if they are on their annual holidays. However, cooking on a narrowboat doesn’t have to be a hassle.

The dangers of blue-green algae

In some parts of the country in warm weather, waterway users are faced with a potentially very serious growth in the water - blue-green algae, which can sometimes be toxic. With many people understandably concerned, the British Waterways environment team recieves lots of queries about the dangers and how to spot it. In particular, people want to know how to tell it apart from duckweed, which can also grow out of control in warm weather, but which is not toxic. So, the enviroment team have provided waterscape with the information you need to protect yourself.

Ten of the best canal blogs

Those that cruise the 200-year-old canal network often naturally have an appreciation of history and enjoy a break from the fast pace of the modern world. However, that doesn’t mean that they’re out of touch with the digital age – on the contrary, many of them choose to publish accounts of their travels on their own blogs.

Safety matters

We’re all familiar with the regular ‘health and safety halts fun’ stories that crop up in our newspapers on a regular basis. Health and safety policies for many have come to represent the nanny state full of needless red tape and box-tickers. Who isn’t familiar with the phrase ‘it’s health and safety gone mad’?

Canoeing on the canals

We all know that Britain’s canals and rivers are home to narrowboats, barges, wildlife and its spectators, walkers, cyclists and those just looking for some peace and quiet. However, not as many people are aware of how many canoeists make use of our waterways.

More top motorway stop-offs

Stopping at a motorway service station isn’t exactly the most enjoyable start to your holiday – the food is bad, the view is even worse, and there’s rarely any green space to stretch your legs. But by driving just a few miles from the motorway, you can be at a great canal or riverside attraction, and have a much more enjoyable break from your drive. Last year, waterscape brought you a selection of the best motorway stop-offs, and now we’re offering you even more ideas to make those long journey bearable.

Canal photography competition

As we prepare to transfer our canals and rivers to a New Waterways Charity in 2012, we’re going to say goodbye to waterscape and welcome a brand new website designed to meet the needs of the new organisation and its stakeholders.

Handy apps for canal users

The canals might be historic structures that provide an insight into how Britain was 200 years ago, but that doesn’t mean that cutting-edge technology can’t help us to enjoy them. With the advent of smartphones, there are a whole host of useful applications – or apps – that can help waterway users with anything from finding their way to learning new skills.

From Bradley Workshops to Glastonbury Festival

The life story of a lock gate

After more than 20 years in use, the lock gates at Maunsel Lock on the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal had reached the end of their working life. But when they were craned out of the canal last month, it was not the end of their story. Instead, the gates are heading to Worthy Farm to be reused at the world-famous Glastonbury Festival.

Access for all on the canals

The UK’s canal network is an asset that should be enjoyed by as many people as possible. Waterscape takes a look at some of the organisations committed to ensuring that people with disabilities can enjoy all that the waterways have to offer.

Dog walking on the waterways

The canals and rivers provide many a popular route for walkers, so it is not surprising that this includes large numbers of dog walkers. Whether you’re after a city-centre green corridor, a long rural walk, or a short stop-off on a car journey, the waterways are a great place for you and your four-legged friend to get some exercise.

Cruising with confidence

Britain’s canals and rivers are home to many charities who deliver a wide range of services including training, education, respite and work experience. This month Waterscape speaks to ReachOut, a charity based at Nash Mills on the Grand Union Canal, which works with young people who have learning difficulties to inspire them and help them reach their full potential.

Keeping the canals full

Britain’s canals and rivers are enjoyed by millions of people each year who each find their own way of enjoying the waterway network. Whether they use the towpaths to cycle along, use the navigations to cruise along or simply to stroll along and spot the wildlife there’s something central to everyone’s experience and enjoyment of the waterways – water.

Water control at British Waterways

Over the past decade British Waterways has made giant leaps in the technology which allows it to track and manage water levels. When combined with the expertise of well-practiced staff, British Waterways can keep restrictions and closures on our canals and rivers to a minimum using a variety of techniques.

Canal & River Trust timeline

Over the past two years British Waterways has been moving steadily towards transferring its canals and rivers to the ownership of a new waterways charity, the Canal & River Trust. Here we track the key moments in its progress.

Living aboard and treading the boards

Your local canal might not be the first place you’d think of going to watch a piece of theatre, but for the Mikron Theatre Company, travelling the country on a narrowboat is the ideal way to bring their work to audiences across the country. With just four performers, and minimal props and sets, the shows are easily moved from place to place, and are performed in waterside pubs, beer gardens, village halls, marinas, museums and other unlikely locations. Now in its 40th year, Mikron has survived the near-disastrous loss of all its formal funding thanks to support from its loyal fans, who are determined the company will keep touring the canals for many years to come.

Make the most of spring on the canals

The combination of our annual winter stoppages drawing to a close, the sun making its debut appearance of the year and the looming long weekends mean that Britain’s canals and rivers are going to be a fantastic place to escape to over the next month.

Win a Richlow guidebook

We all know about the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, Anderton Boat Lift and Falkirk Wheel. When choosing somewhere to take your narrowboat holiday, it's easy to look for the big attractions and make them the focus of your travels. However, the draw of these magnificent structures can mean that while some areas of our waterway network are always busy, some delightful stretches of canal don't get much of a look-in.

Easter activities on the canals

With the children off school for two weeks and a four-day weekend for the adults, the Easter holidays are a great time to get out and enjoy a fun family activity at your local canal or river. Whether it’s a boat trip, an Easter egg hunt, or a chance to see wildlife, waterscape’s guide to Easter events offers a selection of ideas for keeping the whole family entertained.

Digging and the Droitwich Canals

As British Waterways moves towards charitable status, volunteers are going to play an increasingly important role in the management and execution of caring for our inland waterways. In addition to relying on funding, major projects will also rely on volunteer power, which will be crucial to the continued maintenance and restoration of the canals.

Your perfect day out by the canal

We’ve had a great response to our Cool Canals competition on waterscape with dozens of entries outlining what our readers would class as the perfect day the canals.

Look to the waterways for Mother’s Day inspiration

The UK’s canals and rivers offer tranquillity, beautiful scenery and fascinating attractions – all of which makes them the ideal place to spend some quality time with your mother this Mother’s Day. If you’re stuck for ideas, try one of our top waterside treats for mums.

Spring walks

As the weather turns milder and we begin to see the countryside coming to life after the winter, many of us will feel the urge to get out of the house, go walking and enjoy the great outdoors. In spring, flowers are blooming, wildlife is abundant and it’s not too hot or too cold – in short, it’s the ideal time to head out for a walk beside your local canal or river.

200 years of Standedge Tunnel

Two hundred years after opening, Standedge Tunnel on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, will be marking its anniversary with a special Bicentenary event over three days in honour of this extraordinary feat of engineering.

A visit to a new canal adoption scheme

A stretch of the Regent’s Canal in East London has been adopted by volunteers from Barclaycard. Waterscape goes to meet them on their first day at work on the canal bank.

On its whey to a canal basin near you

For the past four and a half years Britain’s canals and rivers have been receiving their recommended daily allowance of calcium courtesy of the Cheese Boat, which cruises up and down the waterways selling specialist Welsh Cheeses.

Towpath Tidy 2011

Every year British Waterways holds its Towpath Tidy campaign, inviting people to take part and spruce up the country’s canals and rivers in time for the start of the boating season.

Life as a volunteer waterway ranger

Volunteers have always played a vital part in helping British Waterways to preserve and promote the canals, and their work looks set to become even more valuable as the organisation prepares for the transition into a charitable trust in 2012. Waterscape interviews Dek Owen, a volunteer waterway ranger at Audlem, Cheshire about his work and what he gets out of volunteering.

Sightseeing at a canal stoppage

Waterscape editor, Odette Williamson, visits the stoppage open day on the Grand Union Canal at Marsworth to see what the bottom of the canal really looks like.

A writer's journey along the River Aire

When you think about travel books, all kinds of exciting and exotic locations might spring to mind. However, Yorkshire writer Andy Owens decided that it would be far more interesting to explore the hidden corners of his own county. And so he began an epic walk along the entire length of the River Aire, chronicled in his new book Walking on Aire. Waterscape interviews Andy and offers you the chance to win a copy of the book.

Get fit on the canals

When it comes to making New Year’s Resolutions, getting more exercise must be high on many people’s lists. But why spend lots of money on a gym membership so that you can pound away on the same old treadmill week after week? Instead, try getting fit in the great outdoors at your local canal or river.

A year of waterscape statistics

At waterscape we take a huge interest in how our readers use the site to find out about canals and rivers. Using Google analytics we can find out all sorts of details about what people are looking at, how long they are looking at it and how they navigate around the site.

Winter walking

If you need to escape your visiting relatives or work off all the treats from your Christmas party, then try heading out for a winter walk at your local canal or river. The weather may be bad, but a brisk walk could be just the thing to leave you feeling energised and invigorated, and canal towpaths often have the advantage of being less muddy than other routes.

Canals for the Community – a project for Stoke on Trent

The British Waterways ‘Canals for the Community’ project runs until June 2011 and focuses on 17 kilometres of the Trent & Mersey and Caldon Canals, which run through the heart of Stoke on Trent.

Canals and rivers in fiction

The canals and rivers of the UK are a major part of the landscape and character of the country, so it’s not surprising that they have played important roles in some of our favourite books. Here’s our selection of good reads featuring the waterways.

Canalside properties for sale

Ever dreamed of living in a canalside cottage?

Looking back on the Bow Backs

The recent reopening of City Mill Lock after 40 years has brought back memories for Ed Fox, head of communications for British Waterways. Here he recalls his first visit to the Bow Back Rivers a decade ago and re-visits some of the pictures he commissioned in 2002 from ex-Guardian photographer Roger Bamber.

Ancient trees and woodland by the canals

What could be nicer on a hot summer’s day than seeking shade under a big leafy tree and watching the canal boats float by?

Top 10 motorway stop-offs

If you’re going on holiday in the UK this year, visiting distant relatives or just fancy a change of scenery there are plenty of canal and riverside attractions just a stone’s throw away from the country’s motorways to break up your journey.

Take a walking holiday on the canals and rivers

Britain’s canal and river network provides a unique viewpoint of the country and it's not just the boaters who can make the most of the opportunities on offer. Walkers are well catered for by the canals with mile upon mile of canal towpaths, waterside pubs, cafes and leisure facilities within easy reach.

Special offer for Canal Boat magazine

Special offer for Waterscape customers. Take out a year’s digital subscription to Canal Boat magazine for just £14.

Weird and wonderful canal boats

Although you may not think it to look at them, narrowboats and barges can be used for all sorts of unusual purposes. From floating cheese shops to bike-selling barges, the simple canal boat can come in many different guises.

New cycling guide for London

The London Cycling Guide is a new guide for London cyclists, and waterscape customers can get 20% off the recommended price.

Celebrating the legacy of Tom Rolt

2010 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Tom Rolt – one of the saviours of the inland waterways network, and co-founder of the Inland Waterways Association (IWA).

My day with the towpath ranger

Ever wondered what it’s like to be a towpath ranger? Melissa Ezechukwu spent the day on the Regent’s Canal with Joe Young, London’s towpath ranger, to find out.

Canal holiday guides

Deciding where to take your canal holiday is an important decision. So don't rush it! Like your boating holiday itself, this is something to take your time over.

Where to take your canal holiday

The UK canal network is so vast that sometimes deciding where to take your canal holiday can be a pretty daunting task.

The pleasures of a canal holiday

With a unique mixture of bucolic countryside, industrial heritage, and sprawling urban scenery, it’s no wonder the UK canal network is undergoing something of a renaissance.

Cost-conscious boating in the credit crunch

Times are tough, but there are simple ways to save money behind the tiller. Careful and considerate boating can lead to cost-savings for boaters and help to keep the waterways in a good condition. A win win situation for all!

Save money and have fun: visit a canal

It’s traditional to feel the pinch at the start of a new year, but in 2009 we’re all more aware than ever of the need to save money and keep costs down wherever possible. Amidst this mood of economic uncertainty, our canals and rivers are emerging as ideal destinations for cheap days out.

Q&A: introducing...

Get the lowdown on people you'll see out and about on the towpath with the waterscape.com Q&A.

Free days out by canals and rivers

Everyone’s purse strings are a little tight around this time of year – but it’s still possible to get out and enjoy the winter scenery without spending a small fortune. Simply head for the canals and take to the towpaths for a family outing that’s free, fun and quite possibly educational as well.

21st Century canals: the modern benefits of a historic canal network

They were built for cargo-carrying narrowboats, they form attractive pathways through the countryside for walking and cycling, wildlife flourishes along them and anglers love to visit them, but that’s not all. In the 21st century we are discovering new and innovative uses for the quiet canals of our industrial past.

Foxton Locks: raising funds and boats

Foxton Locks on the Grand Union Canal has been attracting crowds for a variety of reasons for almost 200 years now. Once part of a major thoroughfare for industrial Victorian Britain, today the locks are one of the most visited attractions in the East Midlands.

An interview with Sonia Rolt

The table in Sonia Rolt’s range-warmed, beamed parlour is overflowing with invitations and letters. This year marks the centenary of the birth of her late husband, industrial heritage pioneer Tom Rolt, and Sonia is utterly delighted and rather surprised to find herself at the centre of celebrations.

Top tips for winter boating

Ice on the canal, freezing pipes and slippery surfaces - boating in winter is a whole new ball game. Stay safe with these top ten tips for boating in colder weather.

K&A 200

Join us in celebrating the bicentenary of the Kennet & Avon Canal in 2010.

It’s far from grim up north

The temporary partial closure of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal has bought out the resilient side of hire boat companies and holiday-makers alike. Not one holiday has been cancelled and those due to take a canal holiday up north this summer are in for a real treat.

Mon & Brec 200

2012 sees the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal celebrate its 200th anniversary of opening with a year-long programme of activities and events.