Industrial Yorkshire

From Skipton the canal follows the River Aire and although there are no locks there are plenty of swing bridges to keep us occupied.   Between Skipton and Bingley there are 20 of these bridges, most of which need opening manually by pushing at one end.

The swing bridge, a familiar sight on this stretch of the canal.

In 2006 we came to Skipton on one of our first boating holidays so this part of the canal is familiar.  It's been interesting to look back at our log to compare notes.  On that first trip we travelled for long days to complete the return trip in a fortnight but this time our journey has been at a more leisurely pace.  

At the top of the famous Bingley 5 Rise Locks we stopped for a few days and avoided travelling in the wet and windy weather.   The 5 locks, with each lock emptying directly into the one below, form the highest staircase lock in Britain.  We teamed up with narrow-boaters Trev and Sandra for the 60 feet descent with lock-keeper Barry in charge.   Barry was awarded the MBE for his work at the Bingley 5 Rise so we were in good hands.   The lesser known Bingley 3 Rise took both boats down another 30 feet. 

Bingley 5 Rise Locks, the white railings are on the bridges over each lock.

The canal took us through industrial Yorkshire towns with their vast stone mill buildings.  Salt's Mill flanks the canal at Saltaire and nearby in Shipley there are restored mill buildings and warehouses which now have modern day use, mainly as offices.  We moored up at Shipley and introduced Bess and Brin to Trev and Sandra's 2 dogs, an alsatian and a patterdale/yorkshire terrier cross who is half the size of Bess!  

We continued to travel with Trev and Sandra sharing the work at locks and swing-bridges.  I was especially glad of a hand with the swing bridges which are heavier in the towns.  Dock Swing Bridge was unusual.  After dropping the road barriers I had to go back onto the bridge and use my windlass to operate the turning gear.  It felt odd to be standing in the middle of the bridge turning the windlass as the bridge pivoted round me.

Rodley is the last safe mooring before Leeds and as space was limited we breasted up (tied the boats side by side) with Trev and Sandra.  After leaving Rodley we passed through picturesque stretch of canal with woodlands and views over the River Aire.  It's hard to believe this area is unsafe for mooring but apparently it's proximity to a local housing estate makes the canal an attraction.  As we entered Leeds the canal became busy with lunchtime  joggers and near Leeds railway station we came to the end of the Leeds Liverpool Canal.  River Lock took us onto the River Aire and the start of the Aire and Calder Navigation. 


Our journey between Skipton and River Lock, Leeds