Britain's Best Canals

John barges his way along the Aire and Calder Navigation which was built to link the rivers of the North East - giving the industrial cities of the North access to the East Coast, and the world beyond. He starts out near Hull on the River Humber, then the River Ouse and then along the Aire and Calder Navigation towards Leeds.

John barges his way along Trent and Mersey, a canal that provided a crucial link from the potteries in Staffordshire to Liverpool and the world. Along the way he takes in the landscape, industry, towns and villages that have sprung up along the canal, and meets the people who live, work and play along its path.

John barges from Bath towards London along the beautiful Kennet and Avon Canal. It was built to connect the river Avon from Bristol to the river Kennet outside London. Along the way he takes in the landscape, industry, towns and villages that have sprung up along the canal, and meets the people who live, work and play along its path.

In the first part of a brand new series John barges his way along the Leeds and Liverpool canal that runs high over the Pennines and was to give the textile industry of Leeds a direct route to the docks of Liverpool.

John barges his way across Scotland along perhaps the most dramatic and scenic canal in Britain: the Caledonian Canal. The canal links together three natural lochs, each a vast expanse of water (including the famous Loch Ness) as it makes its way right across Scotland from coast to coast.

John barges from England into Wales on one of the most spectacular canals in Britain: the Llangollen Canal. Along the way he takes in the landscape, industry, towns and villages that have sprung up along the canal, and meets the people who live, work and play along its path.

In this final programme John barges his way along the Grand Union Canal. It's certainly grand, its' Britain's longest canal at 137 miles, and it's also a union of several different waterways all joined together linking Birmingham to London.

John barges his way into Birmingham and explores part of the amazing labyrinth of canals in the West Midlands, the beating heart of Britain's canal network.