Between September and December 2025, I raised crucial funds for Bahar Women’s Association, a community project based in Leeds, walking 92.5 miles over 20 walks. More than enough funds were raised for the project to continue, in the interim, to provide essential support to women in need and their families. It has been a life changing and rewarding experience and I plan to do more fund raising for the project in the spring. Canal walks were included on this walk and I covered 4 canals over 8 of my favourite walks as follows.

Calder and Hebble Navigation

Brighouse to Sowerby Bridge (Calder and Hebble Navigation)- 8.11.25

I began my 9th walk of 8 miles on the Calder and Hebble Navigation from Brighouse to Sowerby Bridge in West Yorkshire. The 21-mile waterway starts at Wakefield with its eventual finish at Sowerby Bridge or vice versa. At the beginning of the walk, I was enamoured with the weeping willow trees between the water and towpath. 

Autumn Wonderland played its part on the walk. It was stunning to see the change of colours and the variety of trees particularly beech, oak and sycamore. It is agreed that autumn is a most wonderful time of the year. As an artist I felt thoroughly inspired and I was mentally planning my mono printing and cyanotyping schedule! 

Almost at the half way point, I stopped for lunch and afterwards continued towards Salterhebble (Saw the River Hebble), the Halifax Arm, Copley and on towards Sowerby Bridge.  I stopped by at the Moonbean Coffee Boat for refreshments just before I reached Sowerby Bridge. Their hot chocolate and bakes are amazing and are highly recommended! 

I eventually arrived in Sowerby Bridge, where the Calder and Hebble Navigation finishes and the Rochdale Canal begins.

Huddersfield Narrow Canal

Diggle Circular (Huddersfield Narrow Canal) - 25.10.25

My 7th walk of 5.5 miles was going to be on another canal and to one of my all-time favourite canal walking stretches, the Huddersfield Narrow Canal in Saddleworth. On arrival at Greenfield Station, in Greater Manchester, I recommend Platform 13 Café, a lovely brunch, and is opposite the station. Afterwards I descended the road towards the canal and started the walk. Walking on the canal in Saddleworth during autumn is a personal highlight of mine particularly through Uppermill. Trees, particularly beech and oak trees, line the canal and the coloured leaves cloak the towpaths. I then ascended towards Diggle via Dobcross. There are plenty of interesting engineering feats and industrial heritage to observe on the canal such as the many locks lining up, the Saddleworth Viaduct and Transport Shipment Warehouse in Dobcross, and the Standedge Tunnel. The three and a quarter mile Standedge Tunnel is known as the longest, the deepest and highest in the country and it traverses to the other side of the Pennines, to Marsden and eventually Huddersfield in West Yorkshire.

Leeds and Liverpool Canal

Leeds to Kirkstall (Leeds and Liverpool Canal) - 18.10.25

I initially was planning to walk the next day but it forecasted heavy rain and instead planned a morning walk on the canal on this day.

My 6^th walk was started at the first lock in the city centre and followed the towpath towards Liverpool, which is over 127 miles! I have walked on all the canal, in stages, in 2017 and it is certainly one of my life achievements.  On this walk it is approximately 3-4 miles and a bit  from Leeds City Centre to Kirkstall via Armley.

The canal was busy with other walkers, cyclists, and runners, but even so, it felt peaceful and calm with the stunning autumn colours enveloping the canal and towpath. Autumn is one of my favourite seasons and I aspire to  recreate the colourful trees in my photographs and paintings.

I finished my walk at Kirkstall Bridge and sought refreshments at Kirkstall Bridge Shopping Centre.

Apperley Bridge to Kirkstall, Leeds and Liverpool Canal- 13.12.25

My 19th walk took me to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal where I walked from Apperley Bridge to Kirkstall. A walk of approximately 5.5 miles.

It was a long walk down Harrogate Road towards the canal from the bus stop. Still, I was very happy to see blue skies and sunshine and no rain in sight!

My penultimate walk was pleasant through the surrounding countryside. It was busy with cyclists, runners, and walkers especially with dogs. I think there was a running race happening at the same time as I was walking. 

In Rodley I stopped at the Tiny Tea Room for refreshments. I then continued walking towards Horsforth, Newlay, Bramley Falls Park and Kirkstall Forge via three locks. I eventually arrived in Kirkstall and caught my bus home.

Crossflatts to Saltaire (Leeds and Liverpool Canal) - 5.10.25

I started the 4-mile walk, my 3^rd one, later than planned due to a train delay. The weather was dry and sunny but still very windy following Storm Amy.

Starting in Crossflatts, I descended the canal via the infamous Bingley Five Rise Locks, an engineering marvel (built in 1774), and through Bingley and Dowley Gap including its aqueduct (crossing the River Aire).

The canal goes through Hirst Woods and Hirst Locks. I took a little detour to the Higher Ground Hirst Lock Cafe for some refreshments. Afterwards I finished the walk in Saltaire which is famous for its Salt Mills and the village itself.

Gargrave to Barnoldswick, Leeds and Liverpool Canal- 16.11.25

The weather forecast was dry and sunny so I took the opportunity to do my 11th walk on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. The recent rainy weather has been a setback for the planned walks on this fundraising project.

On arrival in Gargrave, I walked half a mile or so to the canal where I started my walk. It is approximately 7.5 miles to Barnoldswick.

The walk took me through some of the most scenic landscape on the canal. This includes the Summit, the highest point, on the canal.  There are some interesting canal engineering features such as the locks. I especially love the signature bridges, including the double arched Bridge (Bridge 161), and they fit beautifully in the surrounding landscape. 

I had a lunch stop just before East Marton on the infamous zig zag stretch. I also stopped for refreshments at The Abbots Wharf, half way on the walk, and at Greenberfield Lock Stop Cafe at The Summit and just before finishing at Barnoldswick.

I thoroughly enjoyed this walk and I was appreciative of the Yorkshire and Lancashire countryside. I subsequently arrived in Barnoldswick in good time (wanted to be off the canal before it got dark), waited for my Skipton bound bus and alighted at the railway station for my train back home.

Rochdale Canal

Littleborough to Todmorden (Rochdale Canal) - 31.10.25

My 8th walk was on the Rochdale Canal, a canal that traverses through the Pennines. I chose to walk from Littleborough in Greater Manchester to Todmorden in Calderdale. The 5 mile walk takes in the Summit, the highest point on the Canal.

I made my ascent on the canal towards the Summit and stopped at the Summit Pub for lunch. I continued and soon made my descent towards Walsden.

The autumn colours on the canal, particularly in the Summit area, and the hills were stunning with the patchwork of yellows, oranges and browns. 

It began raining on and off in Walsden and it got heavier. I decided to walk the remaining mile to Todmorden on the road (fortunately they have pavements). The towpath on the stretch was muddy in places and some of the stretches were flooded. I did not want to walk on the towpath with those conditions anymore especially in the rain. I sought the dry and the warmth when I had refreshments in the White Hart Pub afterwards.

Hebden Bridge to Sowerby Bridge, Rochdale Canal - 30.11.25

I had the opportunity to return to Calderdale, West Yorkshire and the Rochdale Canal, for my 15th walk of this fundraising project. It was cold, temperature wise, but sunny and importantly, no rain!

I started at Hebden Bridge and walked the 5.5 mile walk to Sowerby Bridge . Hebden Bridge is a busy place with plenty of boats moored in line. Traversing through Fallingroyd tunnel I soon arrived at Mytholmroyd and had the opportunity to stop at the Moonbeam Coffee Boat again for refreshments. They were previously moored at Copley Bridge on the Calder and Hebble Navigation and I stopped there on a previous walk when I walked from Brighouse to Sowerby Bridge.

I continued after refreshments through the stunning Calderdale (South Pennines) countryside towards Luddenfoot and eventually Sowerby Bridge, the canal’s terminus or vice versa.

My other walk updates and details about the fundraising project in general can be read via this link

Engine House and Blossoms, Hawkesbury Junction, Coventry Canal–Double Exposure photography by Dawn S Art

Just this past spring, in April 2025, I joined my Dad on a couple of walks on the Coventry Canal. The 38-mile narrow canal in the Midlands, connects with the Trent and Mersey, Ashby, Birmingham and Fazeley, and Oxford Canals.

The first walk was from the outskirts of the city to the outskirts of Nuneaton Town Centre. I particularly remembered this walk for its interesting canal features such as the engine house at Hawkesbury Junction and seeing the Ashby Canal at the junction further on in the walk.

hawthorn blossoms Coventry Canal - photo by Dawn S Art

On our second walk. from Polesworth to Hopwas, I always remembered the abundance of blossoms. Seeing the myriads of hawthorn blossoms lining up the canal towpath. In the built up and urban areas, I was greeted aplenty of apple and cherry blossom and it reminded me of how much I love seeing spring in full bloom. Not to forget the stunning art murals at the Fazeley Junction!

Mum and I had a wander on the Caldon Canal from Etruria Junction to Emma Bridgewater Factory in May 2022.

The Caldon Canal is 18 miles long and runs from Etruria, Stoke on Trent, to Froghall, near Uttoxeter. The canal also branches off to Leek, a town in Staffordshire. It originally was one of the branches of the Mersey Canal Company, at the time, and formed part of the said canal. Opened in 1779 and despite not being officially closed, the usage of the canal declined in the 20th Century and subsequent restoration took place. In 1974, the main line to Froghall was completed and the Leek branch soon after.

We started on the Trent and Mersey Canal at Festival Park in Etruria, and we walked to towards the junction where the Caldon Canal begins. There we continued on until we reached the Bridgewater Factory Shop. It is a pleasant place to stop and have a drink, admire the grounds’ gardens and buy some earthenware.

The two miles or so stretch on the canal is calm and green with the canal running through Hanley Park and its cast iron bridges. This was enhanced by the sunny and warm weather we had that day. We walked back from the Bridgewater Factory shop to the park. The park is nice and spacious though lacking in facilities. The Pavilion, the main building at the park, was empty and there probably was a café in there but closed a long time ago. It is a pity as the Pavilion is a beautiful building and the current state sadly resemble the emptiness and its lifeless ambiance.

It was a pleasant walk along a small stretch of the Caldon Canal and we plan to explore more of this interesting waterway on a future trip.
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The photographs in this article are of multiple exposure using the Snapseed App on my mobile device and the App enables double exposure of photographs and the use of filtering.

By Dawn Smallwood
Facebook: Dawn S Art
Instagram: artwithdawns
Etsy: artwithdawns

We have done a number of walks from Preston Brook to the Stoke area on the Trent and Mersey Canal. Our eventual plan one day is to walk the remainder of the canal from Stoke to Trent Lock/Derwent Lock. The Trent and Mersey Canal is 93 miles long with 76 locks and it connects the rivers Mersey, in the West, and Trent and Derwent, in the East. The canal was built in 1766, engineered by James Brindley and promoted by Josiah Wedgwood for its transportation of pottery in the Stoke area.

Trent and Mersey Canal has a number of interesting features including Anderton Boat Lift and Harecastle Tunnel. This article's focus is on Stone, a market town in Staffordshire, near Stoke and Stafford. The canal runs through the town and once upon a time it was famous for its beer brewing because of the quality of the water. The town had two main breweries, John Joule and Sons (brewed and exported from 1780 until 1974) and Montgomery and Company (brewed from 1889 until 1968) and the canal was used to transport and export the beer.

The Star Inn, a Canalside pub, named after the Star Lock, is an interesting pub to visit. The building is considered one of the oldest in the area and the pub has been licenced since 1819. The building in its time was used for stables and also in its time, a butcher shop and a slaughterhouse. The pub is recommended for its wonderful food, and there are a variety of eating areas as the building retains its original differing floor levels.

I painted two pictures, above, of the Canalside in Stone using gouache paint also as known as opaque watercolour. Using gouache brings out the colour and ambience the Canalside brings for both boaters and walkers.

Pocklington Canal – Multimedia: Exposure photography, collage and acrylic by Dawn S Art

A broad canal in the North Of England which connects Pocklington, a market town in East Yorkshire, to the River Derwent. The canal is currently being restored and so far, 7 miles, from the river to Bielby Arm. The canal is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest with its site, attracting biodiversity with its rare aquatic plants and a wide variety of dragonflies and damsels.

Canal Head, near Pocklington in East Yorkshire

Last year, my Dad and I walked part of the canal, most of the stretch yet to be restored, from Pocklington Canal Head, outskirts of the town, to the Melbourne Arm. It is good to see some of the locks restored and see the remaining ones that are planned. It was a pleasant walk being surrounded by the Yorkshire Wolds countryside and seeing swans on the canal. We walked approximately 6 miles as we walked back from Melbourne Arm to the Canal Head.

Pocklington Canal

Worth noting is the Bielby Arm, which is a nature reserve and worth checking out. We do plan to walk from Melbourne Arm to the River Derwent in due course. It isn’t a busy canal with regards to boaters and walkers so if you’re for quiet spaces and beautiful countryside, this is the canal.

End of the Navigable part of the canal

We also enjoyed a drink in Melbourne at its village pub, The Melbourne Arms. Though more restaurant orientated, the pub is a pleasant place to go and just have a drink. A pleasant afternoon exploring this not as well explored canal.

Autumn is one of my favourite seasons. I love walking on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal and seeing the stunning autumn colours and foliage for which this stretch of the canal is renowned. The Huddersfield Narrow Canal is known as the “Everest” of the canal system, twenty miles in length and traverses through The Pennines with 74 locks. Its main attraction is the Standedge Tunnel, described by the superlatives being the longest, deepest, and highest in the country. I rode through the tunnel some years ago and the 2+ hour boat was certainly an interesting experience.

I chose to explore my favourite stretch of the canal which is west of the tunnel starting at Greenfield – a good starting point which the village has a railway station and good bus connections. This stretch from Greenfield to Uppermill never disappoints me because of the treelined paths and it is easy to be embraced with its bright and beautiful autumn colours. I drew inspiration just walking this stretch and it gave me a creative scope for painting and photography.

I painted the above scene where this stretch of canal runs along the River Tame. I was artistically inspired to paint the trees and their autumn colours. I used gouache as the paint medium.

Uppermill, once known for its wool and cotton industry, is a Saddleworth Village which the canal travels through. The highlight was to see the fallen leaves on the ground and walking through them; it was like being in an autumn wonderland with all the captivating colours.

This painting is based at Lock 21W in Uppermill. An Autumn hotspot where the leaves carpet the towpath. It was a sight to capture and savour and gouache is the paint medium used.

A notable attraction is the Saddleworth Viaduct which carries trains from Leeds/Huddersfield to
Manchester and Vice Versa. Just after is The Limekiln Café where you can enjoy coffee and cake on their canalside terrace.

I used the Snapseed App, a free downloadable App, where multiple exposures can be created as shown in the photos of the Saddleworth Viaduct and Standedge Tunnel. I particularly combined the viaduct and the tunnel and their autumn foliage and water reflections.

I began ascending the canal after Dobcross, a nearby village, towards Standedge Tunnel. Being out on the Moors and admiring the November scenery was an experience! I eventually reached Standedge Tunnel and spent some time at the canalside, people and ducks watching. Before I turned back and descended, I stopped at The Diggle Lock, housed in the Warth Mill (once used for the Woollen Cloth Making industry) for a cocktail. The Diggle Lock is a shop as well as a restaurant which produces and sells amazing sourdough bread!

A wonderful afternoon out where one is enchanted with the autumn colours, and cannot help but be drawn into it artistically.

By Dawn Smallwood
Facebook: @Dawn S Art
Instagram: @artwithdawns

Audlem Lock Flight, Shropshire Union Canal, Cheshire. Acrylic painting by Dawn  Smallwood.

My father and I had a few days exploring and walking the Shropshire Union Canal. We walked a lot, especially so as we had to double back on ourselves because of logistics, particularly with the public transport.

The Shropshire Union Canal, known as the Shroppie, is a canal that runs through Cheshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire. The canal begins/ends at Ellesmere Port in Cheshire and runs to the outskirts of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands. The canal was completed in 1835 and is 66 miles (106 km) in length.

We had begun our walks from Nantwich and Audlem and did all walks from and back to both places. For our first walk, we parked our car in Nantwich and did a round walk via the Barbridge Junction. We saw the Hurleston junction where the Llangollen canal starts and finishes and the Middlewich Branch at Barbridge Junction where we walked part of the canal before being  diverted through the Cheshire fields until we rejoined the Shropshire Union Canal near Nantwich. It was an interesting walk, seeing where the two junctions meet the other canals and we loved the rolling rural scenery.

Nantwich is a pretty and interesting town which is renowned for its aqueduct, designed by Thomas Telford and constructed in 1826. The town has a lot of beautiful Tudor and Georgian historic buildings such as the Cheshire Cat (Hotel and Restaurant) which is housed in one of the town’s oldest buildings. The river Weaver runs through the town and the green space by the river makes riverside walking pleasant.

On our second walk, we walked in the opposite direction to Audlem via Hack Green. We stopped at Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker to visit the museum enroute. The Museum is understandably isolated in the countryside and it was interesting to learn more about The Cold War and see the display of relatable and military memorabilia. We enjoyed our visit there and then continued our walk towards Audlem.

We enjoyed our visit for refreshments and rest at Audlem’s Shroppie Fly*, a canalside pub, and then walked along the infamous Audlem flight of locks. What draws attention to the village is the flight of 15 locks which ascend or descend to 93ft over a mile and half. Engineered by Telford, the flight of locks is worth an exploration of its engineering feat.

Shropshire Union Canal, Audlem, Cheshire. Acrylic painting by Dawn Smallwood

Our third walk was from Audlem to the outskirts of Market Drayton where we were in the heart of rural Cheshire and the Shropshire Plains. The walk was uneventful though rurally pretty and with some notable canal cuttings.

My father since has walked the remainder of the canal down from Market Drayton to Atherley Junction. At the time, we drove down and stopped at Atherley Junction to see where the Shropshire Union Canal and the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal meet.

The featured artwork illustrates Audlem and the village’s flight of locks. I painted them on paper using acrylics. You can check out my art and creations on Facebook and Instagram.

Our canal walking adventures to continue…where? We’ll see!

*At the time of writing this the pub is temporarily closed

Sorry for my long hiatus but it’s good to be back writing again.  Last autumn I made a couple of return visits to the Huddersfield Narrow Canal where I did some short walks to and from Standedge Tunnel from both the Eastern and Western portals.  Autumn is one of my favourite seasons and I always feel the autumn colours are special on this canal particularly around Lock 21W in Uppermill, Saddleworth.

One of the highlights was stopping at the Watersedge Café by the tunnel (Eastern portal) for its wonderful pumpkin soup and homemade bread, a perfect antidote, and a lovely place to reflect and relax.

I did a through trip of the tunnel a few years ago and it was a unique experience.  I travelled from the Diggle portal to the Marsden one.  It’s a long ride, approximately two hours, but certainly an experience one needs to do to experience the tunnel’s superlatives – longest, deepest, and highest tunnel in Britain.

Boats trips are now up and running so I took a shorter boat trip (the through trips aren’t currently available) from Marsden.  I had Stuart, an interesting and informative volunteer guide, who gave me a lot of facts and information about the tunnel and its related history and legends.  I feel I’ve got a lot from this trip especially learning about the facts and stories.

I’m an artist, my Instagram page is below, and I painted the pictures below depicting what is inside the tunnel with its waterfall feel and geological colours.  I also painted a picture on the Eastern side of the canal.

Huddersfield Narrow Canal is one of my favourite waterways.  It is known as the “Everest” of the canals and one of the seven wonders of the waterways. Now travel is opening up again, I look forward to exploring the waterways whether they are new ones or revisiting my favourite ones.  I can’t wait to post my explorations here.

Instagram page: @artwithdawns

Useful websites:
Canal River Trust places to visit
Canal River Trust canal history