There is one thing you can rely on seeing on the canal.........ducks. Took a trip to Standedge Tunnel at Marsden today. The tunnel at 3mls is the longest underground canal in England. After a few false starts and after 17yrs it was finally completed in 1811. The coming of the railways heralded its demise. By 1938 little or no traffic was useing it and in 1948 it was closed and left to go to ruin.

In 1973 a group of enthusiasts got together lobbying the goverment and EU for cash to open it up again. It took 10yrs but finally it is now open to barges and is a popular route for boat and barge tourists.