Sunshine, Wildlife and a Return to the Aire
Date:
From:
Brayton
To:
Knottingley
Waterway:
Selby Canal, River Aire, Aire & Calder Navigation
Travel Time:
4 hours
Distance:
9.6 miles
Contents:
Summer Life on the Water
There are some cruising days that are memorable because of dramatic events, difficult conditions or impressive engineering. Then there are days like today – days that are memorable simply because everything feels right.
We slipped away from our mooring at Brayton at 10:30 this morning, prepared for a warm day and a longer journey along the River Aire. Factor 50 sun cream was placed within easy reach on the roof, plenty of water was set out in the shade at the stern for Boasley, and with the promise of blue skies ahead, we cast off.
A Waterway Full of Life
Although we didn’t pass another boat all day and only encountered a handful of walkers on the towpath, the waterways felt wonderfully alive.
Dragonflies and damselflies skimmed across the surface of the water, their iridescent bodies catching the sunlight as they darted past. Every so often a fish would leap from the water, breaking the otherwise calm surface before disappearing again. Swallows swooped low over the boat, performing aerial acrobatics as they hunted insects, while ducks chased one another through the reeds.
Beyond the towpath, the surrounding countryside was equally busy. Kites hovered effortlessly over freshly cut fields as farmers worked beneath them, the birds taking advantage of the disturbed ground in search of an easy meal.
It was one of those glorious summer days that make boating such a pleasure. The sun was hot enough to remind us that summer has truly arrived, yet occasional clouds drifted overhead and a fresh breeze kept temperatures comfortable. It was the perfect balance – warm enough to enjoy, cool enough to cruise.
Back onto the River Aire
At West Haddlesey we passed through the flood lock, which is left open most of the time, before turning right and rejoining the River Aire.
This stretch of river no longer holds the apprehension it once did. While it remains impressively wide and the wind can still whip across its broad expanse, there is reassurance in knowing that it is not tidal.
John navigated carefully around each bend, keeping well clear of the inside edges where shallow water can catch out the unwary. On our journey downstream we had managed to find more than one muddy patch, but this time experience paid off. The boat made steady progress and the entire river section passed without incident.
A Return to Manual Locks
Our next challenge came at Beal Lock.
While John brought the boat into the lock, I was reunited with something I haven’t had to tackle for several weeks – the manual lock paddles.
The winding mechanism felt strangely unfamiliar after spending time on waterways with automated locks. As I cranked the paddles up and down and pushed the heavy lock gates open and closed, I realised I was definitely a little out of practice. It all came back eventually, but perhaps not quite as gracefully as I would have liked.
Still, there is a certain satisfaction in operating a traditional lock. The physical effort somehow makes the journey feel more connected to the history of the waterways.
Choosing the Right Route
Beyond Beal Lock we continued along the River Aire until we reached Bank Dole Lock.
Once through, we left the river and rejoined the Aire & Calder Navigation. This is an interesting junction where the waterway divides. To the left lies the Knottingley and Goole Canal, while the Aire & Calder continues to the right.
We stayed on the Navigation, following the route towards Knottingley.
The broad navigation channels, industrial heritage and open landscapes make this stretch feel very different from the quieter canal sections we have recently travelled. Yet there is a character all of its own here, shaped by centuries of commercial traffic and engineering.
An Easy Decision
After around four hours of cruising in the sunshine, Knottingley came into view.
A couple of fellow boaters were already moored there, so we slowed down and asked whether it was a good place to stop for the night. Their enthusiastic response told us everything we needed to know.
Decision made.
John brought the boat gently alongside and soon we were securely moored.
We had no desire to push much further today. Beyond Knottingley we would soon be rejoining the river again, with limited suitable mooring opportunities before Castleford. It seemed far more sensible to stop when we had found such a pleasant spot.
And so that is exactly what we have done.
A Perfect Summer Evening
Now, as the evening settles in, the boat feels wonderfully comfortable.
The sun is still shining, the front and rear doors stand open, the side hatches are welcoming in the fresh air, and a cool breeze is flowing gently through the saloon.
After a day spent travelling through beautiful countryside, surrounded by wildlife and sunshine, there is nowhere else we would rather be.
Sometimes the best cruising days are not the most dramatic or adventurous. Sometimes they are simply the days when everything goes to plan, the scenery unfolds at a leisurely pace, and the journey itself becomes enough.
Today was one of those days.
