Got Questions?

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. How much do the boats have to pay to go through the locks?

    The locks are free to go through. When boats arrive at the locks they need to book their passage through the locks with the lock keeper.

  2. How long does it take for a boat to travel through the locks?

    Providing there are no delays then it should take around 45 minutes.

  3. What’s the longest boat that can use the locks?

    The longest boat we can fit through the locks is 72 ft.

  4. How high is it from the bottom lock to the top lock?

    75 feet.

  5. What happens if a boat going down meets a boat coming up?

    There is a passing point in the middle of the locks where boats can wait should there be another boat coming up or down the locks at the same time.

  6. How do they get water back up to the top?

    To ensure we have enough water in the locks we draw water down from Naseby, Welford and Sulby reservoirs. If however the reservoirs are low in water we are able to pump water from the Watford Lock flight. The water continuously moves from the top of the locks right down to the bottom but it never goes the other way!

  7. What are these ponds at the side of the locks used for?

    The side ponds are there to conserve water. When locks are emptied a proportion of the water flows directly into the side ponds. When another boat comes along the same lock can be re-filled using water from the side pond as well as the water direct from the canal.

  8. How long does a set of lock gates last?

    On average a set of lock gates will last around 20 years.