The Summit.

0 Locks, 4 Miles, 1 Tunnel. Now moored at bridge 153.

There wasn’t much around Barrowford or close by to keep us at our current mooring and with pending rain again we might as well be in a tunnel on a wet day than a fine day.

This miniature version is a sight from the past, the British Policemans call box. Latterly known as the Tardis of Dr Who.

We arrived at the Foulridge tunnel at 11.10am and found the controlling traffic lights set against us. West bound boats are allowed entry on the hour for 10 minutes and East bound boats half past for the same time allowing 15 minutes passage through the tunnel. This practice would have originated from the working barges on this canal which were all 12ft wide beam vessel’s to carry extra freight.

Still waiting for the green light to proceed.

Finally under way and we could see the Eastern portal even though the tunnel is 1640 yards long. It is pretty straight due to the fact that it was built by a cut and cover technique and not by boring through the hill.  Once through the tunnel we found ourselves surrounded by tree’s and hill’s so it was pointless stopping as there was no phone or internet signals, let alone satellite tv. The weather held off long enough for us to reach Barnoldswick and suitable moorings.

Foulridge Wharf on the summit of the Leed's and Liverpool Canal. Wild heather cap this hill on the Yorkshire, Lancashire border.

1795 locks, 3700 miles, 68 tunnels, 86 swing bridges and 53 lift bridges since Nov 2006