Inland waterways in the United Kingdom

Hiring a (narrow) boat and travelling part of the extensive canals and rivers of England, Scotland and Wales is a great way to see the British countryside and discover hidden gems in the towns and cities.

Understand

Waterways were the original transport highway in the United Kingdom, with trade on some rivers pre-dating the Romans.

As natural rivers did not in all instances serve all of the growing industrial areas, the 18th and 19th centuries saw the creation of artificial 'cuts' and canals, as the Industrial Revolution continued.

Although the canal network was rapidly overtaken by the rail network for much trade from the mid 19th Century, it remained in commercial use well into the mid 20th century, before it declined. Today some canals have been restored for pleasure-boat use by travellers, and although rare, you may occasionally still see a commercial vessel operating.

The modern network in England consists of a series of linked waterways (both river and canal), some isolate navigable rivers and the Norfolk Broads.

Scotland has three main canals which are in separate parts of the country, and several navigable tidal river sections and sea lochs.

Although not considered by some as waterways, a series of large "drainage" dykes and channels in the Fens between the River Nene and River Wissey (The Middle Level Navigations), and to the west of Boston in Lincolnshire (the Witham Navigable Drains) are considered navigable. The primary purpose of these channels is land drainage.

Major waterways

Rivers

The River Thames flows through London (as well as Oxford , Reading, Henley-on-Thames, Marlow and Windsor), beyond London, are Dartford, Tilbury, Gravesend and Canvey Island. East of this the Thames becomes an expansive estuary, with a different (more coastal) character and atmosphere. The tidal section of the Thames (Foulness to Teddington Locks) is about 111 km, the non-tidal navigable section (Teddington to Lechlade-on-Thames) is 200 km and the non-navigable section is 35 km.
The River Severn becomes a large estuary near Bristol where it is spanned by the Severn Bridge and the Second Severn Crossing. It is tidal as far as Massiemore (3 km NW of Gloucester). Continuing upstream, it passes through Tewkesbury and is navigable as far as Stourport-on-Severn.
River Ouse is 84 km in length and is navigable along its entire length. The river starts at the confluence of the Ouse Gill Beck and the River Ure near the village of Great Ouseburn and after passing through York and Selby discharges into the Humber Estuary. The river is tidal as far as the village of Naburn, a village about 5 km south of York.
The Great Ouse rises about 8 km west of Brackley, Northamptonshire and discharges into the Wash at Kings Lynn. It is 230nbsp;km in length of which the lower 120 km are navigable. The navigable section starts at Bedford and passes through Huntingdon, and on to Earith. Between Earith and Kings Lynn it has been rebuilt as a dead straight waterway.
The River Nene is 169 km in length. It rises near Arbury Hill in Northamptonshire (altitude about 150 m) and is navigable for 142 km from Northampton (altitude about 60 m). It is tidal for its last 42 km (from Peterborough) after which it dischrages into the Wash.
The River Trent is 298 km in length, has its source at Biddulph Moor in Staffordshire moorlands (altitude 280 m)and discharges at Trent Falls where it joins with the Ouse to form the Humber Estuary. The tidal section of the river stretches inland from the Trent Falls for 80 to Cromwell Lock, about 5 km downstream from Newark-on-Trent. The non-tidal navigable section is 75 km in length, passing though Nottingham to Shardlow. In earlier years the navigable section of the river had extended for another 35 km upstream as far as Burton upon Trent, but with the opening of the Mersey and Trent Canal, navigation on this section of the river ceased. Upstream from Burton, the river is non-navigable.

Canals

England

The Grand Union Canal links the Thames with Birmingham. It was formed in 1929 by the merger of the Grand Junction Canal (built 1793-1805) and the Regent's Canal (built 1812-1816).
Kennet & Avon, in Southern England, links the Thames at Reading with the River Avon near Bath. The River Avon can then be used to reach Bristol.
Basingstoke Canal, opened in 1792 in Surrey and Hampshire originally linked Basingstoke with the Wey Navigation (between Woking and Weybridge). In 1932 the Greywell Tunnel, close to Odiham fell in, reducing the navigatable part of the canal which now passes through Woking, Frimley, Farnborough, Aldershot, Fleet and Odiham to 49.8 km.

Scotland

Caledonian Canal links Inverness and Fort William in Scotland, down the length of the Great Glen. Only one third of the 60 mile length was dug, as the canal links Loch Ness, Loch Oich and Loch Lochy. The canal can take boats up to 150ft long and 35ft wide.
Crinnan Canal, a smaller inland canal is a useful shortcut for yachts, avoiding a long sea voyage around a peninsula in western Argyll. The canal can take boats up to 88ft long and 20ft wide.
The Union Canal and the Forth & Clyde Canal are linked by the Falkirk Wheel. Together they are 66 miles long and take boats up to 63ft long and 19ft wide.

Wales

Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, first opened for navigation in 1799 and eventually linked Newport to Brecon following the course of the Usk River. Parts of the canal fell into disuse from 1850 onwards and was formally abandoned in 1962. Many sections have since been restored and in particular the towpath along the 53 km section from Cwmbran to Brecon is easily traversed.

Northern Ireland

Shannon–Erne Waterway, a 63 km canal linking the Shannon River (Republic of Ireland) with the River Erne in Northern Ireland. The original canal was completed in 1860 but was a financial failure and was abandoned in 1869. Between 1988 and 1994 the canal was restored for recreational purposes as a joint project funded by both governments.

See

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Waterway attractions in the UK

52.14253-0.914931 The Canal Museum, Stoke Bruerne Bridge Road, Stoke Bruerne, Towcester, NN12 7SE, ☏ +44 1604 862229, stokebruerne@canalrivertrust.org.uk. A museum originally established in 1963, which now forms part of a nationally recognised collection relating to the English Canal network. Adults - £4.75, Child (6-15) - £3.10. (updated Dec 2018)
51.861753-2.2525682 National Waterways Museum, Llanthony Warehouse, Gloucester, ☏ +44 1452 318200. Explore the rich heritage of canals and rivers in this country. Investigate historic craft and explore Llanthony Yard. (updated Nov 2016)
56.0005-3.84193 Falkirk Wheel (Half hourly buses from Falkirk town centre, or a good walk from the Falkirk "Camelon" railway station. You can also cycle along the Union Canal from Edinburgh - the route (about 50 km) is part of the National Cycle Network Route 754). Built in 2001 to reconnect the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal, it is the world's only rotating boat lift. Boat trips up on the Wheel take about an hour. Boat trips cost £8.95 adults, £4.95 children, £7.95 concessions. Free entry to the visitor centre / cafe / gift shop.
51.53418-0.120214 London Canal Museum, 12-13 New Wharf Road, London, N1 9RT, ☏ +44 20 7713-0836. Museum on the history of London's canals. £6 Adults, £5 Concessions, £3.50 Children, £14 Family. (updated Jun 2020)