Standedge Tunnel discovery boat trip
Standedge Tunnel discovery boat trip – deep under the Pennines
Journey into the heart of the Pennines, with our friendly volunteer guides bringing the tunnel and canal story to life. The boat trip takes you inside the first 500 metres of the amazing Standedge Tunnel and lasts for half an hour.
Have you ever wondered why canals were built, what powered the boats and how the canal is used today? Learn how navvies laboured for nearly 17 years to build the tunnel over 200 years ago, and where the term “legging it” comes from. Standedge Tunnel is a record breaker – it is the longest (three and a quarter miles), highest (645 feet above sea level) and deepest (638ft underground) canal tunnel in Britain.
The car park is a pleasant 15 minutes’ walk along the towpath from the tunnel, so please allow time for this when you arrive for your boat trip (postcode HD7 6DH, next to Marsden Station). The Huddersfield Canal Society run their water taxi boat most weekends, from the railway station to the tunnel. Marsden Shuttle Boat Trips Please follow the link for running times.
Parking on site is limited to disabled badge holders only (HD7 6NQ). Boat trips need to depart on time, otherwise the timings of other trips will be affected. They run from outside the café, by the tunnel mouth.
The trips into Standedge Tunnel are run by an amazing team of volunteers, so operating days depend on availability. We will strive to operate as advertised, but occasionally at short notice we may have to cancel trips for the day due to illness or holidays. We are training new volunteers to expand the days we can run and hope to be open more days in the school holidays. Please see if tickets are on sale for dates you are interested in. You are able to buy online untill 9-00am on the morning of the trip or at the tunnel office before the boat time. After 9.00 if you try and book a ticket for the same day, the system will tell you no tickets are available. This is online only, so please come visit us and buy a ticket from the Tunnel Office by the tunnel portal (subject to availability).
Please note tickets are not refundable unless we are unable to run a trip.
Dogs and other animals are not permitted on board (except assistance animals). Consumption of food and drink, vaping or smoking is not allowed, and helmets must be worn (provided by us) when outside the main cabin. Assistance animals will be allowed on board subject to the judgement of the boatmaster and must remain in the rear section of the boat only. We reserve the right to refuse access onto the boat. If the animal appears to be causing a nuisance to the other passengers or crew, or is frightened of the tunnel the boat will quickly return to the mooring and the passenger with the animal will be asked to disembark. Note: a maximum of one assistance animal will be considered on each trip.
A lift to access the boat is available for those in wheelchairs or unsteady on their feet. Please note we can only fit one wheelchair on each trip.
Still photography is permitted, not video, and you must ensure that others not in your party are removed from photos before posting on social media or anywhere else.
Asmatics it is advisabel to carry your inhaller with you as the cool humid air in the tunnel may cause problems.
Explore around the site, enjoying the scenery and local wildlife in our nature reserve and nearby woodland area.
Ticket options
Standedge Tunnel discovery boat trip – deep under the Pennines
Journey into the heart of the Pennines, with our friendly volunteer guides bringing the tunnel and canal story to life. The boat trip takes you inside the first 500 metres of the amazing Standedge Tunnel and lasts for half an hour.
Have you ever wondered why canals were built, what powered the boats and how the canal is used today? Learn how navvies laboured for nearly 17 years to build the tunnel over 200 years ago, and where the term “legging it” comes from. Standedge Tunnel is a record breaker – it is the longest (three and a quarter miles), highest (645 feet above sea level) and deepest (638ft underground) canal tunnel in Britain.
The car park is a pleasant 15 minutes’ walk along the towpath from the tunnel, so please allow time for this when you arrive for your boat trip (postcode HD7 6DH, next to Marsden Station). The Huddersfield Canal Society run their water taxi boat most weekends, from the railway station to the tunnel. Marsden Shuttle Boat Trips Please follow the link for running times.
Parking on site is limited to disabled badge holders only (HD7 6NQ). Boat trips need to depart on time, otherwise the timings of other trips will be affected. They run from outside the café, by the tunnel mouth.
The trips into Standedge Tunnel are run by an amazing team of volunteers, so operating days depend on availability. We will strive to operate as advertised, but occasionally at short notice we may have to cancel trips for the day due to illness or holidays. We are training new volunteers to expand the days we can run and hope to be open more days in the school holidays. Please see if tickets are on sale for dates you are interested in. You are able to buy online untill 9-00am on the morning of the trip or at the tunnel office before the boat time. After 9.00 if you try and book a ticket for the same day, the system will tell you no tickets are available. This is online only, so please come visit us and buy a ticket from the Tunnel Office by the tunnel portal (subject to availability).
Please note tickets are not refundable unless we are unable to run a trip.
Dogs and other animals are not permitted on board (except assistance animals). Consumption of food and drink, vaping or smoking is not allowed, and helmets must be worn (provided by us) when outside the main cabin. Assistance animals will be allowed on board subject to the judgement of the boatmaster and must remain in the rear section of the boat only. We reserve the right to refuse access onto the boat. If the animal appears to be causing a nuisance to the other passengers or crew, or is frightened of the tunnel the boat will quickly return to the mooring and the passenger with the animal will be asked to disembark. Note: a maximum of one assistance animal will be considered on each trip.
A lift to access the boat is available for those in wheelchairs or unsteady on their feet. Please note we can only fit one wheelchair on each trip.
Still photography is permitted, not video, and you must ensure that others not in your party are removed from photos before posting on social media or anywhere else.
Asmatics it is advisabel to carry your inhaller with you as the cool humid air in the tunnel may cause problems.
Explore around the site, enjoying the scenery and local wildlife in our nature reserve and nearby woodland area.
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