Taking a walk along the Leeds Liverpool Canal towpath in Bank Newton last week, I enjoyed pausing to take some photographs of the canal locks and their wonderful setting. It is always a joy to potter along the canal towpath, to watch canal boats travelling through the locks in Bank Newton and to marvel at the feat of engineering that the Leeds Liverpool Canal is.
The Leeds Liverpool Canal is a whopping 127 miles (204 km) long and has 91 locks on the main line - 5 of them are in Bank Newton. Work started on the construction of the canal in 1773 when the first section was built between Bingley in West Yorkshire and Skipton in North Yorkshire. It wasn't until 1791 that construction work began on the section south west from Gargrave (North Yorkshire) to Barrowford (Lancashire), along which Bank Newton and East Marton sit. The canal took more than 50 years to complete in its entirety. That really is dedication.
No longer used for the transportation of coal, like in its hey day, today the canal is a delightful waterway network to travel along by barge, or to enjoy exploring on foot or by bicycle. Please remember your bells, folks! We think it is a hidden gem and last week's walk made me think about the canal again with fresh eyes.
Here are a few photographs of the Bank Newton Locks and canal towpath. They were taken just a few minutes walk away from Newton Grange Farm and Holiday Cottages. Holiday guests are welcome to walk through our field to join the canal towpath, just a minute away from the holiday cottages. I hope they will inspire you to visit and take a walk along the canal for yourself soon.
