13) East Marton, Skipton. Leeds Liverpool Canal Linear route. BD23 3LP

 

Distance: up to 6.5 miles

 

Terrain: Short sections on the road, then onto the canal towpath.

Two gates to go through – but these are wide enough for all users, Trampers, Terrain Hoppers, Quadrix, wheelchairs etc.

 

A couple of short hilly up and down bits with loose gravel paths, so assistance might be required. I use a Batec Scrambler and needed assistance on 1 section due to it being steep and with a curve in the path – so a run at it wasn’t possible. Should be no problem for rear wheel driven mobility equipment. Manual wheelchair users will struggle on a few up and down sections unless your arms are very strong- you have great wheelchair skills or have assistance. These sections are at the side of the canal locks.

 

The longest steepest section is on the road from the car parking area. Near the Cross Keys Inn. Please be careful on this road section as paths are not provided. 

 

The Cross Keys Inn does do excellent food, but due to covid it was closed during my visit. There is also a café called the Habit, but this was also closed. Please contact them directly to check if they disabled toilets and or are open.

Good Phone coverage as there are a couple of phone masts on route.

 

The route. 

I park outside the cottages next to the Cross Keys Inn, no specific blue badge areas), head towards the pub and bear left down the hill adjacent the red phone box. If someone is assisting, you on the return route- there is a Defibrillator in the phone box! As its quite a hill.

No footpath but every time I have visited the roads have been very quiet.

 

Follow the road down past the stables and Habit Café, you then reach a bridge to the canal. Immediately after the bridge take the track on the right that leads to the canal. Follow this to the right- take care as it’s a sneaky little slope with a curve! Then follow the canal as far as you want to go. The canal will be on your left side.

 

Along the way are a few roots and little rocky sections but if care is taken these shouldn’t present a problem. A couple of wide gates to pass.  After a while you will see the towpath ends – but follow the path up to the bridge – cross the bridge and resume on the opposite side (left) of the canal.

 

I follow the canal past a series of locks and to a gate to the road. Here I turn around and head back the way I came.

 

What will you see?

Often numerous different fowl, large flocks of geese, Swans, Oyster Catcher. Curlew, Kestrel, Heron, Kingfisher. Lots of different Butterfly & moths. Dragonfly, Damselfly. Voles, Shrew and Otters have been spotted. 

Lots of different plants along the way, we noticed many wild Orchids which was nice to see.

  

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