INTREPID explorers will be able to tick off a bucket list trip through the UK’s longest, deepest and highest canal tunnel this spring.
Visitors can either canoe or relax and be chauffeured through the 3.5-mile Standedge Tunnel, which runs under the Pennines between Marsden, near Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, and Diggle in Lancashire.
The experience is part of a Canal & River Trust ‘bucket list’ year and tickets are expected to be snapped up quickly.
The tunnel, built in 1811, is one of four constructed as rail and waterway routes. Only the canal tunnel and one of the rail routes are still open.
This awe-inspiring tunnel, one of the seven wonders of the waterways, is an extraordinary feat of engineering, taking more than 17 years to dig by hand. Those taking the trip through the tunnel can see just how it was constructed, while enjoying either a unique paddling experience or more leisurely boat trip. Each trip, which takes around two hours, will be one way only, from either Marsden to Diggle or Diggle to Marsden.
Sean McGinley, regional director for Yorkshire & North East at Canal & River Trust said: “A great way to understand why we love our canals and tunnels so much is to take to the water and journey into the heart of the Pennines, with our team bringing the tunnel and canal to life. It’s a truly unique experience, definitely one for the bucket list.”
The canal tunnel lies 636ft underground and was officially closed in 1921. Now restored, it is only open for these special visitor trips.
Gordon McMinn, volunteer team leader and qualified paddle sports instructor at Canal & River Trust, is co-ordinating the canoe trips at Standedge Tunnel. He said: “We’re excited to announce the new dates for this bucket list opportunity and enable even more keen canoeists to paddle though this magnificent tunnel and explore its 3.5 miles under the Pennines.
“This year, we’re introducing a concurrent schedule for through-tunnel boat and canoe trips on Saturdays to enable both paddlers and non-paddlers to experience the tunnel on the same day. Further dates for 2025 will be announced later in the year.”
Participants will need to plan the return leg of their trip, which could be a breathtaking and picturesque seven-mile walk back over the hill or, for those who have had enough exercise, there’s a local bus (Arriva 184) and local taxi services.
For non-experienced paddlers, why not try a taster canoe or stand-up paddle (SUP) session? These 90-minute sessions run from Standedge Tunnel along the Huddersfield Narrow Canal and include the use of the canoes/paddleboards, kit, safety briefing and tuition. Dates for the next sessions will be announced on the Canal & River Trust website and usually run during the school holidays.
For the less adventurous, the trust also offers 30-minute ‘discovery’ boat trips. These run most Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from March until the end of October and can be booked on the Canal & River Trust website.
Hot drinks and light refreshments will be available onsite during these weekends from the Watersedge Coffee House, run by the Friends of Standedge volunteer group. All proceeds are split between the Canal & River Trust and the volunteer group to help maintain and further improve the Standedge Tunnel site for visitors.
Tickets are £110 per canoe (solo or tandem) and can be booked on Canal & River Trust’s website.
Paddlers will use the Canal & River Trust’s open canoes for the trips and will be guided by trained staff and volunteers from the trust. All PPE (helmets, buoyancy aids, lights) are provided by the trust; however, participants are welcome to use their own helmets, headtorches and buoyancy aids for the trip. Numbers are limited, so please book early to secure your place.
