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The English canals are a major part of the United Kingdom's inland waterways. They became important during the Industrial Revolution. Early canals contoured around hills and valleys whilst later ones went straighter. Flights of locks took them over hills, and across valleys on taller and longer aqueducts and through hills in longer and deeper tunnels.
Despite a period of abandonment, the English Canals have in recent years seen increasing use, with derelict canals being reopened, and some new routes constructed. Most canals are maintained by the Canal & River Trust but several are still privately owned. The canals can accommodate boats with a length of up to 70 feet and were originally built to carry goods until the railways offered speedier travel.
Some canals are larger than average and allow use for boats up to 230 feet in length. One purpose-built ship canal is the 36-mile long Manchester Ship Canal. On opening in 1894 it was the largest ship canal in the world and permitted ships up to 600 feet to navigate its route.
There are now 2,200miles of navigable canals and rivers throughout the United Kingdom. This network is navigable in its entirety by narrowboats 7-foot wide and 57 foot long. Any boats longer than this will not fit in some of the locks.
Despite a period of abandonment, the English Canals have in recent years seen increasing use, with derelict canals being reopened, and some new routes constructed. Most canals are maintained by the Canal & River Trust but several are still privately owned. The canals can accommodate boats with a length of up to 70 feet and were originally built to carry goods until the railways offered speedier travel.
Some canals are larger than average and allow use for boats up to 230 feet in length. One purpose-built ship canal is the 36-mile long Manchester Ship Canal. On opening in 1894 it was the largest ship canal in the world and permitted ships up to 600 feet to navigate its route.
There are now 2,200miles of navigable canals and rivers throughout the United Kingdom. This network is navigable in its entirety by narrowboats 7-foot wide and 57 foot long. Any boats longer than this will not fit in some of the locks.
Brian Fletcher and Isabel Fletcher have travelled extensively on the English Canals and Rivers in their own narrowboats but mostly in Snow Mountain shown below.