Bingley Locks Walk

This walk takes you from Bingley to Saltaire along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.
The route runs for just under 3 miles along the flat towpath. You'll start north of the train station at the impressive 5 rise locks.... The route then heads south east along the canal and the River Aire.
You'll pass through rural and semi-urban landscapes where preserved locks, bridges, and other structures dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries are evident. The canal water remains calm and reflective, bordered by mature trees and hedgerows along the route.
As you approach Saltaire, the walk transitions into an area marked by distinctive Victorian industrial architecture. Saltaire is a model village built by Sir Titus Salt and is now recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, you can view the restored Salts Mill and other heritage buildings that highlight the area’s historical significance, while the canal continues to provide a quiet backdrop to the town’s cultural and architectural features.
The route is accessible to walkers and cyclists due to its gentle gradients and reliable path surface, with public parking available at both ends. In addition to its historical and natural features, the walk offers practical amenities and well-marked signage, ensuring a safe and informative journey through West Yorkshire’s canal heritage.

Ordnance Survey Map OpenStreetMap OS Map (Mobile GPS) OpenStreetMap (Mobile GPS)

Interactive Map

Route Video

Nearby Routes

Leeds and Liverpool Canal

Photos

Bingley 5 rise locks. The Bingley Five-Rise Locks is a staircase lock system that lifts or lowers boats through five consecutive chambers, achieving a total rise of 59 feet 2 inches (18.03 meters) over a 320-foot (98-meter) stretch. This design makes it the steepest flight of locks in the United Kingdom, with a gradient of approximately 1:5. Each chamber is slightly over 14 feet (4.3 meters) wide, accommodating the canal's broad dimensions. The structure is recognized as a Grade I listed building due to its historical and engineering significance. Since its opening on 21 March 1774, the Five-Rise Locks have been a notable feat of engineering and continue to serve as a prominent feature of the canal.

Midland Hill Footbridge, Bingley. Looking towards the footbridge over the Leeds & Liverpool Canal east of Bingley Railway Station and factory buildings on Mornington Road which have been converted into apartments.

Walking along the Leeds to Liverpool Canal #175

Saltaire

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Bingley 5 Rise Locks to Saltaire Canal Walk.gpx