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Pennine Waterways
Rochdale Canal
Cheshire and Yorkshire
and Lancashire



























The Rochdale Canal
it starts in the middle of Manchester where it has access to the Bridgewater Canal. Then it goes northwards into the southerly foothills of the Pennines, to Todmorden and Hebden Bridge, turns then to the east and then, at Sowerby Bridge, into the Calder and Hebble Navigation.

History
Planning started at the same time as those for its bigger brother in the north, the Leeds & Liverpool. But, one finished with it earlier, opening was in 1811.
In 1952 it was closed and exactly 50 years later opened again.

The surrounding
the beginning in Manchester is urban of course but once, behind the agglomerations, one navigates through the very natural, rather rough environment of the hilly Pennines. The mostly dusky places are part of this unique scenery.
Altogether, it's one of those canals one either loves or dislikes!