CC near Leeds

[Donnydont]

Hi people! 

 

Been on the river 4 years now, down on the relatively quiet River Stort. I'm looking to move up to Leeds (on a 40ft narrowboat) for work, and to close the distance on a long distance relationship..I was wondering if anyone with experience of the canal network in and around Leeds could give me some advice on great areas to CC, places to avoid, dangerous ponds etc...Any locations have issues with flooding, break ins..? Basically, any useful information that could help me avoid having to learn first hand as there will be enough lessons learnt regardless! I'd ideally be no more than 1 hr away from Leeds by public transport. Thank you in advance.

[DaveP]

I used to moor in Wakefield and have friends who cc up there.  

 

Cc'ing is more complicated up there as the rivers (Calder/Aire) are much wilder than the Lee/Stort.  Especially in winter, you really need to keep an eye on the weather and be prepared to move to a canalised area in very short order.  For example, in Wakefield, the Calder can rise by 10ft inside 3hrs.  I've never had a problem with vandalism or burglary in the area, but some say that the route out of Leeds up to Rodley can be problematic.  

[Donnydont]

Thank you Dave.

 

 I will be arriving on the Leeds/Liverpool canal early October so will be confronting winter not long after (not the ideal time to be hitting a new stretch of river I know). The stort is so calm and narrow! Although I've been boating 4 years I feel like until I hit some of the bigger rivers I've not really earned my stripes. Are there any canalised areas specifically that you would recommend/know to be less prone to flood risks? I'm glad you haven't had any issues with vandalism/burglary, I've only had two minor issues in 4 years down here, but it's not something I'd want to make a habit of.

 

Thank you again for the advice and insight.

[DaveP]

Canal areas - L&L to the NW of Leeds, On the Aire & Calder there isn't much - Knostrop Fall Lock to Lemonroyd Lock Castleford Flood Lock to Bulholme Lock, Broadreach Lock to Woodnook Lock, Wakefield Flood Lock to Fall Ings Lock.  Look carefully at the facilities as well - there aren't so many as down south - and no coal/gas/diesel boats; you'll need to get these delivered or find a marina/yard.  However, some road garages sell red diesel.... 

[Donnydont]

Amazing response mate, thank you once again. Do you mean that all of the L&L to the NW of Leeds does or doesn't have much? I'll keep stocked with enough diesel and gas to see me through the winter, so water points will be the only bugger. Sorry to sound naive..byy canalised do you mean in between two locks/ in a pound? These can also fluctuate quite dramatically can't they? 

[DaveP]

L&L is all canal so should be ok once you're past the bandit country (ie above Rodley). Yes, canalised - on a canal pound between locks (but of course, the river bits also have locks, just to confuse you).  The canalised pounds shouldn't rise/fall, but if the river breeches into them, all bets are off (read up on the failure of the Leeds flood defences, the abandonment of the Broad Cut moorings, the washing away of the Figure of 3 locks etc, etc).

Edited August 5 by DaveP

[PeterScott]

 

On 04/08/2024 at 10:56, DaveP said:

...Especially in winter, you really need to keep an eye on the weather and be prepared to move to a canalised area in very short order....

 

Leeds Lock A+C Boxing Day 2015

[David Mack]

5 hours ago, PeterScott said:

 

 

Leeds Lock A+C Boxing Day 2015

A bit exceptional though. That was the day most of West Yorkshire flooded!

[Puffling]

5 hours ago, PeterScott said:

 

 

Leeds Lock A+C Boxing Day 2015

Of course, this was a particularly grim time for people all over West Yorkshire. Much river and canal infrastructure damaged during the Boxing Day floods. Hebden Bridge, for example...

[LadyG]

I've cc d for four years with no flooding problems, so it's all about finding the best moorings. I'm sure you'll be OK.

I'm on the Rochdale at the moment. Hebden Bridge  is prone to flooding, but not every year. Its not too handy for Leeds. The Rochdale is prone to closures, so you need to set your alerts to all the navigations you might use.

The locks coming off the River Trent are best tackled when the river is calm. I would not venture on Red and if Amber, I have to be certain the level is falling.

The other Forum probably still has Tony Dunkley as established member, it's not easy to be banned from there, lol. He will give definitive advice on navigating The River Trent, having spent a lifetime in the area. 

There are Boating Association chart type booklets ...

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

8 minutes ago, LadyG said:

. Hebden Bridge  is prone to flooding, but not every year. Its not too handy for Leeds.

there’re direct trains to and from,

 

[David Mack]

On 06/08/2024 at 17:24, LadyG said:

Its not too handy for Leeds.

It certainly is. I commuted from Hebden Bridge to Leeds by train for 19 years!

[Puffling]

14 minutes ago, David Mack said:

It certainly is. I commuted from Hebden Bridge to Leeds by train for 19 years!

Ah, life in a northern town (railway visible at bottom of the embankment)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=X5uxQElYu68

[Mac of Cygnet]

In fact the OP's requirement of no more than one hour from Leeds by public transport allows a very large area.  The Leeds & Liverpool, Aire & Calder, Calder & Hebble, Rochdale, and Huddersfield Broad & Narrow all have several stations giving direct access to Leeds within an hour.

[Donnydont]

Amazing photos of what must have been a really sad time. Thank you everyone for putting my mind at ease in regards to flooding and also commuting into Leeds. An hour is a big window of time. A good book and you don't notice the minutes! Also, to LadyG, Which forum would I find Tony Dunkley in?

[Tony Brooks]

2 hours ago, Donnydont said:

Amazing photos of what must have been a really sad time. Thank you everyone for putting my mind at ease in regards to flooding and also commuting into Leeds. An hour is a big window of time. A good book and you don't notice the minutes! Also, to LadyG, Which forum would I find Tony Dunkley in?

 

Thunderboat forum, but it is not moderated, so may not be to your taste. Also seeing TDs posts there over recent years, I am not sure if he is suffering some form of mental illness, he seems to get fixated and far from dispassionate abut some things. I am sure you will get equally good advice about the Trent here. For instance, until they sold their boat it was @Naughty Cal's stamping ground, but her boat was rather more powerful than a narrowboat.

[Alan de Enfield]

26 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said:

 

Thunderboat forum, but it is not moderated, so may not be to your taste. Also seeing TDs posts there over recent years, I am not sure if he is suffering some form of mental illness, he seems to get fixated and far from dispassionate abut some things. I am sure you will get equally good advice about the Trent here. For instance, until they sold their boat it was @Naughty Cal's stamping ground, but her boat was rather more powerful than a narrowboat.

 

I had over 10 years on the Trent with a NB, but my knowledge was but a small fraction of Tony's who had lived and 'worked' the Trent 'for ever'. Despite his aggressive and argumentative posting style his knowledge and help is legendary and he was a big loss to the forum.