We're celebrating a 20-year milestone in Yorkshire

We're celebrating the successful completion of a 20-year project to enhance the Yorkshire section of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal towpath.

The upgrades

The newly upgraded 3km (2-mile) stretch between Bridge 187 in Kildwick and Bridge 191A in Silsden is the known as the 'missing link' – the final section of unsurfaced historic towpath in Yorkshire to be improved by us.

Built over 200 years ago as the longest single canal for the passage of boats, today walkers, cyclists, wheelchair and pushchair users can now also enjoy access along a 34-mile, traffic free route connecting Leeds and Bradford District to Skipton and Gargrave, a gateway to the Yorkshire Dales. 

The route takes in some of the most picturesque and uplifting open countryside along England’s canal networks and a range of interesting heritage, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Saltaire and the iconic Bingley Five Rise Locks.

The successful completion of this exceptional cross-county collaboration was marked by an official opening by Sean McGinley, our director for Yorkshire & North East, Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, and David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire.

A national treasure

Sean McGinley, our Yorkshire & North East director, said: “Over 200 years old, the Leeds & Liverpool Canal is a remarkable national treasure that requires ongoing care to remain open, navigable, and accessible for all.

“We are proud to have completed the final stage of the towpath upgrade in Yorkshire, which has also included carrying out vital canal bank repairs along waterway.  And we’re grateful to partners who attracted the funding to help us complete this project.”

He added: “These improvements not only help to safeguard our rich canal heritage but also make it easier and more appealing for more people to experience the health benefits of spending time by water."

A huge moment

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “Our region is home to beautiful countryside – and by improving canal towpaths like this, we’re helping more people get out and enjoy it.

“However you choose to get around, being outside is great for your health and wellbeing.

“We are creating safe, accessible routes for walking and cycling that everyone can use as part of our integrated Weaver Network.”

David Skaith, the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said: “For too long, this vital missing link on the towpath represented a missed opportunity for communities in North and West Yorkshire. So, it’s a huge moment to join Mayor Tracy Brabin and Sean McGinley from the Canal & River Trust today to open this refurbished stretch of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal towpath. 

“This upgrade directly connects Kildwick in North Yorkshire with Silsden in West Yorkshire, making it easier and safer for everyone to walk, wheel, and cycle.  

“Our support for this project through the Net Zero Fund underlines our commitment to active travel and demonstrates the power of working across boundaries.” 

More puddle-free jouneys

Delivered in partnership with Bradford Council, North Yorkshire Council, York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority and West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA), the scheme enables more puddle-free journeys on foot and by bike, and improves access for wheelchair and pushchair users, along a route that passes through some of Yorkshire’s most scenic landscapes and is a popular corridor for recreational and commuter travel. York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Net Zero Fund comes directly from the UK Government.

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport said: “We’re delighted that funding has been able to be secured to upgrade this popular route linking these two communities making it much easier and more enjoyable for all who use it.”

North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for highways and transport, Cllr Malcolm Taylor, said: “The towpath has been transformed with this impressive upgrade, connecting communities, celebrating heritage, and embracing natural beauty.

“Towpaths are corridors for walking, cycling and wheeling, without the need for using cars, enabling residents to live healthier, greener lives.

“The route leads to the Yorkshire Dales, boasting some of the most picturesque views in the country. We hope residents and visitors alike take advantage of this accessible new route.”

Feedback

Local feedback gathered last year informed the final scheme design, ensuring that the upgrade meets the needs of the communities it serves.

The towpath improvements include:

• A durable, accessible self-bind surface for year-round use
• Widened sections of towpath (where possible) to support all users
• Canal bank repairs
• Restoration of historic mileposts
• Enhanced access for people with mobility challenges and pushchairs

Let's walk!

Let’s Walk the Missing Link’ is two-hour nature themed walk from Silsden to Kildwick and back again hosted by Canal & River Trust on Wednesday 23 July, 10am-12noon.  This free event is being organised to help families experience the newly upgraded towpath at the start of the summer holidays with nature bingo, wildlife spotting and making a nature bracelet to remember the walk.  This activity is kindly supported by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery.