Standedge tunnel is the highest, longest and deepest canal tunnel in the UK, stretching for 3.25 miles under the Pennines. An engineering marvel created by Thomas Telford, the tunnel runs from Marsden in Yorkshire through to Diggle in Lancashire. On the first Saturday every month from April to October there are British Waterways trips through the tunnel in an electric boat leaving from Marsden at 9am and from Diggle at 1pm.
The trips are magnificent. The guides on the boat make the journey fascinating.
After travelling from Diggle towards Huddersfield I walked back over the moors on the route taken by the horses that pulled the barges from the towpath. (The barges were legged through the tunnel). A memorable walk.
The boat trip was booked through Standedge Tunnel Visitor Centre on 01484 844298 – www.standedge.co.uk/