Tunnel boats craning to go

Spring is in the air and one of the most popular tourist centres in the Pennines is coming out of hibernation ready to celebrate 199 years.

The Stanedge tunnel and visitor centre has reopened ready for the Easter rush.

Boasting the highest, deepest and longest canal tunnel in the country, Stanedge is officially one of the seven wonders of the UK’s inland waterways system.

It opened on April 4, 1811, and already British Waterways, the owners, are making plans for the bicentenary next year.

The visitors’ centre, on the banks of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal at Marsden, has something for everyone — transport enthusiasts, canal boat owners, history buffs, nature enthusiasts, ramblers, walkers and families looking for a good day out.

The canal has been closed at both ends of the tunnel in Diggle and Marsden for the winter.

The popular electric trip boats have been taken away for their annual winter checks and have been hoisted back into the water.

Seasonal staff who work through to winter have been engaged, and the visitor centre with its permanent displays has been dusted off, and incorporates a new section with original blacksmiths’ tools.

The cafe is scrubbed down ready for the thousands of visitors, and artist-in-residence Pat Osborne is getting ready to encourage tourists to try canal arts and traditional crafts such as rag rug making.

Local artists including Saddleworth specialists will be getting their exhibits ready for the summer Artsfest, and there are weekends with falconry displays, a Morris Minor rally, dragon slaying with the Horse Boat Society, and even a night-time guided bat walk.

The boats are back in the water and senior waterway operative Fred Carter, and fellow operative Terry Sigsworth are getting ready to greet the visitors.

Fred is a mine of information after working at the canal for 41 years.

The through trips run once a month on Saturdays, although there is talk of doubling the journeys this year, and there are also 30 minute shorter tunnel trips in a glass topped vessel, while Fred also guides narrow boat owners through the tunnel under their own steam.

The through trips can be booked on 01484 844298, and for more information go to www.standedge.co.uk