Leeds to Skipton Canal Walk

29.8 miles (48 km)

This walk follows the Leeds and Liverpool Canal from Leeds to Skipton. The route runs for about 30 miles, following the towpath north west to Shipley and Bingley before finishing in Skipton.
This is one of the finest long-distance canal walks in northern England, following Britain's longest canal through the heart of West Yorkshire towards the Yorkshire Dales.... Opened in stages between 1770 and 1816, the canal played a vital role in the Industrial Revolution, carrying coal, textiles, stone and limestone between the manufacturing towns of Yorkshire and Lancashire. Today the continuous towpath provides an excellent route for walkers, combining industrial heritage with peaceful waterside scenery and attractive countryside.
Leaving Leeds, the route passes Kirkstall Abbey before continuing through the Aire Valley. Around Shipley and Bingley the canal shares the corridor with the Aire Valley Towpath, passing the UNESCO World Heritage village of Saltaire and the famous Bingley 5 Rise Locks, one of the greatest feats of canal engineering in Britain.
Beyond Bingley the landscape becomes increasingly rural as the canal passes through the Aire Valley to Kildwick and Gargrave. This peaceful section is noted for its open views, traditional stone bridges, colourful narrowboats and abundant wildlife, with kingfishers, herons, swans and dragonflies frequently seen along the waterway.
The walk finishes in the historic market town of Skipton, where visitors can explore the attractive canal basin, the well-preserved medieval castle, the bustling High Street and the town's many independent shops, cafés and traditional pubs.