Little Cut

This short stretch of canal was dug as a branch off the Leeds Liverpool canal to provide limestone for the local area and the construction of the main canal. Originally it went a further half mile or so in land but was used more recently as a land fill site so that only this short stretch now remains. But, there is more to see than an ariel shot would allow. To the western end of the cut there still remains a tunnel dug through the hill and originally connecting the quarry side of operations to the main Leeds Liverpool. The canal would have been constructed as the quarry material was removed and not as a canal in its own right. Until fairly recently, the 80's perhaps, and old viaduct was still visible and intact, sadly this is now buried under the household waste. The cut itself is slowly filling up with material washed off the surrounding steep slopes, that and large pieces of litter such as tyres and the obligatory shopping trolley. Roe deer can often be seen taking shelter within the trees, managed properly it could be a haven for all sorts of wildlife. Within the tunnel the limestone residue is slowly forming stalactites and making interesting formations on the towpath floor, such as staining pebbles white so that they look like small eggs. There is a steep stepped path from Salterforth Lane down in to the cut, after that a narrow path with some obstacles (fallen trees) leads gently along to the tunnel entrance, here it gets difficult with fallen trees and a slippery slope to negotiate. Take great care with children and dogs. As with any review you may find useful, or even entertaining, please leave a Like, it makes us feel better. Thanks.