stevelyon

Without minimising the tragedy of Covid for many families, one good thing that emerged from it (for me) was love of locality. Stuck at home forced me to find some nearby walks. Canals are great routes: flat and so easy to walk and many go through pretty countryside and pass by historical industrial buildings. Many of the best canals are in the north and midlands. Try Rochdale to Todmorden and Todmorden to Hebden Bridge. The canal start at Widnes has to be seen to be believed - its vast open expanse and magnet for wildlife was eye popping. The Collins Publishers have a number of books plotting the canals and contain recommendations for decent and often unspoilt pubs alongside the canals they are describing. I have my eye set on the canals in Birmingham but before that doing the Marple Locks. Photos below reflect a mixture of canal walks.

TDudette

Stunning, stevelyon. Thanks for sharing this.

bilboburgler

lovely, I discovered Keighley has a nice side during Covid, the canal.

AnselmAdorne

This is inspiring, Stevelyon, and your photos are stunning. Walking and cycling are great ways to appreciate the countryside.

On a related note, my wife and I have made arrangements to walk part of Offa's Dyke Path in Wales and the length of the Cumbria Way in May.

MikeS

I've walked and cycled along the Kennet & Avon Canal around Marlborough, Devices, and Bradford-on-Avon. The Caen hill Locks in Devices were one of my favorite locations. I had a nice cycling tour by renting a bicycle in Bradford-on-Avon and riding to Bath and back.

Adelaidean

That looks so peaceful. Thanks for posting these.

ChgoGal

Love these! Thanks for sharing. I'm so envious of your environs. Yes, the most wonderful countryside in the midlands.

stevelyon

Thanks for all the feedback. Weekend in UK is predicted to be fair and so will be walking between Romiley and Whaley Bridge. For all you "Coronation Street" (UK long running soap) fans, I am sure there are many of you -, Elsie Tanner once owned a pub called 'The Navigation' in Whaley Bridge - it is supposedly a nice pub with nice grub.

CHE12

Thanks for the tips and for sharing the beautiful photos! Have noted!

sofarsogood

this article is very apposite

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2...todmorden-walk

AnselmAdorne

Thanks for that, sofarsogood. I got the reference to Alfred Wainwright, but had no idea who Sally Wainwright is. Had to look it up.

bilboburgler

For those who like this sort of thing there is a cycle path from Hull to Liverpool along the river and canals across the country, I ran into a Canadian doing it before Covid.

stevelyon

Sofarsogood, thanks that's a great article. "Happy Valley" (BBC television thriller) is gripping the UK nation again and putting the spotlight on the wonderful Calder Valley (just down t'road (or canal) from me). Lovely villages to visit along the route: Heptonstall - resting place of Sylvia Plath; Hebden Bridge is a delight with the wonderful walk to Hardcastle Craggs; Luddendun Foot with links to the Brontes; and I personally love Todmorden.