Walking
Whether you're an ambler, rambler, long-distance hiker, jogger, dog walker, wheelchair user, or just a gongoozler - there's a place on the waterways towpaths for everyone.
Canals are never far away, whether you live in the city or countryside, so step into the secret world of these waterways. Walk amongst forgotten flora and woodlands, meet wildlife, watch narrowboats pass by, and taste the history of Britain's most unique and tranquil waters.
Towpaths were originally designed for horses towing boats, but these days you are more likely to see footprints than hoof prints. Most canals have easily walked towpath trails. The shortest canal is under a mile, the longest 137 miles, and collectively, they make up over 2,000 magnificent slow waterside miles, meandering from the highlands of Scotland to the sands of Cornwall.
If you want to, you can wear gortex, carry laminated OS maps round your neck, eat hearty cheese sandwiches and scramble to your limits... but expensive equipment, speed and distance are all just details in the slow world of canals - the real stuff of walking is getting out there, enjoying the open air and discovering freedom on foot.
Make it a day of it with a canalside
pub lunch or a waterside
cream tea...
Or plan a walking
holiday...
