Canoeing Through Standedge Tunnel, The Longest, Highest, Deepest Canal Tunnel In Britain

3 weeks ago 22

This was a day I was really looking forward to. A chance to canoe through Standedge Tunnel. A canal tunnel that is the longest, highest and deepest in Britain.

Coming from Oldham I know the area well, in fact I once lived at the Diggle entance to the tunnel at one time with the canal and the walk over to Marsden via the tops being one of my regular walks. Finally I was going to go through and under the Pennines in a unique and fascinationg way.

The Standedge Tunnel is not just a remarkable feat of engineering but also a picturesque gateway to the past, offering visitors an exceptional glimpse into the history of the UK’s canal systems.

If you take part in one of the Canal and River Trust’s canoe trips through it you can see, feel and learn all about the engineering and history.

The Longest, Highest and Deepest Canal Tunnel

As you enter the tunnel in your canoe, knowing the stats gives huge sense of awe for when you get deep inside. Literally going into and under the Pennine Hills that lie between Huddersfield and Manchester.

Depth: At the deepest point the tunnel is 636 feet (194 m) under.
Length: 3 and a quarter miles (5.2 km) long.
Highest: The tunnel is 643 feet (196 m) above sea level.

A strange anomaly. Being so deep underground, yet so high above sea level.

These stats show what a feat it was building this tunnel in the late 18th and early 19th century.

History of Standedge Tunnel

Origins and Construction

The Standedge Tunnel was commissioned as part of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal project, initially designed in the late 18th century to facilitate trade and transport across the Pennines. Construction began in 1794 and spanned over 16 years, involving significant challenges such as the rugged terrain and the need for meticulous engineering.

The tunnel stretches 3.25 miles (5 km) and was constructed using a combination of manual labor and innovative techniques for its time.

Initially, the project faced numerous setbacks, including funding shortages and technical difficulties. The workers, often referred to as navvies, endured harsh conditions as they excavated through solid rock. The tunnel was finally completed in 1811, and its opening marked a significant milestone for the region’s industrial growth, allowing for the movement of heavy goods between Yorkshire and Lancashire.

Significant Milestones

Throughout its history, the Standedge Tunnel has seen various significant events. During the Industrial Revolution, it played a crucial role in transporting coal, textiles, and other essential goods, which significantly contributed to the local economy. However, as railways began to dominate the transport industry, the tunnel gradually fell into disuse, leading to its closure in the 1940s.

The later part of the 20th century marked a rejuvenation of interest in the canal system. Restoration efforts were undertaken, and in 2001, the Standedge Tunnel was reopened to the public as a tourist attraction. This revitalisation has allowed for a renewed appreciation of its historical significance and the surrounding natural environment.

The Tunnel Today

Today, the Standedge Tunnel is a popular destination for tourists and canal enthusiasts alike. It features a visitor center that provides educational exhibits about the tunnel’s history and its vital role in the region’s transportation network. A great little cafe too by the way.

Guided boat tours offer an immersive experience, allowing visitors to travel through the tunnel while learning about its fascinating past. The tunnel is now a symbol of heritage and a testament to the ingenuity of early industrial engineering.

But if you want some adventure, or want to take a more hands on approach I would say take on one of these canoe trips!

The Canoe Trip Through

Here we go! The sun was shining and after being well briefed on what to expect we were ready to go. The briefs are great and will put anyone at ease.

Time to get into our canoes and paddle into the darkness.

Actually, rather than a pitch black, claustrophobic inducing place you may expect it is exciting and awe inspiring straight from the start.

The canoes are equipped with a spotlight on the front so you can see all the marvel around you and you soon forget how underground you are.

Take the time to look around at the walls. You feel a sense of history. There are parts deep inside that show signs of the hard manual labour from way back when it was built. Chisel marks left in the hard rock.

Beyond the sights and the canoe journey you also get an amazing tour leader with you giving so much information along the way. The history with being able to see first hand. The quirks and tales that make this a unique place to be. The guides are truly fantastic and lead the way, tell the stories and look after you so well.

After the canal came the railways that also needed their own tunnels under the Pennines for the Manchester to Huddersfield track. As you canoe in this oldest tunnel, every now and then you hear a train whizz by in an adjacent tunnel, then along come a big draught through behind it.

I used to use that railway a lot. Now I will wonder if there are any canoeists paddleing through in the darkness beside.

If you have ever walked up on Marsden Moor above, or stood at Standedge Edge, then you will have undoubtably see the shafts that bore deep down to these tunnels. When canoeing through there is one spot, if get yourself in position to be able to look up and see a spot of daylight. That being said there are also a couple of spots where water comes down through the top so hence the waterproof jackets.

These canoe trips through take about 2 hours to complete, certainly a mini workout. I can assure you though that it doesn’t feel that long and there is always something differing to see and experience as you go along.

In the middle for instance you get the slight S Bend. As they dug the tunnel out from each end they realised they were 26 feet off meeting in the middle so had to incorporate an S bend, but also one that still allowed narrowboats to get through.

Once deep in the middle the leader gives an insight into how it would have felt to dig down there as well as navigate in the early days, pre electricity. We gathered as a group, all lights were switched off and then let the eyes adjust. Crikey, absolutely pitch black.

Then, in the distance you see a white dot. The light at the end of the tunnel! Because of the virtual straight line, that end of the tunnel is a long way off. But paddle by paddle it gradualy gets closer.

Then suddenly, after a couple of hours or so underground you appear back out the other side, into the sunshine in Diggle. An incredible journey and memory.

Take The opportunity Yourself

This canoe trip is a unique and special opportunity to delve into history and one of the marvels of the UK canal network.

Thse trips are put on by the Canal and River Trust, which we must remember is a charity. They are working tirelessly to keep the canal network alive as well as making these historic sections available to the public.

These canoe trips are being put on for set days throughout the year and are really popular, naturally. You can book your spot on their ticket site.

Go for it, create unique memories.

Conclusion

The Standedge Tunnel Canoe trip is a remarkable and memorable experience that has been enabled thanks to the Canal and River Trust.

Even though I lived in the area for so many years I found there was so much more to learn. And to see deep inside with my own eyes has put a whole new perspective on thngs such as the huge feat of building it, the hardship of the workers and the narrowboat navigators. Plus the scale of it.

I highly recommend this trip for so many people. Canoeists, history buffs, canal enthusiasts, families wanting some unique adventure and so many more.