The Water Road

We are heading back north after our summer on the River Thames, but our route has had to be changed because of water shortages caused by the summer drought. Atherstone Locks have re-opened making our journey slightly easier. In this episode, we talk to one of the volunteer lock keepers about what it was like while the locks and the canal was closed, and we speak to boaters who've also had to c...

What do the waterways mean to you? That's a question being asked in a campaign by the Inland Waterways Association . The IWA says there are about 5000 miles of navigable waterways in the UK, and there must be 5000 reasons why they should be preserved. In this episode, we hear from Tiffany Gale-Haynes tells us about an epic cycle ride she completed from Oxfordshire to Manchester, during which s...

Being a lock keeper on the River Thames must be one of the best jobs out there -- but there's more to it than meets the eye. In this episode of The Water Road, the man who looks after Abingdon Lock tells us about what his job entails, how he ensures boats get through as efficiently as possible, and how he's responsible for controlling the water level on his part of the river. Plus we find...

In this episode we visit the workshop of Will Howard, a builder and restorer of traditional Thames wooden boats. We're talking skiffs, dinghies, and canoes, and find out how much work it takes to restore boats which can date back to 1900. The Water Road is produced and presented by Adam Porter. To see what Will's boats look like, check out his website -- or look him up on Instagram where h...

We have reached the most southerly point of the connected network, Godalming Wharf on the River Wey in Surrey, and in this episode we'll work our way back to the River Thames. Along the river we hear about watersports training from Roar Outdoor who have bases in Godalming and Guildford; and we call in to the Byfleet Boat Club to hear about the history of the Wey Navigation and the background o...

In this extra episode of The Water Road, we hear about Caring for Carers -- a project which is planning to put a barge in a disused part of Paddington Basin, to act as a decompression space for the hard-working staff at the Emergency Department of St Mary's Hospital. St Mary's is one of London's four major trauma centres, and around 160 staff are on duty at any one time. The barge will...

We're in London, moored in Paddington Basin and exploring the history of the area and nearby Little Venice. We chat to Julian Futter and Robert Bruce from the Paddington Waterways and Maida Vale Society about the area's history, how Little Venice got its name, and how it developed into the upmarket haven it is today. Find out about the importance of pubs, the proliferation of daries, and w...

On our journey south on the Grand Union Canal we've reached Rickmansworth in Hertfordshire. Next to Batchworth Lock is the Rickmansworth Waterways Trust, and we'll find out about their work in promoting the waterways and educating people about how they work and how important they are. We'll also hear about the Trust's historic wooden narrowboat, Roger , and how a whole family lived...

The Aylesbury Arm, which branches off the Grand Union main line, is only just over six miles long but it's packed with interest. It starts at Marsworth Junction with the only staircase locks on the southern section of the GU, and it has sixteen locks in all. The Aylesbury Canal Society has spent decades promoting the arm and giving people a reason to head down it. In this episode we find out a...

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....