The Aire And Calder Canal.

Aire and Calder Navigation

The Aire and Calder Navigation is a river and canal system of the River Aire and the River Calder in the county of West Yorkshire, England.

For holidaymakers, the "mixed" aspect of the waterway can be more interesting than the "100% chocolate-box" appearance of many other canals. It is true that "industrial heritage" is sometimes very apparent, and perhaps appreciated better for being in short bursts (stretches where most boaters would not wish to moor for an al-fresco lunch!) but a programme of tree planting on river-banks and waste tips is already bearing fruit (no pun intended). Much of the ex-industrial (western) part of the Navigation now has the appearance of a tree-lined, gently-twisting river.

The eastern part of the Navigation (Knottingley and Goole Canal) is rather different: it has long straight stretches, but mainly through flat land that has always been agricultural. The majority of pleasure journeys are made between Wakefield and Leeds, via Castleford (this stretch is part of the "Ring" formed by the Leeds &Liverpool and the Huddersfield or Rochdale canals) with only the more adventurous boaters travelling on to Selby, York, Goole, Sheffield, and Keadby. However, with the restoration of the Barnsley and the Dearne &Dove canals (still perhaps ten years away) the section between Wakefield and the New Junction Canal will become part of a new "Southern Yorkshire Ring", which will no doubt bring more traffic to these less-used reaches.

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