Harecastle

Another view of the southern portal of Harecastle Tunnel on the Trent and Mersey Canal in Staffordshire.

In the background on the left you can see the portal to Brindley's original 1777 tunnel, which is no longer navigable.

See Google Aerial View of this location.
See LiveSearch Birds Eye View of this location.

Netherton Tunnel

The southern end of Netherton Tunnel near Dudley. This view is approaching the tunnel from nearby Windmill End. The tunnel is 2768 metres long (1.72 miles). It was opened in 1858, is wide enough for two narrowboats to pass and has towpaths down both sides so that two-way traffic could operate back in the days when boats were horse drawn.

See Google Aerial View of this location.
See LiveSearch Birds Eye View of this location.

Blisworth

Less than half a mile from yesterday's busy scene at Stoke Bruerne, the Grand Union Canal disappears through the wooded hillside into Blisworth Tunnel. At 2794 metres long, it is the 7th longest canal tunnel built in the UK and the 3rd longest currently navigable.

There are stories of boaters seeing another tunnel that is lit up, branching off in the middle of Blisworth Tunnel. What is spooky is that these sightings seem to be at a point where the present tunnel crossed the original line, which collapsed with the loss of 14 lives. The original route had to be abandoned because of the unstable ground.

See Google Aerial View of this location.

Windmill End

Windmill End Junction is a crossroads where the Netherton Tunnel Branch meets the Dudley No 1 and No 2 Canals and the short Boshboil Branch. Netherton Tunnel, with its towpaths along both sides, is a short distance ahead, to the left of Cobb's Engine House.
See Google Aerial View of this location.
See LiveSearch Birds Eye View of this location.

Harecastle

The southern portal of Harecastle Tunnel, on the Trent and Mersey Canal near Kidsgrove, Staffordshire. Built by Telford in 1827, this is the second of the two tunnels. The first is no longer navigable. In the 1950s, a fan house was built over the southern portal to extract engibe fumes from the tunnel, as there are no ventilation shafts.
The tunnel is said to be haunted by the Kidsgrove Boggart or "Kit Crewbucket".
See Google Aerial View of this location.
See LiveSearch Birds Eye View of this location.

Leek Tunnel

Leek Tunnel on the Caldon Canal in Staffordshire. This short 130 yard tunnel is on the Leek Arm of the Caldon Canal. Part of the tunnel had to be re-lined and it was closed for a long time. An industrial estate has been built over the final half mile of the branch into Leek.
See Google Aerial View of this location.

Harecastle

The northern end of Harecastle Tunnel, Kidsgrove, Staffordshire.

On the right, the entrance to Brindley's original 1777 tunnel can be seen. This original tunnel is disused and is blocked by rock falls.

The present tunnel, designed by Telford, was opened in 1827. It originally had a towpath running through, but has now been removed. It is 2675 metres long - around one and two third miles.

See Google Aerial View of this location.
See LiveSearch Birds Eye View of this location.

Standedge

Tunnel End - the Marsden portal of Standedge Tunnel on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal. Standedge Tunnel is the UK's longest canal tunnel at 5210 metres (3.24 miles). Convoys of boats are towed through by an electric tug.

See Google Aerial View of this location.