CANALS & WATERWAYS . .
NARROWBOATS & CRUISING
. . . there's 22 more titles like these .. see below
CATALOGUE & INFORMATION PAGES |
CANALS & WATERWAYS . .
NARROWBOATS & CRUISING
. . . there's 22 more titles like these .. see below
CATALOGUE & INFORMATION PAGES |
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All these Waterways titles are AVAILABLE ON DVD and VHS |
| cat.no | ....title.............................and brief description if one is known | runs |
£price |
VA1503 |
1. HISTORIC NARROWBOATS . . . the gathering of over 60 historic narrowboats at Braunston in May, 1999, telling the story of more than 150 years of these working craft. Also includes a detailed commentary on tunnel tugs, inspection launches & ice boats. We see boats that were originally horse-drawn, steamers, early semi-diesels and diesels, plus wooden boats, iron boats and steel boats. Some are in original condition, others are converted for cruising. |
52 |
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VA1502 |
2. RIBBLE LINK . . . The 18th Century builders of the Leeds/Liverpool and Lancaster Canals always intended that the two waterways should be linked. However the ambitious scheme involved 75 miles of waterway and two costly aqueducts across the Lune and Ribble valleys, and it was never funded. As a result the beautiful Lancaster Canal has remained isolated from the rest of the canal network for over 200 years. In 1984, The Ribble Link Trust was formed to promote the idea that the two waterways should be linked via the River Douglas, the Ribble Estuary and a short new canal to be constructed along the line of Savick Brook to join the Lancaster Canal in Preston's Haslam Park. This video tells the remarkable story of the Millennium Ribble Link, from early designs through to the official opening in September 2002. It includes an account of some of the many problems encountered, from Foot and Mouth Disease to major flooding. It looks at the environmental challenges that had to be faced and at how modern civil engineering techniques were applied to the construction of a canal - something that hasn't happened in this country for over a hundred years. |
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VA1501 |
3. THE LOWER AVON NAVIGATION TRUST 50TH ANNIVERSARY . . . tells the remarkable story of rescue from dereliction between Tewkesbury and Evesham, starting with the formation of the Trust in 1950 by the late Douglas Barwell. |
57 |
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THE INLAND WATERWAYS OF GREAT BRITAIN SERIES . . . price for VHS in this section is £12.99 | . |
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VA1025 |
4. THE RIVER NENE . . . this navigation starts at the bottom of the Northampton Arm of the Grand Union Canal, and heads north-east to Peterborough, and Dog-in-a-Doublet Lock. Includes scenes of wildlife on the wetlands, plus several endangered species such as the red kite. The guillotine locks on the Nene have something of a reputation of being difficult to operate. One of the historic places visited is Fotheringhay, the birthplace of Richard III, and of the execution of Mary Queen of Scots. |
57 |
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VA1022 |
5. THE KENNET & AVON PART 1 (Eastern Section: READING to THE SUMMIT) . . . climbs through the beautiful counties of Berkshire and Wiltshire; beginning at Reading, we make our way up the River Kennet through medieval Newbury to Hungerford thence to the summit in the Savernake Forest. Includes a visit to the historic steam pumping station at Crofton. |
57 |
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VA1023 |
6. THE COVENTRY & ASHBY CANAL . . . is a surprisingly rural canal, with plenty of interest in some of the loveliest parts of the West Midlands. Visit Atherstone to see the story of hatting, and the heartland of Britain's motor engineering heritage around Coventry. |
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VA1024 |
7. THE KENNET & AVON PART 2 (Western Section: THE SUMMIT to BRISTOL) . . . visiting the 86 miles and 106 locks from the Summit down into Avon, with tremendous views. See the Caen Flight of locks at Devizes, with a straight 16 and a further 13 nearer the town ~ a joy to any enthusiast. The tranquil Avon valley takes us into the Georgian town of Bath, with the impressive Avoncliffe Aqueduct. Continues along the tidal Avon itself from Hanham Lock into Bristol and a look at the once thriving docks. |
57 |
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VA1020 |
8. THE RIVER SEVERN . . . a great big beast of a river, wild, untamed, exciting, and one of Britain's most dangerous inland waterways. Journey between the high, wooded banks to the golden corn fields of tidal Gloucestershire and the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal. Feel the atmosphere of the awesome, powerful and magnificent Severn. |
50 |
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VA1021 |
THE STRATFORD ON AVON CANAL . . . passes through the Heart of England to a story of epic proportions in a fight against the 1950's bureaucracy that would have had it closed for good. In the programme, meet the canoeist who's navigtion ticket proved the canal was still in use and sank the cause of closure, and meet those involved in the cause of restoration from day one. |
47 |
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VA1019 |
10. THE LEEDS & LIVERPOOL (WESTERN SECTION) . . . part two of this 127-mile long story covers from the Summit Tunnel at Foulridge right down to Liverpool itself, descending through the cotton towns of Nelson and Burnley to the waterfront of Blackburn. Enjoy the notorious Wigan flight of 23 locks, and of course, the old music hall joke of Wigan Pier. The last 35 miles into Liverpool are remarkably scenic, skirting past Aintree racecourse on the way. |
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VA1018 |
11. THE RIVER AVON . . . follow the present day navigation from Tewkesbury to Stratford, a beautiful waterway at any time of the year, but here we see the "Garden of England" in its springtime very best. The stories of the trials and tribulations of the formation of both the Upper and the Lower Avon Navigation Trusts are lovingly told, culminating in the opening of the restored waterway by HM The Queen Mother in 1974. |
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VA1017 |
12. THE MONTGOMERY CANAL . . . is the story of another amazing restoration against unbelievable difficulty, taking us through some of the most spectacularly beautiful scenery in the whole of Britain. Told here by Harry Arnold, a renowned waterway photographer and journalist and founder member of the restoration group, we see the love and dedication given to a waterway first abandoned in 1936. |
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VA1016 |
13. THE LEEDS & LIVERPOOL (EASTERN SECTION) . . . At 127 miles, the wide-beamed Leeds and Liverpool Canal was the longest single canal ever opened in Britain. It places a whole string of Yorkshire manufacturing towns firmly on the waterways map; Leeds, Shipley, Bingley, Saltaire, Keighley and Skipton. It follows Airedale and thrusts up into the Pennines via the spectacular 2-rise, 3-rise, and 5-rise of locks at Bingley. It follows an exhilarating course along the edge of the sheep-mown grassy slopes of the Pennines through magnificent upland scenery. |
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VA1015 |
14. THE WORCESTER & BIRMINGHAM . . . Follow this canal's green fingers right into the centres of both Worcester and Birmingham, and enjoy the breathtaking views right across the Severn Valley. Starting in the Gas Street Basin in the heart of Birmingham, it runs to the River Severn at Worcester. Wide-beamed only as far as King's Norton - where the money ran out - and thence narrow-beamed, our journey takes us through one the most heavily locked sections in the country. |
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VA1014 |
15. THE TRENT & MERSEY CANAL** UPDATED ** . . . When opened in 1777, this canal joined the east and west coasts of England, and at 93 miles, was a massive undertaking. It crossed one the country's major watersheds at Kidsgrove by tunnelling right through the centre of Harecastle Hill, a 2-mile long bore that in its day was as great an achievement as the Channel Tunnel. The journey starts at the western end, clinging tightly to the edge of the Weaver valley. Traversing the the heart of Cheshire's salt -extraction industry, it passes right through the Staffordshire Potteries before emerging into brewing country and the flood plain of the Trent valley. |
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VA1013 |
16. THE STAFFS & WORCESTER CANAL . . . the outlet for the heavy industry of the Black Country down to the Severn and thence to the port of Bristol, it follows the attractive valleys of the rivers Sow and Penk, Smeestow Brook, and the Stour. For much of its length, it hugs the base of a spectacular old red sandstone cliff formation, at times passing beneath huge overhangs, with some of the locks hewn out of the rock itself. It terminates at Stourport, and inland port with all the atmosphere of a seaside resort. |
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VA1012 |
17. THE FOUR COUNTIES RING . . . is a 109-mile, 94 lock circular canal route which slices through the counties of Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Shropshire and Cheshire, comprising three separate canals. The Shropshire Union Canal visits a scattering of tiny canal-side towns and villages en route from Wolverhampton to Barbridge Junction near to Nantwich. The Middlewich branch then joins the Trent & Mersey canal taking us directly into the heart of the Potteries. The twists and turns of the Staffs and Worcester canal completes the link in this "aquatic roundabout", marking a return to the sweeping meadows of the "Shroppie". In addition, the film includes the beautiful off-shoot to the main ring by going down the Caldon Canal, a lovely bonus. |
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VA1001 |
18. THE LLANGOLLEN CANAL . . . captures the magic of a spectacular journey on one of the most beautiful of all British narrow canals. Starting in the Cheshire Plain, it climbs steadily through the heart of dairy farming country to the pretty market town of Whitchurch in Shropshire. It passes in and out of Wales as it travels along the Marches and at Ellesmere, travels right between the lakes of Shropshire's miniature lake district, one of the finest beauty spots in England. It tunnels beneath the Welsh mountains to stride across river gorges on tall slender legs, the highlight being the passage across Telford's incredible aqueduct at Pontcysyllte, 120 feet above the valley floor of the Dee, before entering that town at roof-top level. |
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VA1002 |
19. THE SHROPSHIRE UNION CANAL . . . takes us on a 66-mile journey up the mainline of the canal from its junction with the Staffs & Worcester Canal in the south, to the Manchester Ship Canal at Ellesmere point in the north. The "Shroppie" was originally four separate canals, each of a different style and standard by different companies and engineers. This is a canal of varying types of scenery, right up to the terminus at the basin within the Ellesmere Port Boat Museum. |
40 |
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VA1003 |
20. NEW SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WATERWAYS . . . updated ... depicts 7 magnificent constructions in this detailed programme. Featured are; Pontycysyllte Aqueduct, Barton Swing Aqueduct, Anderton Boat Lift, Foxton Inclined Plane, Bingley 5-rise locks, Harecastle Tunnel and the Crofton steam beam engines. Video includes some rare photographs and film. |
54 |
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VA1004 |
21. THE SOUTH OXFORD . . . visits Banbury and Oxford, and the richly varied Cotswolds countryside from Napton Junction to Oxford itself. A typical 18th-century Brindley Canal, it twists and turns as it slavishly follows the contour lines of the hillsides. It formed part of the original "Grand Cross" linking the great rivers of England, and taking goods and coal from the Midlands to Oxford, and thence via the Thames to London. |
59 |
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VA1005 |
22. THE GRAND UNION & RIVER SOAR ~ LEICESTER SECTION . . . a 66-mile scenic and peaceful journey from Norton Junction near Watford Gap, into Leicester, which also takes in the Welford Arm and Market Harborough Arm. With 3 tunnels, 2 staircase flights of locks, and the Inclined Plane at Foxton. Market Harborough and Leicester are the only built-up areas on a delightfully tranquil passage through the heart of rural England. At Leicester, the canal runs into the River Soar, a delightful non-tidal river navigation with attractive water frontages and innumerable wildlife. The river gets deeper and wider as it winds its way to its confluence with the Trent at Redhill, near Nottingham |
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VA1006 |
23. THE CHESHIRE RING . . . ** UPDATED ** ... is a remarkable circular canal journey that comprises 97-miles of cruising. From the Derbyshire Peak District to the Cheshire Plain, and right into the heart of Manchester. We also see the Buxton Basin on the Peak Forest Canal, and Worsley, and a ship making passage through the locks of the nearby Manchester Ship Canal. |
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VA1008 |
24. THE GRAND UNION ~ SOUTHERN SECTION . . . this 93-mile journey along what was "The Grand Junction Canal" starts at Braunston in Northamptonshire and takws us right through to Brentford, west of London, on the Thames, linking the capital to the coalfields and industries of the East Midlands. This deligtful wide beam waterway takes us through pleasant rolling countryside and the pretty towns and villages of the Shires. |
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VA1009 |
25. THE LONDON RING . . . is a unique record of a 12-hour cruise around London via the River Thames and London's canals aboard the London Waterbus Company's vessel, "The Water Buffalo". Ilustrated with maps and diagrams throughout, the commentary is informative and interesting with plenty of factual information. A strangely peaceful cruise with rare glimpses of London wildlife; herons, cormorants, terns, all turn up in the most unexpected of places. The canal even passes right through the centre of London Zoo ! |
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VA1010 |
26. THE THAMES ABOVE READING . . . captures the delight of the upper reaches in a journey commencing at the head of navigation, Lechlade in Gloucestershire and continues down as far as the approach to Reading in Berkshire. A distance of some 70 miles, it takes us on a relaxing voyage through many river-side towns and villages full of charm and character as we cruise right through the middle of English history. View first hand the manors, abbeys, and battle sites that line its ancient banks, all underlining the ancient importance of the Thames. We also go in search of this celebrated river's source . . with some surprising results ! |
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VA1011 |
27. THE THAMES ~ READING TO RICHMOND . . . is a journey through English heritage. We meander along its glorious 60 miles (the road link is only half that distance) and see some of the world's most famous landmarks; Windsor Castle, Hampton Court, Eton College, Runneymede, and Henley. Together with the companion video, "The Thames above Reading", this video provides the only comprehensive guide to the locked navigation of the Thames. |
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28. LANCASTER CANAL . . . has been isolated from the rest of the canal system ever since it was opened in the 19th Century. Nearly 200 years later, in 2002, the Millennium Ribble Link was opened, finally connecting the Lancaster, or “Black & White” as it’s known, to the rest of the canal system. This video takes you on an exciting boating adventure from Tarleton on the Rufford Branch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, out into the tidal waters of the R. Douglas and R. Ribble, and through the Ribble Link. It then explores the Lancaster Canal itself, visiting Britain’s newest city, Preston, the ancient market town of Garstang, the coastal port of Glasson Dock, the beautiful City of Lancaster, the seaside fishing villages around Morecambe Bay and the railway town of Carnforth. North of Carnforth, it takes you through stunning and majestic scenery, with views on a grand scale of the Pennines, the Lakeland hills and Morecambe Bay. On the way, it discovers a working steam beam engine, fitted to a dinghy. Finally, it visits the Northern Reaches, and includes details of the now firm plans to re-open that uniquely beautiful section into Kendal. |
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29. LEE & STORT NAVIGATION . . . The Rivers Lee & Stort together form a navigational cul-de-sac, from Limehouse Basin to Hertford on the River Lee, and to Bishops Stortford on the River Stort. They can only be reached from the rest of the waterways network by boating through London. This has the strange effect of making the Lee and Stort a weekenders' cruiseway. During the week, it's almost deserted. Once beyond the M25, these rivers become very beautiful and compare favourably with the finest in Britain. The Lee Valley was the first area of Britain to be declared a National Park in 1966. The authority has achieved a remarkable success in improving the water quality, in providing safe long term habitats for wildlife and have done so while making it accessible for everybody. |
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30. RIVER WEY . . . can truly be described as an oasis of beauty. Running through the heart of the stock-broker belt from Weybridge down to Godalming, the navigation is quiet, peaceful and quite beautiful. It lies within one of the most densely populated areas of Britain .... and yet relatively few people use it or even seem to know about it. The main part of the Wey Navigation, down to Guildford, is very early. It was built in the 17th Century, about a hundred years or so before James Brindley. Unusually, the navigation is operated and beautifully maintained by the National Trust, to whom it was given by the former owner, Harry Stevens whose family had been the major carrier and operator on the navigation. This DVD also takes a look at the Basingstoke Canal, and highlights a strong naturalists’ lobby to reduce the number of boat movements to just a token number every year. Disappointingly, there were no boats moving on the navigation, and no evidence of anyone else enjoying this beautiful canal, making it a poor subject for video, and so the coverage has been kept short. .. |
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31. GREAT OUSE AND RIVER CAM . . . The complex Great Ouse river system, including the River Cam, is the result of a centuries-old three-way battle between millers, the need to drain the fens, and navigators, with the non land-owning navigators usually losing out. What we have inherited is a unique cruising ground extending over hundreds of miles through some of the most sparsely populated countryside in England. Much of it is below sea level, providing the novel experience of locking down on to it from a tidal river. It provides an opportunity to observe a wonderful variety of wildlife. But it also passes through some interesting and beautiful towns and villages, with a unique character born of their isolation and a background of Danelaw. This programme helps you to understand the complexity of the system. It captures that feeling of isolation, and shows you plenty of wildlife. It examines man's historic battle to drain the fens with a look at some massive pumping machinery, and it explores those fascinating towns and villages. |
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ALL TITLES IN THIS CANAL SERIES | |||
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