The Water Road

Braunston is at the heart of the canal network, and in this edition of The Water Road we explore its waterways history, including how the working boatmen adopted the village church as the Cathedral of the Canals. Plus we hear how the Braunston Canal Society does voluntary work on the canal and towpath, and we learn about making fenders. The Water Road is produced and presented by Adam Porter. If y...

Hatton Locks are known as the Stairway to Heaven -- twenty-one wide locks on the Grand Union Canal just outside Warwick. In this epsiode, a volunteer lock keeper gives his tips on how to work the flight in the most efficient way, and we learn about the candlestick paddle gear which are unique to this part of the Grand Union. The Water Road is produced and presented by Adam Porter. If you like the...

Our previous travels saw us on the Macclesfield Canal, but now we've turned onto the Trent and Mersey and are tackling Harecastle Tunnel. It's more than a mile and a half long and the roof is so low in places that you have to crouch down to steer your boat. It's unusual because there are huge fans to keep the air moving, and doors on the southern portal. We experience the tunnel on ele...

Campbell Robb took over as Chief Executive of the Canal and River Trust towards the end of 2025. In this interview, he says the canal network is facing an inflection point, outlines his plans to reset CRT's relationship with boaters, and describes how moving water around the country could make the canals a vital part of the UK's infrastructure. The Water Road is produced and presented by A...

We're back at Crick for the annual boat show, the biggest show in the boating calendar. We hear from the vlogger's Paul and Anthony from Narrowboat Life Unlocked about their new boat; we interrupt some live signwriting, and we hear about the tug which had a starring role in the Peaky Blinders film. The charity Forces Veterans Afloat explains how a boat can change lives. Plus we find out ho...

We're in Droitwich for the St Richard's Canal Festival, an event which has it's roots in the restoration of the Droitwich Canals. We hear from the organiser about it's history and the canal society behind it, learn about the historic boat, Bramble , talk to exhibitors and stall holders, and the trust which operates the community boat, Pamela May 2 . And the whole event concludes wi...

Canals and railways often exist close to each other, and it was the railways which often killed the trade on canals because they could move goods so much more quickly. But the Macclesfield Canal has actually outlived its rival: the Macclesfield, Bollington, and Marple Railway closed in 1970 and was converted into a popular cycle and footpath. In this episode of The Water Road we explore Middlewood...

We have a new crew member: Macc the Border Terrier puppy -- so this episode is all about pets on board. We speak to a puppy trainer, Cal Thorpe, about how to get the best out of your dog. We also hear from Pip from Narrowboat Oleanna about how Tilley the boat cat is kept safe, thanks to health and safety rules. Plus Gemma and Jack tell us about how their Border, Goblin, gets on with their tortoise...

A former trans-shipment warehouse at Marple Junction, where the Macclesfield and Peak Forest Canals meet, is currently being renovated by a community project. In this episode of The Water Road we speak to its chair, Sue Ingham, who tells us about the history of the building, the way the people of the town clubbed together to buy it, and what it will become later this year thanks in part to a big L...

CanalPlanAC is one of the most used canal websites, used by boaters to work out the best route between two places, and how long it might take. We speak to Nick Atty, the man behind the whole thing. We find out how it started, how it works, and what might change in the future. The Water Road is produced and presented by Adam Porter. If you enjoy what I do, please consider supporting me: https://ko-...

The Water Road is back for a second series! In the past few months we have moved onto our new boat, and in this episode we talk to James Attwood from Braidbar Boats who built it, and Mark Langley from Waterways World who wrote a review of it. We hear about some of the work that goes into fitting out a new boat, and the changes seen in the industry in recent years. The Water Road is produced and pr...

It's Christmas, and Santa is in his grotto at the National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port in Cheshire. The elves are running boat trips so children can help them find all the decorations they've lost, and Mother Claus is keeping the whole show on the road. We hear from her, Santa himself, and one of the boat trip skippers, and learn some history about Ellesmere Port along the way. Plus there a...

The Montgomery Canal is under restoration, and has been for more than fifty years. In this episode of The Water Road we speak to Chris Chambers, a lock keeper at Frankton Locks, who's been involved in the restoration since the 1960s, and we hear from Tom Fulda, the Shopshire Union Canal Society's Restoration Project Manager, about what's happening right now to extend the navigable length. Plus we...

In this episode of The Water Road we reach Llangollen, at the end of the Llangollen Canal, and explore the Horseshoe Falls a couple of miles from the town, which supply the canal with water from the River Dee. Plus we hear about the horse drawn boat trips up to the falls, and learn about the horses that do the work. Produced and presented by Adam Porter.

In this episode of The Water Road we cross the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct on the Llangollen Canal, one of the wonders of the waterways. We get the facts and figures about this record-breaking aqueduct, and talk to people who've walked, boated, or kayaked across. The Water Road is produced and presented by Adam Porter.

In this episode of The Water Road, we begin a journey along the Llangollen Canal, and discover why the water flows so strongly. Hurleston Reservoir near Nantwich in Cheshire takes around 40 million litres of water a day from the canal, which brings it nearly fifty miles from North Wales. We speak to Rob Moore from United Utilities , who explains why the water is needed and what happens to it next....

In this episode of The Water Road, we walk a couple of minutes from the Shropshire Union Canal in Cheshire to the Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker . This underground building was on permanent alert in the 1980s and 90s, standing by to become the seat of government for north west England in the event of a nuclear attack. We learn about the site's history, and about the museum it has become. Back on...

In this episode of The Water Road we're at Cholmondeston Lock on the Middlewich Branch in Cheshire, where members of the local branch of the Inland Waterways Association are working boaters through the lock during a fundraising and awareness raising weekend. Hear from volunteers and boater's they've helped. We'll also try to get to the bottom of how the lock's name is pronounced. The Water Road is...

In this extra episode of The Water Road, we examine the issue of the moment -- extreme water shortages which have led to canal and lock closures in the north of England and the Midlands. We hear from businesses affected, including Kingsground Narrowboats on the South Oxford, Braidbar Boats on the Macclesfield Canal, Chamberlain Chandlery on the Middlewich Arm, and Grand Union Narrowboats in Northa...

In this episode of The Water Road we travel along the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. We visit the Bratch Locks near Womborne, which look like a staircase but aren't. We speak to Craig Williams from the Birmingham Anglers Association who was hosting a Let's Fish event, and we hear from the owners of a house which has a lock bywash flowing underneath it. The Water Road is produced a...

In this episode of The Water Road we visit a floating market on the Shropshire Union Canal, and hear from some of the people trading from their boats. Guests include Julie Tonkin of the Roving Canal Traders Association who tells us about her canal art ; Helen Tidy of Wild Side Preserves ; the artist, Emma Bradley ; Kate Newman who makes glass items; and Paul Partridge from the Baked on Board pizza...

This episode of The Water Road comes from Beeston in Nottinghamshire, where the Beeston Cut leaves the River Trent. The main focus of the episode is the Canalside Heritage Centre , a buzzing community hub in a row of canal cottages. We hear from Stewart Craven, who masterminded the project to save the buildings from dereliction -- and he tells us about the latest attraction, which shows one of the...

In this episode of The Water Road we investigate the world of electric propulsion boats, with a visit to the Electrika boat show . We hear how the show came about, learn about the different types of hybrid systems, drill down into the green credentials, and discuss some of the challenges for the future. Guests include Rob Howdle and Caroline Badger from the boat builders, Ortomarine ; Ricky Lee fr...

In this episode of The Water Road we reach Foxton Locks, where we have quite a wait to get down Britain's longest flight of staircase locks. A volunteer lock keeper tells us why it's so important to operate the paddles in the right order, and gongoozlers tell us why they decided to visit the site. Plus we hear about the history of the inclined plane boat lift, which replaced the locks for a while...

In this special edition of The Water Road, we talk to Richard Parry, who's stepping down this summer as Chief Executive of the Canal and River Trust. He answers questions about the performance of the charity, and warns that funding cuts means there's potential jeopardy for the canals in the future. The Water Road is produced and presented by Adam Porter.