While there are plenty of tunnels you can paddle through, there are many more you can't for safety reasons. Here are our top tips for staying safe while paddling through the list of tunnels below.
For your own safety, you’re not allowed to paddle (canoes, kayaks or paddle boards) through some of our canal tunnels. Especially on parts of some larger river navigations. But there are several on the list below you can paddle through.
Tips for paddling through a tunnel
But first, here are our top tips for staying safe while paddling through a tunnel:
- Always check before paddling through a tunnel. There may be an oncoming narrowboat.
- Always carry a light and whistle to warn other craft of your presence.
- Where possible, travel through in groups
- You can travel through a tunnel if it is less than 400m long and there are clear site lines
- You can travel through tunnels up to 650m long if there are good site lines and there is a single way traffic system in place
- Please check for local restrictions because of potential smoke and fumes or because towpath or grab chains are in use
You can find more information on travelling through tunnels in our boating pages.
For more tips on staying safe visit the British Canoeing website.
Tunnels open for canoes and other unpowered craft
Last date edited: 5 December 2019