If you’re thinking of booking a long weekend away in the UK to make the most of autumn, there’s one beautiful canal that is well worth having on your radar
Temperatures are dropping, cosy jumpers are being dusted off and pubs are preparing for hearty roast season; autumn is nearly here and it’s the perfect excuse to plan an idyllic staycation.
While some people mourn the end of summer, others are already embracing the cooler months and readying themselves to enjoy that crisp autumnal air and peak walking season thanks to the leafy landscapes and beautiful trails.
If you’re thinking of making a long weekend of it, a canal boat can be a great way to spend a few weeks leisurely exploring some of the UK’s prettiest scenery, with plenty of brilliant pubs and villages to discover along the way.
One canal that needs to be on your radar? The Calder & Hebble in West Yorkshire. Measuring 21.5 miles and boasting 28 locks, this beautiful route is part of the South Pennine ring along with the Huddersfield Broad and Narrow Canals and the Ashton Canal.
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It once served the heart of an industrial region and so has a reputation for being more of a transit route, but in fact its countryside location means that there are a few beautiful spots to explore along the way, not to mention that it’s tipped to be one of the more ‘peaceful’ spots for those who want to enjoy the autumn views.
The canal also makes for a great base from which you can go exploring the Pennines, whether you want to take on one of the countless walking trails, or fancy a spot of fishing. For canal enthusiasts, there are some unusual lever-operated locks (in fact, you’ll need a handspike as well as a windglass to operate them!).
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Canalside towns include Brighouse and Sowerby Bridge where you’ll find plenty of local shops, restaurants and cosy pubs. The area also boasts heaps of cycling paths, conservation areas and walking routes whether you want to while away an hour or so, or fancy donning your hiking boots to take on a challenge.
It’s therefore no surprise that the experts over at Drifters Waterways Holidays have named it one of the best leafy canals to cruise along this autumn.
Their team explained: “The 21-mile long leafy Calder & Hebble Navigation links Wakefield with Sowerby Bridge. On a short break from Drifters’ base at Sowerby Bridge, canal boat holiday-markers can cruise to Shepley Bridge and back. The route takes boaters through wooded valleys and the historic towns of Elland and Brighouse. The journey there and back travels 22 miles, passes through 32 locks (16 each way) and takes around 16 hours.”
It’s worth noting that the canal is subject to the changes in water level so there can sometimes be certain canal restrictions. You can find out more about these and the Calder & Hebble navigation in general on canalrivertrust.org.uk.
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