A birds-eye view of a boat travelling over a large beige-stone aqueduct, with a wide river crossing below it

Lancaster Canal

Linking Preston to Kendal, the Lancaster Canal is one of the UK's few coastal canals and is popular for walking, cycling and boating.

Built along the natural lie of the land and stretching for 41 miles, the Lancaster Canal in the North West offers end-to-end lock-free cruising - the longest stretch in the country.

As well as spectacular views of the Silverdale Coast, Forest of Bowland and Wyre countryside, it also features some of the most impressive canal architecture in the country.

A row of houses and an old winch line the canal, with blue skies reflected in the water.

Boating the Lancaster Canal

All you need to know about boating the Lancaster Canal

Things to do on the Lancaster Canal

As the Lancaster Canal is naturally level, it lends itself to gentle walking and cycling routes, whilst its lock-free status offers stress-free canoeing and paddling opportunities.

Group of people kneeling on paddleboards on a canal lined with soft verges and reeds.

Canoe trails

With four routes to chose from, you can paddle your stresses away

Lune Aqueduct audio trail

Enjoy a two mile walk from the Lune Aqueduct and listen to our fascinating audio trail along the way

Fishing

Find out everything you need to know about fishing on the Lancaster Canal

Boat trips

Hop on board and discover the Lancaster Canal by boat

Places to visit near the Lancaster Canal

From canalside villages to excellent wildlife-spotting areas, the Lancaster Canal has it all.

A must-see is the magnificent Lune Aqueduct, which has recently benefited from a £2.4 million transformation and is one of John Rennie's finest works.

History of the Lancaster Canal

Discover more about the history of the Lancaster Canal

Where does the water come from?

Much of the water in the Lancaster Canal comes from Killington Reservoir, feeding along Peasey Beck for eight miles before entering the canal. The Lancaster Canal north of Tewitfield Locks is not navigable, but transfers water to the navigable section. Many feeders supply the canal, between them contributing about the same amount of water as the reservoir.

The Glasson Branch receives water from the canal main line, supplemented by the River Condor feeder below lock 4.

Locks 1-3 on the Ribble Link get their water from the Lancaster Canal, below lock 3 the water comes from Savick Brook.

Work began constructing the canal before the southern link into the main canal had been finalised. The canal was not joined to the rest of the network until the completion of the Ribble Link in 2002.