The North Pennine Ring — Canal Cruising Ring

Overview

The North Pennine Ring is the northern half of the broader Pennine Ring system, looping across the Pennines via the Leeds & Liverpool and the Rochdale Canal. It runs to approximately 162 miles with around 198 locks. Most crews complete it in 18 to 21 days at a relaxed pace; a brisk fortnight is feasible for fit, experienced crews willing to put in long lock days.

Route

The ring links four canals in a loop:

• Leeds & Liverpool Canal (Leeds to Burnley / Blackburn / Wigan)
• Bridgewater Canal (Leigh / Wigan junction to Castlefield, Manchester)
• Rochdale Canal (Castlefield, Manchester, over the summit at Summit, down to Sowerby Bridge)
• Calder & Hebble Navigation (Sowerby Bridge to Wakefield)
• Aire & Calder Navigation (Wakefield to Castleford / Leeds)

Highlights

• Bingley Five Rise Staircase — the steepest staircase lock flight on the network
• Bingley Three Rise (immediately below the Five Rise)
• Foulridge Tunnel (1,640 yards) on the Leeds & Liverpool summit
• Gannow Tunnel (511 yards) at Burnley
• Burnley Embankment — three-quarters of a mile of canal carried high above the town
• Standedge Tunnel is on the South Pennine Ring, NOT this one — be sure not to confuse the two
• The Rochdale summit at Summit (over 600 ft above sea level)
• Hebden Bridge and Sowerby Bridge
• Castlefield Basin in central Manchester

Difficulty

Approximately 198 locks across 162 miles makes this one of the lockiest rings on the network. The Rochdale Canal climb out of Manchester and the descent into Sowerby Bridge is famously hard work — short pounds, heavy locks, and limited services. The Wigan flight (21 locks, sometimes counted as 23) on the Leeds & Liverpool is another major piece of work. The Bingley Five Rise is staircase locking and requires lock-keeper supervision in season. The Calder & Hebble has handspike-operated paddles on some locks (a windlass alone is not always enough — bring a handspike). The Aire & Calder is a wide commercial waterway with large mechanised locks operated by lock keepers in published hours. No tidal sections on the standard route, though the Aire & Calder feeds into tidal waters east of Castleford.

Suitable for

Experienced crews only. Not recommended for first-time hirers. Three crew minimum is realistic — four makes the Rochdale and Wigan much more pleasant. Allow three weeks for a relaxed cruise, or a hard fortnight if you are confident.

Where to start

Common hire bases include Skipton, Silsden, Sowerby Bridge, Wigan (off-ring on the Leigh Branch) and the Trent & Mersey / Cheshire Ring bases (joining via the Bridgewater). Skipton and Sowerby Bridge are the most common launch points.

Practicalities

• Stoppages and pinch points: the Rochdale Canal is the single biggest scheduling risk — sections through Manchester and over the summit are subject to lock-keeper hours, water-supply restrictions and frequent stoppages. Always check current CRT notices before committing.
• Wigan flight queues in summer; allow most of a day.
• The Calder & Hebble has wider-than-narrowboat-length locks but several locks on the system are short — check that your boat (typically max around 57'6" / 58'0") will fit before booking.
• Manchester urban sections (lower Rochdale, Ashton vicinity) — moor only at Castlefield and other established visitor moorings overnight.
• Mobile signal is patchy on the Rochdale summit and through the Aire valley cuttings.

Best time of year

June to early September is the only realistic window — the Rochdale operates on shorter lock-keeper hours outside the main season and is liable to closure. Avoid the shoulder months unless you are confident with the Rochdale's current operating notices. Winter cruising over the Pennines is not feasible.