Standedge Tunnel

Diggle portal

Mid-morning transit through Standedge Tunnel - the longest, highest and deepest tunnel on the UK canal network.

• 5,029 metres (16,499 ft / 3.12 miles) long, 
• 194 metres (636 ft) underground at the deepest point, and 
• 196 metres (643 ft) above sea level
• Completed 1811

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standedge_tunnel

It took us approximately one-and-a-half hours to go through the tunnel. As usual, we were accompanied by a British Waterways guy, and another one driving along the adjacent disused railway tunnel and checking on our progress using the connecting passages (adits is the technical term) that link the tunnels. Although there were a few bumps and scrapes along the way, we emerged relatively unscathed, apart from the loss of one of the side navigation lights.

Even though I did it last year, going through the tunnel is still quite fascinating.The tunnel is not straight, and the width and height varies considerably, as does the nature of the walls. Some sections are traditional brick lined, others have partial brick vaulting, and some is just jagged bare blasted rock. It is quite atmospheric, and you half expect Golum to leap out of the shadows. Some renovated sections have the bare rock sprayed with concrete, which gives the tunnel a slightly disturbing organic look - as if you are going down a giant gullet. In other parts, deep inside, the brick vaulting widens and opens out into large chambers, before suddenly narrowing and turning again. Then there are the frequent side tunnels which link the canal tunnel to the three parallel railway tunnels, two of which are disused. It is like navigating through some forgotten subterranean city, or the Mines of Moria. Add to this the numerous underground springs and streams that gush from the sides and roof of the tunnel, the distant sound of the trains and the woosh of damp air that they force through the tunnels, the eerie reflections when you reach a stretch of still water, and the sheer white-knuckle hairyness as the boat bangs and scrapes the sides going through the most constrained passages. It really is quite a thrilling ride. I'm just glad I wasn't driving!

Tunnel End, Marsden

In contrast to the Western tunnel portal at Diggle, which is very discrete - passing under the railway for some distance before going under the hill proper, at the Eastern end at Marsden you almost literally pop-out of the side of the hill (Marsden Moor) and into a secluded section of the Colne Valley. This is where the main British Waterways tunnel buildings and Visitors Centre are, and where we moored-up for the rest of the day.

We spent the afternoon giving the boat a good wash - and in particular took the opportunity to scrub down the roof as we had had to take almost everything off for the tunnel transit (yes - it really does get that low). Afterwards I took a short walk up the side of the valley, from where you can get particularly good views of Tunnel End, the moors, and down the Colne Valley towards Slaithwaite.

Evening: A rather fun double barbeque with Geraldine and Lynette outside the Visitors Centre at Marsden Tunnel End.

Huddersfield Narrow Canal: Standedge Tunnel (west end), Diggle - Standedge Tunnel Visitors Centre, Marsden
3.4 miles, 1 tunnel


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