The Last but Not Least Leg Back to Our Huddersfield

After 2 days at Slawit for rest and laundry we set of down the last 23 locks to Huddersfield.

These locks and canl pounds are about the worst on the system. We always have problems with very stiff paddle gear, missing or not working paddles, low water, silted up canal beds and other sundry problems.

The fact is that we have no option but to approach Huddersfield from this direction as Invicta is too long for the Huddersfield Broad and Calder and Hebble canals.


The little used sanity station in Slaithwaite at lock 21E in the centre of the village









Approaching lock 12E we found a large crew of builders and equipment.







They had to move their work boat from the lock so we could get in.








They were installing the controversial and utterly useless new bollards that are appearing all around the canal system. The money would be better spent elsewhere on the Huddersfield canal.






Passing Milnsbridge by the side of the Four Horseshoes pub.












We actually met 2 boats today. This one at lock 4E Longroyd Bridge was a hire boat and the crew told us of problems down in the tunnels where they had been held up for hours. They said that there was no water in the canal.





The first of the 2 new tunnels that goes under Sellers engineering works. There are plans to open this tunnel up and create a marina but nothing seems to happening at the moment.













At the second tunnel below lock 2E we found an extremely low water level. We had no choice but to let the water through from the pound above and advise BW what we had done otherwise we would have been stuck.





Passing through the Huddersfield University campus very near to home







The final few yards with the old converted warehouse and crane to the left. The bridge carries the main Wakefield road out of Huddersfield.








A few yards later and we are back on our home mooring.













The totals for our 4 month tour are as follows:-

Mileage 576.5

No of Locks 652

Cruising Hours 318

Average Speed MPH 1.81


Since we have owned Invicta we have travelled just under 8000 miles, passed through just under 6000 locks


Thanks for looking at our blog. We hope you have enjoyed following our adventures around the canal system. Perhaps it will make someone want to try out canal boating for themselves or to visit some of the places we have been too.

So its a final goodbye from Brian and Sue.