Lancaster Canal (Main Line)

The maximum dimensions for a boat to be able to travel on the waterway are 72 feet long and 14 feet wide. The maximum headroom is 8 feet and 5 inches. The maximum draught is not known.
It has junctions with the Lancaster Canal (Glasson Branch) at Lodge Hill Junction and with the River Ribble (Ribble Link) at Ribble Link - Lancaster Canal Junction.
Notable features of the waterway include Lune Aqueduct
The navigational authority for this waterway is Canal & River TrustRelevant publications — Waterway Maps:
- Waterway Routes 01M - England and Wales Map
- Waterway Routes 09M - Lancaster Canal Map (Downloadable)
Relevant publications — Waterway Guides:
Relevant publications — Waterway Histories:
Preston Terminus Southern end of canal |
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Ashton Basin | ¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Roebuck Bridge No 11 | 2¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Blackpool Road Bridge No 11A | 3½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Woodplumpton Road Bridge No 12 | 4¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Cadley Services Cadley Visitor Moorings and Services |
5¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Savick Aqueduct No 13 | 6½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Hollinshed Fold Bridge No 14 | 7½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Hollingshead Fold Aqueduct | 1 mile | 0 locks | |
Bexhill Road Winding Hole | 1 mile and ¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Ingolashes Bridge No 15 | 1 mile and 1¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Cottam Mill House Bridge No 16 | 1 mile and 3¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Ribble Link - Lancaster Canal Junction | 1 mile and 4 furlongs | 0 locks | |
Tom Benson Way Bridge Winding Hole | 1 mile and 5½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Tom Benson Way Bridge No 16A | 1 mile and 5½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Cottam Hall Bridge No 17 | 1 mile and 7½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Lea Malt Kiln Bridge No 18 | 2 miles and 4¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Quaker's Bridge No 19 | 2 miles and 5¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Site of Bridge No 20 | 2 miles and 7½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Brier's Bridge No 21 | 3 miles and 1½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Lea Lane Bridge No 22 | 3 miles and 4 furlongs | 0 locks | |
Ward's House Bridge No 23 | 3 miles and 5 furlongs | 0 locks | |
Ward's House Winding Hole No 1 | 3 miles and 6 furlongs | 0 locks | |
Ward's House Winding Hole No 2 | 4 miles and ¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Salwick Hall Winding Hole | 4 miles and 2¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Salwick Hall Bridge No 24 | 4 miles and 3 furlongs | 0 locks | |
Salwick Wharf Bridge No 25 | 4 miles and 4¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Pipe Bridge South of Kirkham Bridge | 4 miles and 7¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Kirkham Bridge No 26 | 5 miles | 0 locks | |
Six Mile Bridge No 27 | 5 miles and 1¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
New Bridge No 28 | 5 miles and 4¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
M55 Motorway Bridge No 28A | 5 miles and 7 furlongs | 0 locks | |
Kellet's Bridge No 29 | 6 miles and ¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Roots Bridge No 30 | 6 miles and 4 furlongs | 0 locks | |
Blackleach Lane Marina | 6 miles and 6¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Stone Chimneys Bridge No 31 | 7 miles | 0 locks | |
Swill Brook Bridge No 32 | 7 miles and 1¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Swill Brook Basin | 7 miles and 2 furlongs | 0 locks | |
Woodplumpton Aqueduct No 33 | 7 miles and 5 furlongs | 0 locks | |
Whinnyfield Bridge No 34 | 7 miles and 6 furlongs | 0 locks | |
Bell Fold Bridge No 35 | 8 miles and 2¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Moons Bridge No 36 | 8 miles and 5¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Moons Bridge Marina Two entrances close to each other. |
8 miles and 6¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Hollowforth Swing Bridge | 8 miles and 6¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Hollowforth Winding Hole | 8 miles and 7 furlongs | 0 locks | |
Hollowforth Aqueduct No 38 Over Barton Brook |
9 miles | 0 locks | |
Hepgreave Bridge No 39 | 9 miles and 1¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Hankinson Bridge No 40 | 9 miles and 3 furlongs | 0 locks | |
Park Head Bridge No 41 | 9 miles and 4½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Park Head Winding Hole | 9 miles and 5¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
White Horse Bridge No 42 | 10 miles and 3¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
White Horse Winding Hole | 10 miles and 5½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Head Nook Bridge No 43 | 11 miles and ¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Roebuck Bridge No 44 | 11 miles and 4 furlongs | 0 locks | |
Garstang Road Narrows | 11 miles and 4½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Roebuck Aqueduct | 11 miles and 4¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Bilsborrow Winding Hole Bilsborrow |
11 miles and 6½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Myerscough Hall Bridge No 45 Myerscough Hall 1 mile |
11 miles and 7 furlongs | 0 locks | |
Myerscough Aqueduct | 11 miles and 7¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Brock Aqueduct No 46 Over the River Brock |
12 miles and 2 furlongs | 0 locks | |
Barton Grange Marina | 12 miles and 5¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Green Man Bridge No 47 Preston to Lancaster Road |
12 miles and 5¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Green Man Field Bridge No 48 | 13 miles | 0 locks | |
Claughton Lane Bridge No 49 | 13 miles and 1¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Towncroft Bridge No 50 | 13 miles and 4¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Stubbings Aqueduct Not visible or accesssible you can only see stream from towpath |
14 miles and ¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Stubbins Bridge No 51 | 14 miles and 1¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Calder Aqueduct No 52 Over the River Calder |
14 miles and 4 furlongs | 0 locks | |
Catterall Bridge No 53 | 14 miles and 4¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Catterall Bridge Winding Hole | 14 miles and 4¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Ray Lane Bridge No 54 | 14 miles and 6½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Dobsons Bridge No 55 | 15 miles and 1 furlong | 0 locks | |
Bowgreave Field Bridge No 56 | 15 miles and 4 furlongs | 0 locks | |
Greenhalgh Castle Bridge No 57 | 15 miles and 5¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Greenhalgh Castle Bridge Winding Hole | 15 miles and 5¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Dimples Bridge No 58 With pipe bridge alongside |
15 miles and 7¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Dimples Bridge Winding Hole | 15 miles and 7¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Garstang Road Bridge No 59 | 16 miles and 1 furlong | 0 locks | |
Byerworth Bridge No 60 | 16 miles and 2 furlongs | 0 locks | |
Wyre Aqueduct No 61 Over the River Wyre |
16 miles and 4½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
The Moorings Basin | 16 miles and 5¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Kepple Lane Bridge No 62 | 16 miles and 5¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Kepple Lane Bridge Winding Hole | 16 miles and 5¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Moss Lane Bridge Winding Hole (south) | 16 miles and 7¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Moss Lane Bridge No 63 | 16 miles and 7¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Moss Lane Bridge Winding Hole (north) | 16 miles and 7¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Pennine Gardens Pipe Bridge | 17 miles and ½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
New Road Bridge No 63B | 17 miles and ¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Cathouse Bridge Winding Hole | 17 miles and 1¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Cathouse Bridge No 64 | 17 miles and 1¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Bridge House Marina (entrance No 1) | 17 miles and 2¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Bridge House Marina (entrance No 2) | 17 miles and 2¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Garstang Marina Entrance | 17 miles and 3¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Nateby Hall Bridge No 66 | 17 miles and 7½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Ford Green Bridge No 67 | 18 miles and 2 furlongs | 0 locks | |
Bells Bridge No 68 | 18 miles and 3½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Bells Bridge Winding Hole | 18 miles and 3½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Snape Wood Bridge No 69 | 18 miles and 5½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Davis Bridge No 70 | 19 miles and 1¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Winmarleigh Bridge No 71 | 19 miles and 4 furlongs | 0 locks | |
Kiln Tree Bridge No 72 | 19 miles and 5½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Cabus Nook Bridge No 73 | 20 miles and ¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Cartmels Bridge No 74 | 20 miles and 4¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Ratcliffe Bridge Winding Hole | 20 miles and 7¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Ratcliffe Bridge No 75 | 21 miles | 0 locks | |
Corless Bridge No 76 | 21 miles and 1¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Smiths Bridge No 77 (Forton) | 21 miles and 4 furlongs | 0 locks | |
Stoney Lane Bridge No 78 | 21 miles and 4¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Cockerham Road Bridge No 79 | 22 miles and 1½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Richmond Bridge Winding Hole | 22 miles and 4 furlongs | 0 locks | |
Richmond Bridge No 80 | 22 miles and 4¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Potters Brook Bridge No 81 | 22 miles and 6¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Cocker Aqueduct No 82 Over River Cocker |
22 miles and 7¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Hay Car Bridge No 83 | 23 miles and ¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Ellel Grange Bridge No 84 | 23 miles and 5 furlongs | 0 locks | |
Double Bridge No 85 | 24 miles | 0 locks | |
Lodge Hill Junction Junction with Lancaster Canal - Glasson Dock Branch |
24 miles and ¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Galgate Basin Wharf | 24 miles and 3¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Galgate Bridge No 86 | 24 miles and 4 furlongs | 0 locks | |
Conder Aqueduct No 87 Over River Conder |
24 miles and 6¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Ellel Hall Bridge No 88 | 24 miles and 7¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Galgate Winding Hole | 25 miles and 1 furlong | 0 locks | |
New Park Bridge No 89 | 25 miles and 6¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Ashton Park Bridge Winding Hole | 26 miles and 1¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Ashton Park Bridge No 90 | 26 miles and 1½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Brankbeck Bridge No 91 | 26 miles and 4¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Tarnwater Aqueduct | 26 miles and 6½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Scotforth Bridge No 92 Start of Burrow Heights Cutting |
26 miles and 7¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Carr Lane Bridge No 93 | 27 miles and 3 furlongs | 0 locks | |
Pipe Bridge No XX3 (Lancaster Canal) | 27 miles and 4¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Deep Cutting Bridge No 94 | 27 miles and 7¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Haverbreaks Bridge No 95 | 29 miles and ½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Aldcliffe Road Footbridge No 96 | 29 miles and 1¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Aldcliffe Road Railway Bridge No 97 | 29 miles and 2½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Ashton Road South Bridge No 98 | 29 miles and 3½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
The Water Witch PH Canalside |
29 miles and 4½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Lancaster Depot Footbridge | 29 miles and 4¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Penny Street Bridge No 99 | 29 miles and 5½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Friarage Bridge No 100 | 29 miles and 7¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Nelson Street Bridge No 101 | 30 miles | 0 locks | |
Moor Lane Bridge No 102 | 30 miles and ½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Wolseley Street Footbridge No 103 | 30 miles and 2½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Ridge Lane Bridge No 104 | 30 miles and 4 furlongs | 0 locks | |
Caton Road Bridge No 105 | 31 miles and 1½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Caton Road Footbridge | 31 miles and 2¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Bulk Road Aqueduct No 106 | 31 miles and 5 furlongs | 0 locks | |
Lune Aqueduct (southern end) | 31 miles and 6½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Lune Aqueduct (northern end) Over the River Lune, built by Rennie |
31 miles and 7¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Halton Road Winding Hole | 31 miles and 7½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Halton Road Bridge No 108 | 31 miles and 7¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Beaumont Hall Bridge No 109 | 32 miles and 1¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Beaumont Turnpike Bridge No 110 | 32 miles and 3¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Hammerton Hall Bridge No 111 | 32 miles and 5½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Folly Bridge Winding Hole | 33 miles and ¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Folly Bridge No 112 | 33 miles and ¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Williamsland Bridge No 113 | 33 miles and 2¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Belmont Bridge No 114 | 33 miles and 3½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Belmont Bridge Winding Hole | 33 miles and 3½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Bland Lane Bridge No 115 | 33 miles and 5¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Rakes Head Bridge No 116 | 34 miles and ½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Highfield Drive Footbridge No 117 | 34 miles and 3 furlongs | 0 locks | |
Hest Bank Bridge No 118 Hest Bank |
34 miles and 4 furlongs | 0 locks | |
Hest Bank Winding Hole | 34 miles and 5¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Hatlex Bridge No 119 | 34 miles and 6½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Hest Bank Swing Bridge No 120 | 35 miles and 1¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Town End Bridge No 121 | 35 miles and 4¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Bolton Church Bridge No 122 Bolton-le-Sands - Packet Boat Hotel |
35 miles and 7½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Bolton Turnpike Bridge No 123 | 36 miles and ¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Chorleys Bridge No 124 | 36 miles and 3¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Bolton Cinder Ovens Bridge No 125 | 36 miles and 5¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Barker's Bridge No 126 | 37 miles and 1¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Thwaite End Bridge No 127 | 37 miles and 4¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
The Canal Turn PH Canalside |
37 miles and 7 furlongs | 0 locks | |
Lundsfield Wharf | 37 miles and 7¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Carnforth Bridge No 128 | 38 miles and 2½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Hodgson's Bridge No 129 | 38 miles and 4 furlongs | 0 locks | |
A601(M) Motorway Bridge The bridge is divided into three spans. |
39 miles | 0 locks | |
M6 Motorway Bridge | 39 miles and 2¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Kellet Lane Bridge No 130 | 39 miles and 5½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Capernwray Winding Hole | 40 miles and 2¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Capernwray Bridge No 131 | 40 miles and 4¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Keer Aqueduct No 132 Over River Keer |
40 miles and 4¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Capernwray Railway Bridge No 133 | 40 miles and 5¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Lovers Creek Junction with Disused Quarry Branch |
40 miles and 7 furlongs | 0 locks | |
Hodgesons Bridge No 134 | 41 miles and 1¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Borwick Hall Bridge No 135 | 41 miles and 4¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Sander's Bridge No 136 | 41 miles and 5¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Taylors Bridge No 137 | 41 miles and 5¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Tewitfield Old Turnpike Bridge No 138 | 42 miles | 0 locks | |
Tewitfield Marina | 42 miles and 1 furlong | 0 locks | |
Tewitfield End of navigation, winding hole and C&RT services |
42 miles and 1¾ furlongs | 0 locks |
- The Water Witch PH — associated with The Water Witch PH
- Public House
- The Canal Turn PH — associated with The Canal Turn PH
- Public House
Wikipedia has a page about Lancaster Canal
The Lancaster Canal is a canal in North West England, originally planned to run from Westhoughton in Lancashire to Kendal in south Cumbria (historically in Westmorland). The section around the crossing of the River Ribble was never completed, and much of the southern end leased to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, of which it is now generally considered part.
Of the canal north of Preston, only the section from Preston to Tewitfield near Carnforth in Lancashire is currently open to navigation for 42 miles (67.6 km), with the canal north of Tewitfield having been severed in three places by the construction of the M6 motorway, and by the A590 road near Kendal. The southern part, from Johnson's Hillock to Aspull, remains navigable as part of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. The planned continuation to Westhoughton was never built.