Reviewed by Deborah Banasko
Standedge Tunnel is fairly local to me, but I have to say that I had not heard of it before, and I wasn’t really sure what to expect. It turned out to be a fabulous and unusual day out!
We had booked onto the 1pm canal tunnel trip in advance, as apparently it can become quite booked up during the summer months. I took my husband and three children (ages 7, 4 and 1).
We actually missed the turning into the centre as it’s a small single-lane track leading onto a small carpark (so watch out for that). It is also possible to park in the village of Marsden (or even catch the train to Marsden station) and take the short walk along the canal to the tunnel.
The boat itself had a small capacity which made it more intimate. Thank goodness there were no microphones or formality; it was basically a friendly local boatman telling us about the tunnel and answering questions whilst we rode part way through the 3 mile tunnel. I honestly found it fascinating, learning about the construction and history of the tunnel and how boats were allowed through the one-way system.
There was a section where water leaks onto the roof of the boat, and at one point the boatman turned out all the lights to send us into total darkness (cue lots of ghost noises from the kids!), it wasn’t scary for the children as he gave us plenty of warning might I add!
At the start the guide pointed out to us that we could go onto the front or back of the boat at any time provided that we wore the hard hats provided. It did feel a little rude to do this, plus I wanted to listen to what he had to say. However, we did venture out and I would strongly recommend that you do this. Perhaps wait until the return journey after he has shown you the hidden passageway to the rail track. Being outside is a great photo opportunity and quite exciting as you come back out through the tunnel entrance. My children were absolutely buzzing with excitement afterwards.
The trip that we went on was the shortest option apparently. It lasted around 35 minutes and goes part way through the tunnel then back again. I would recommend this for anyone with young children, as any longer and they may have got a bit fed up. It is worth asking about the timings before you book or look online (as I now have for future trips), as you may want a longer experience.
This is a trip for all ages and totally different from any of the usual family activities that we often do. As a side-note, prams can be left on the side of the canal behind the barrier.
Once we had finished the boat trip, we had a drink and ice cream at the cafe overlooking the canal, which was lovely. For a small cafe there is a good amount of seating, however the queues were fairly long (partly due to new staff training) and the lady who dealt with me wasn’t especially friendly, but this is just one minor issue. The boatmen more than made up for that.
The visitor centre was just a couple of minutes walk away, and to our surprise had a very small soft play area for under 5’s. This was perfect as our 1 year old had been stuck in the pram or in our arms, so he got to stretch his legs a bit and burn off some energy.
Of course, there were also some interesting displays and a video to supplement the tour for the adults, with some information about the local wildlife that I could read to the kids.
Behind the visitor centre was a picnic area with some outdoor wooden play equipment and a giant connect four! There really was so much to do, so we then decided to walk the 10/15 minutes into the local village of Marsden. Here you could have an ice cream, food, a pint or look at the shops. What’s more there was a shuttle boat taking people from the visitor’s centre into Marsden at regular intervals. It was such a nice day that we chose to walk, but the little boat trip is just another “cool” thing about this “hidden gem”.
My 4 year old is so excited to do his show and tell at nursery about Standedge Tunnel, we just haven’t done anything like this as a family before. The weather did help, but even on a rainy day there’s plenty to do. I arrived expecting to pass an hour or two, instead I thoroughly enjoyed a packed 4 hour afternoon out. Tickets for the shorter trip are priced at £5.50 for adults and £4.50 for children over 5 (under 5’s travel for free) and this is excellent value for money.
I could not possibly award less than 5 out of 5 stars as I can only speak positively about this quaint day out. Lots of happy family feel-good vibes!
Rating: 5/5
For more information visit canalrivertrust.org.uk.
Standedge Tunnel Waters Road, Marsden, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD7 6NQ | 01484 844298
