Wednesday 20th July 2016 The temperature was much more reasonable today & there was a bit of a breeze, so we headed off planning to stop in Kildwick for lunch then on to Skipton as we now needed water.
First we passed the picturesque long term moorings at the farm just near Cowling swing bridge. Lovely moorings with a pungent aroma!
The canal is pretty here & the views across the valley are fabulous, this is the Yorkshire I had envisaged, rolling hills & quaint little communities nestled in the hillside with their history still profoundly visible although now much updated around the canal side areas.
Kildwick is a very pretty village & the canal again seems to be above the road as we pass through.
We are starting to see more boats now, especially hire boats & day boats, this family came towards us really pleased with themselves for their boat handling & the chap said ” I did that well, was I on the right side?” my reply was ” Yes, you did that well but no you weren’t on the right side of the canal, lesson learned for next time!” they then promptly drove themselves straight into the bushes!
We stopped for a bit of lunch just near Bradley. The Leeds and Liverpool Canal passes through the village. The Bradley section of the canal was completed in 1775. Upon entering the village there is a swing bridge crossing the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. On 22 April 2007, a Polish war memorial was unveiled by the canal, in memory of seven Polish airmen who died when their plane crashed near Skipton in 1943.
Shortly after passing through Snaygill we arrived in Skipton. First port of call was the water point & rubbish disposal at Gallows Footbridge. The water points are immediately under the footbridge & its easy to miss them, there are 3 day moorings on the other side, as it looked busy on this lovely hot sunny day & not knowing what other moorings were available we just reversed over to the last slot on the 3 day & decided to have a look at what else was available whilst we walked the dog & got a much needed ice cream.
It is busy at the 3 day moorings with multiple water points opposite & endless hire boats, day boats & charity boats going up & down. There is a Tesco Express right beside the footbridge & the main town centre is just a few minutes walk from the water point side.
6 Miles 0 Locks 10 Swing Bridges 3.5 Hours
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