There is so much to see and explore here in the UK, from historic castles to vibrant modern cities. But there is also a wealth of incredible routes that are easily accessible for all to enjoy. Here at Quingo Scooters, we’re always excited to share them with you and, in this latest series of the best accessible routes in the country that you can enjoy on your mobility scooter, we’re finding out what the Leeds-Liverpool Canal has to offer.
The Leeds-Liverpool Canal
Two exciting northern cities, Leeds and Liverpool, joined by a stretch of one of England’s most fascinating waterways. So many of the UK’s network of canals are well worth exploring. They’re a haven of peace and quiet and, whether you’re on the water or using the many miles of restored towpaths, they offer an accessible way to see the hidden side of the country. The Leeds-Liverpool canal is a real gem and is over 127 miles in length, making it the longest single canal in Britain. Of course, much of its fascination lies in the industrial heritage of the region: not just the remarkable scale and ambition of the canal itself, but also the many buildings that were built along it. So, if you’re visiting, make sure you take time to explore sights such as the Bingley Five Rise Locks as well as the historic town of Saltaire.
But it’s not just one for the industrial archaeologists among you: the Leeds-Liverpool canal also passes through some stunningly beautiful countryside. Whether you’re accessing the canal via its towpaths or seeing things from on the water, you’ll get to experience plenty of picturesque Yorkshire Dales villages and the Pennine hills.
Accessibility
Clearly, when you have a route that is as long and as varied as the Leeds-Liverpool canal, then there will be a broad range of levels of accessibility along its length. However, a great place to start to get the information you need before a visit is the Canal and River Trust’s website. They have a very useful map of many of the key locations along the canal, as well as a dedicated accessibility page here. Generally speaking, towpaths are often flatter and more accessible than most footpaths, but it is still well worth checking locally before you venture out.
Of course, one of the very best ways to see the canal when it comes to accessibility is to be on the water itself. There are several companies who offer trips along the canal on accessible boats. We recommend contacting the team who run The Rose of Parbold, based at Parbold in Lancashire, as a great place to start. Give Mike Walker a call on 01257 463269 to find out more about his boat.
Sites like Bingley Five Rise Locks are also well worth a visit. This spectacular stepped system of locks has a lovely cafe with an accessible toilet next to it, but unfortunately there is no Blue Badge parking nearby (only on-street). Take a look at DisabledGo.com’s review of the locks here.
There are direct trains and regular rail services to Leeds and Manchester from most of the UK, and each city also has its own international airport. They are also well connected both to each other and to the wider motorway network by the M62, if you are travelling to the region by car.
Share your accessible route with Quingo!
If you’ve been to visit any great accessible routes on your Quingo Scooter, or would like us to write about a particular place you have visited, we’d be delighted to hear from you! You can email your stories, recommendations and pictures by filling out the contact form on our website and we’ll feature them on our blog.
About Quingo Scooters
The Quingo Scooter range features six models to suit your needs and budget. New models are now available from just £22/week on our new contract hire scheme which includes all servicing and maintenance, Insurance, Roadside Recovery, Call Outs and Consumables including Batteries and Tyres.
For more information on this or the latest Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any Service questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.
Keep up to date with the latest mobility scooter advice, tips and interesting places to visit on the Quingo Scooter Users Blog. Connect with Quingo and keep up to date with all our latest news on Facebook and Twitter.
All Quingo Personal Mobility Vehicles are provided by Forever Active, the UK’s exclusive distributor. Forever Active is a trading name of Advantage Marketing Corporation Limited (AMC). AMC Limited is an appointed representative of First Senior Insurance Services Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. First Senior Insurance Services FSA Register number is 308478.
