Leeds & Liverpool Canal Lock Flight Operating Times, 2023

From 1st November Bingley 3 & 5 Rise/ Kirkstall Forge and Newlay will move to winter opening times. 72 hours notice is required for booking passage. Please follow the links below for further details. 

Kirkstall Forge & Newlay Locks Winter Booking Information | Canal & River Trust (canalrivertrust.org.uk)

Bingley 3 & 5 Rise Winter Booking information | Canal & River Trust (canalrivertrust.org.uk)

As a result of the continued unsettled weather, which has substantially increased the inflows into the reservoirs that feed the Leeds & Liverpool canal, and the positive impact of the restricted operating times, we are able to bring forward the re-opening of navigation without restriction at the following lock flights along the Leeds & Liverpool canal to Friday 4 August.

From Friday 4 August, the following lock flights will be open without restriction:

North West:

• Johnsons Hillock Lock Flight (58 to 64).
• Barrowford Lock Flight (45 to 51). 
• Greenberfield Lock Flight (42 to 44).

Yorkshire & North East:

• Bank Newton Locks (41 to 36).
• Gargrave (Holme Bridge Lock 30).

From Friday 4 August, the following lock flights will be open with the following opening times:

North West:

• Wigan Lock Flight (86 to 65) will be open from 8am until 5pm, last entry 12pm.
• Blackburn Lock Flight (57 to 52) will be open from 10am until 4pm, last entry at 3pm.

Yorkshire & North East:

• Bingley 3 & 5 Rise locks.

Morning                                

• Passages down the lock flights 8am until 10am, last entry at 9am.  
• Passages up the lock flights 10am until 12pm, last entry at 11am.

Afternoon                                 

• Passages down the lock flight 1pm until 3pm, last entry at 2pm.  
• Passages up the lock flight 3pm until 5pm, last entry at 4pm.

• Newlay, Forge & Kirkstall locks

Will be available for self-operation between the hours of 8am and 4pm daily. However, there will be roving lock keepers between Leeds & Newlay to offer assistance through the locks if required.

You can help us conserve water by:

• Sharing locks where possible and making the best use of the water available.
• Ensuring paddles are fully closed once they have passed through a lock.
• Aiming for minimal contact when navigating through locks by ensuring gates are fully open as they pass through. Pushing gates open using a boat can damage the gate lining, increasing its leakage.

Our teams will continue to monitor our reservoir holdings throughout the season. Please note, these operating times will remain under review and could be subject to change.

The ongoing unsettled weather has substantially increased the inflows into the reservoirs that feed the Leeds & Liverpool canal. In addition, the positive impact of the restricted operating times along the lock flights have helped reduce demand and consequently we are now able to open the navigation without restrictions at the following lock flights along the Leeds & Liverpool canal from Monday 7August.

From Monday 7 August the following lock flights will be open without opening times:

North West:

• Johnsons Hillock Lock Flight (58 to 64).
• Barrowford Lock Flight (45 to 51). 
• Greenberfield Lock Flight (42 to 44).

Yorkshire & North East:

• Bank Newton Locks (41 to 36).
• Gargrave (Holme Bridge Lock 30).

From Monday 7 August, the following lock flights will be open with the following opening times:

North West:

• Wigan Lock Flight (86 to 65) will be open from 8am until 5pm, last entry 12pm.
• Blackburn Lock Flight (57 to 52) will be open from 10am until 4pm, last entry at 3pm.

Yorkshire & North East:

• Bingley 3 & 5 Rise locks.

Morning                                  

• Passages down the lock flights 8am until 10am, last entry at 9am.  
• Passages up the lock flights 10am until 12pm, last entry at 11am.

Afternoon                                 

• Passages down the lock flight 1pm until 3pm, last entry at 2pm.  
• Passages up the lock flight 3pm until 5pm, last entry at 4pm.

• Newlay, Forge & Kirkstall locks

Will be available for self-operation between the hours of 8am and 4pm daily. However, there will be roving lock keepers between Leeds & Newlay to offer assistance through the locks if required.

You can help us conserve water by:

• Sharing locks where possible and making the best use of the water available.
• Ensuring paddles are fully closed once they have passed through a lock.
• Aiming for minimal contact when navigating through locks by ensuring gates are fully open as they pass through. Pushing gates open using a boat can damage the gate lining, increasing its leakage.

Our teams will continue to monitor our reservoir holdings throughout the season. Please note, these operating times will remain under review and could be subject to change.

Due to increasing pressure on water resources and staffing, the following three sections of canal at Bank Newton and Gargrave will be kept locked until 10am.  Last passage into these sections is 2.30pm and padlocks will be put on the following locks by 3.30pm.

Holme Bridge lock (30) to Higherland lock (32)

Anchor lock (33) to Stegneck (35)

Bank Newton bottom (36) to Bank Newton top (41)

As a result of the navigations entering the busiest time of the year for demand and the current and forecasted dry weather, we are implementing some further restrictions to protect water resources throughout the summer. The following operating times will be implemented along the Leeds & Liverpool canal to help maintain a stable water resource on the dates in this notice:

From Monday 19 June 2023, the following operating times will apply:

North West:

Wigan Lock Flight (Lock 85 to 65) will be open from 8am until 4pm, with last entry at 12pm, daily.

The following lock flights will be open from 10am until 4pm daily:

• Johnsons Hillock Lock Flight (58 to 64). Last entry at 2:30pm.
• Blackburn Lock Flight (52 to 57). Last entry at 2:30pm.
• Barrowford Lock Flight (45 to 51). Last entry at 2:30pm.
• Greenberfield Lock Flight (42 to 44). Last entry at 3pm.

Yorkshire & North East:

The following locks will be open from 10am until 3:30pm, daily:

• Bank Newton Locks (41 to 36). Last entry 2:30pm
• Gargrave (Holme Bridge Lock 30). Last entry 2:30pm

Bingley 3 & 5 Rise locks:

Morning

• Passages down the lock flights between 8am-10am, last entry at 9am.
• Passages up the lock flights between 10am-12pm, last entry at 11am.

Afternoon

• Passages down the lock flight between 1pm-3pm, last entry at 2pm.
• Passages up the lock flight between 3pm-5pm, last entry at 4pm.

Newlay, Forge & Kirkstall locks:

• Will be available for self-operation between the hours of 8am and 4pm daily. However, there will be roving lock keepers between Leeds & Newlay to offer assistance through the locks if required.

Please note that all locks will be padlocked at 4pm every evening.

Information for Lock 1, River Lock, Leeds can be found here.

Our teams will continue to monitor our reservoir holdings throughout the season. Please note, these operating times will remain under review and could be subject to change.

By implementing these operating times, we hope it will allow our customers to plan their journey knowing what to expect over the summer months as our teams continue to work hard to conserve water at every opportunity.

You can help us conserve water by:

• Sharing locks where possible and making the best use of the water available.
• Ensuring paddles are fully closed once they have passed through a lock.
• Aiming for minimal contact when navigating through locks by ensuring gates are fully open as they pass through. Pushing gates open using a boat can damage the gate lining, increasing its leakage.

You can see how working together can help us all save water here, and learn how the Trust manages our water here.

Whilst we have these operating times across the Leeds & Liverpool canal, we have unrestricted waterways across the North West and surrounding areas that are unaffected. You can see more on active water saving restrictions and their locations here.

Learn more about our current Northern Reservoir situation here.

Up until, and inclusive of, Sunday the 18 June, the times previously advised will be in operation.

Leeds & Liverpool canal lock flight operating times, 2023

Whilst essential maintenance works continue to reservoirs which supply the Leeds & Liverpool Canal and following the success of the operating times in 2022, operating times on the Lock Flights will be re-implemented on Monday 3 April 2023. These measures will help support a stable water resource over the coming months.

The following lock flights will be open from 10am until 5pm, with last entry at 4pm, daily:

North West:

• Johnsons Hillock Lock Flight (64 to 58)
• Barrowford Lock Flight (51 to 45)
• Greenberfield Lock Flight (44 to 42)

Wigan Lock Flight (86 to 65) will be open from 8am until 5pm, last entry 12pm.

Blackburn Lock Flight (57 to 52) will be open from 10am until 4pm, last entry at 3pm.

The following lock flights will be open from 10am until 5pm, with last entry at 4pm, daily:

Yorkshire & North East:

• Bank Newton Locks (41 to 36)
• Gargrave (Holme Bridge Lock 30)

Bingley 3 & 5 Rise locks.

• Morning
  • Passages down the lock flights between 08:00-10:00, last entry at 09:00.
  • Passages up the lock flights between 10:00-12:00, last entry at 11:00.

• Afternoon
  • Passages down the lock flight between 13:00-15:00, last entry at 14:00.
  • Passages up the lock flight between 15:00-17:00, last entry at 16:00.

Newlay, Forge & Kirkstall locks

• Will be available for self-operation between the hours of 08:00 and 16:00 daily. However, there will be roving lock keepers between Leeds & Newlay to offer assistance through the locks if required.

Please note that all locks will be padlocked at 16:00 every evening.

Information for Lock 1, River Lock, Leeds can be found here.

By implementing these operating times, we hope it will allow our customers to plan their journey knowing what to expect over the summer months as our teams continue to work hard to conserve water at every opportunity.

You can help us conserve water by:

• Sharing locks where possible and making the best use of the water available.
• Ensuring paddles are fully closed once they have passed through a lock.
• Aiming for minimal contact when navigating through locks by ensuring gates are fully open as they pass through. Pushing gates open using a boat can damage the gate lining, increasing its leakage.

Our teams will continue to monitor our reservoir holdings throughout the season. Please note, these initial operating times will remain under review and could be subject to change.