A crucial new piece in the waterways jigsaw linking the Lancaster Canal to the rest of the national network officially opens this week.
The £6 million Ribble Link is the first new navigation to be built for more than a century, and boasts nine locks, four bridges, footpaths, cycleways and an art trail.
The opening of the six-mile link on Friday (September 20) looks set to be a major boost to visitor numbers on the Lancaster Canal, and to the restoration of its Northern Reaches between Tewitfield and Kendal.
"The Lancaster Canal has always been very popular - there's often a waiting list for moorings - but it now means boaters on the Lancaster Canal have the rest of the network at their fingertips, and people can come and visit the delights of the
Lancaster Canal," said Lynn Pegler, of British Waterways.
"Obviously it makes the restoration of the Northern Reaches of the Lancaster Canal a much more attractive proposition, and hopefully people will be sailing from London to the Lakes before too long."
British Waterways has stated its commitment to restoring the Northern Reaches, hopefully by 2008.
The cost of using the Ribble Link is £35 single, and £60 return, to cover the cost of manpower during the assisted passage.
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