A two-mile stretch of towpath on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, dubbed the ‘Missing Link’, has recently been restored and upgraded, connecting communities and providing a gateway to the Yorkshire Dales.
David Skaith, Mayor of York & North Yorkshire & Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
The newly refurbished stretch between Kildwick and Silsden is the final part of an ambitious cross-county collaboration project to improve the entire length of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal within Yorkshire – a labour of love that began nearly two decades ago.
Winding through some of the most picturesque countryside on our network it links North and West Yorkshire taking in iconic sites such as the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Saltaire and Bingley’s famous Five Rise Locks.
Opened in 1816, the Leeds & Liverpool Canal remains the longest single navigable inland waterway in the country. However, as traffic on the canal began to dwindle during the 1950s and 60s, some sections of the towpath fell into disuse and disrepair.
By the turn of the new millennium, many routes had become muddy and puddle-strewn, making them virtually impassable during winter months. In the mid-2000s, spearheaded by our predecessor, British Waterways, efforts to restore these neglected paths began in earnest.
Yorkshire’s so-called ‘Missing Link’ before work began in March
After collecting feedback from boaters, residents and local businesses to inform the design, work on the ‘Missing Link’ got underway in March this year. As well as resurfacing the towpath with a durable, all-weather material to make it accessible year-round, we carried out essential canal bank repairs, widened the route where possible, restored and reset historic mileposts, and improved canal-side parking.
This challenging project was enabled by external funding from York & North Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Net Zero Fund and West Yorkshire’s Active Travel Fund and is a great example of local authorities working together.
Now, with these latest upgrades including enhanced access for users with mobility challenges and pushchairs, the route is now safe and accessible to all. Visitors can walk, run, wheel and cycle along an uninterrupted, 34-mile traffic-free route that connects Leeds and Bradford districts to Skipton and Gargrave and the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
“We’re proud to have completed the final stage of the towpath upgrade in Yorkshire,” said our regional director Sean McGinley, speaking at the official opening in July. “These improvements not only help to safeguard our rich canal heritage but also make it easier and more appealing for people to experience the health and wellbeing benefits of spending time by water."
Sean McGinley (right) at the official opening with Mayors Tracy Brabin & David Skaith
“Our region is home to beautiful countryside and architecture,” said Mayor Tracy Brabin, at the recent ribbon-cutting ceremony, “and by improving canal towpaths like this, we’re creating safe routes for walking, cycling and wheeling that everyone can use – connecting communities, celebrating heritage, and enabling residents to live healthier, happier lives.”
To christen the new towpath, in July we hosted a special ‘Let’s Walk’ event, with kind support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, taking participants on a two-hour nature-themed hike, from Silsden to Kildwick and back again. Along the way, they enjoyed a round of ‘nature bingo’, some wildlife spotting, and a little arts and crafts, as they fashioned their own ‘nature bracelets’ to take home as a memento.
Esta, an accessibility advocate from Walks on Wheels, came to test the wheelchair friendly towpath out. She was very impressed with the path and loved the accessible bench as it meant she could get up close to things she only usually got to see in passing from the car window.
The route will provide safe, puddle-free journeys for all users
We hope that, in the future, more and more people will make use of this revitalised route, whether it’s for nature hikes, commuting to work, enjoying some fresh air and exercise, or simply escaping the hubbub of modern life.
The improvements on Yorkshire’s ‘Missing Link’ are the final piece in a jigsaw, 20 years in the making. But the story doesn’t end there. As with much of our ageing infrastructure, the Leeds & Liverpool Canal requires ongoing care and maintenance to keep it open and accessible for boaters and towpath users alike.
In the last year, in Yorkshire alone, we’ve secured nearly £3 million of funding, improving more than six miles of towpath across the region. But there’s still much to be done. With your support, we’ll continue to do all we can to preserve our precious 250-year-old canal system for future generations to enjoy.
