iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

40: Kennet Navigation Nailed it. Finished with my local. Wander with my doggo just outside Reading on this 300-year-old river navigation, now part of the longer K&A. #40before40 #ukcanals #berkshire

A black and white springer/collie cross dog on a bridge over a canal

A canal. Old buildings are on either side

030

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

39: Itchen Navigation Nice to break up a long journey here. The old chamber of Compton Lock clearly a popular location for a dip in the summer! #40before40 #ukcanals #hampshire #winchester

The remains of a lock on a navigable river

040

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

38: Coventry Canal A visit born out of an unintended detour through Fazeley... and a stop at the floating market. #40before40 #ukcanals #staffordshire

Two finger post signs on a canal. Pointing left, one says "Fradley and North" and pointing right is "Coventry and South"

A three-way finger post signs on a canal, showing directions to Birmingham, Fradley, and Coventry.

080

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

37: Swift Ditch Once the main navigation of the Thames near Abingdon. This single lock replaced an older flash lock a little down the channel. This was abandoned in the 1790s in favour of the main channel through the town (and the new W&B canal!) #40before40 #ukcanals #oxfordshire #abingdom

Side-on view of the remains of a canal lock

View down the centre of an abandoned canal lock

170

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

36: Wey Navigation A chance encounter this weekend, as I walked from West Byfleet to Byfleet. PTSD of Parvis Wharf here – 10 years ago loading a small launch onto a trailer then the ratchet straps went loose while barrelling down the M4! #40before40 #ukcanals #weynavigation #surrey

A canal wharf. A large yellow crane is at the wharf. A small road bridge crosses the canal.

041

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

35: Shropshire Union Canal (Chester Canal) There and back in a day (alas not just to visit a canal). Love the city and looking down at the cut from street level. #40before40 #ukcanals #chester #cheshire

A deep cut viewed from street level. The canal is sided by stone on top of which are buildings both sides.

2121

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

34: Basingstoke Canal One of my locals, and what has become a family tradition on Mother's Day: a walk to forage for #wildgarlic! #40before40 #ukcanals #basingstokecanal #hampshire

A disused canal crossed by a brick bridge. Wild garlic is growing on both sides of the towpath in the foreground

090

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 08/02/2026

33: Bristol Floating Harbour Feeder Canal Cut when the Avon's original course was enclosed to form the harbour, leading off the river via Netham Lock. Lovely walk (wade?) from the city centre out to Keynsham! #40before40 #ukcanals #bristol

050

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

32: Limehouse Cut Looking as it curves its way to Limehouse Basin. Beneath the bridge here was (is?) the location of the southern stop lock; the other is where the canal joins Bow Creek. No more London nighttime shots now! #40before40 #ukcanals #limehouse #limehousecut #london

040

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

31: Regents Canal Thought I'd posted this when I visited Little Venice a while back, but apparently not! Like the others on the canal, there were two side-by-side locks here but one was removed in the 70s. #40before40 #ukcanals #regentscanal #london #limehouse

A canal lock at night in an urban environment. A bridge is in the background.

040

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

30: City Canal Now the south dock at West India Docks. The canal was cut to bypass the loop of the Thames creating the Isle of Dogs. That shortcut is no longer possible, as the western lock connecting the docks to the river is now removed. #ukcanals #london #docklands #40before40

A city dock at night. High rise buildings surround the dock.

040

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 11/01/2026

29: Staffordshire and Worcestershire Explored a bit between Kiddy and Kinver a few years ago, but a delightful slog down the M6 this weekend meant I had the opportunity to see the Roundhouse at Gailey. Snow from Goretti still everywhere :) #ukcanals #staffordshire #worcestershire #40before40

A canal lock and adjacent brick lock keeper's cottage. There is snow around the lock.

0100

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 10/01/2026

28: Peak Forest Canal A lovely winter's morning walk down the Marple flight to the aqueduct. Beautiful sun coming through the branches and a lovely blue sky at the aqueduct and viaduct. #ukcanals #peakforestcanal #greatermanchester #40before40

A canal aqueduct from below. Through one of the arches can be seen a railway viaduct

A canal aqueduct with frozen water. In the background is a railway viaduct

A frosty view of a canal, bridge and canal lock

1111

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 10/01/2026

27: Trent and Mersey Need to step this up now. First of the new year! After the recent snowfall in the midlands, and illuminated by my headlights... Brrr! Keeper's Lock near Fradley Junction. Narrow mitred gates with wonky beams à la Staffs and Worcs. #trentandmersey #ukcanals #40before40

A canal lock at night, surrounded by snow

060

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

26: Bentley Canal About ½ mile from its junction with the BCN Anson Branch. This is the boring end – all the locks were out west near the W&E. There's now a community orchard here, which is noice. 👌 And signage warning against antisocial motorcycle behaviour. #ukcanals #westmidlands #40before40

An open grass area beside a residential street

0110

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

25: Hatherton Canal ...or at least the link between the Hatherton and Cannock Extension canals. Much like Richard III being found under that Leicester car park... guess what's under this parking bay at KFC in Cannock! It's only Churchbridge Lock #4!!! #ukcanals #staffordshire #40before40

171

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 16/11/2025

24: Cannock Extension Canal Suspiciously parked on the bridge to capture this 30-second exposure at about 8pm. Had to forgo getting the Curly Wyrley after this due to a road closure :( #ukcanals #Staffordshire #40before40

070

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 27/10/2025

23: Chard Canal Visited the canal 6 years ago but a slog down the A303 yesterday allowed a stop at the Ilminster inclined plane. This incline (one of four on the canal) lifted tub boats 82' up Herne Hill towards Chard. #40before40 #ukcanals #somerset

Looking up an old canal inclined plane. It is now a grass path. Modern houses and garages are on the left

A short section of abandoned canal in water.

080

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 26/10/2025

22: Croydon Canal Just 27 years in use... abandoned in 1836, the first to be done so by an act of parliament Here it is running alongside Betts Park in Anerley. Ripples from a disturbed moorhen... #40before40 #ukcanals

A canal running alongside houses on the left and a tree-lined park on the right.

0121

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

21: River Wye It was navigated as far back as when Edward the Confessor had iron shipped from the forest to Gloucester. Here is Weir End. Gonna guess there was a flash lock nearby (once upon a time before trows and barges were replaced by canoes and kayaks) #40before40 #ukwaterways #herefordshire

A bend in a river. Beside the river is a grassy meadow

030

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 19/10/2025

20: Lydney Canal 🎵 Whoaaaa we're halfway there 🎵 Here's the tidal basin – the gates onto the Severn are in the background. Apparently they're borked so the basin isn't usable and is chock full of river gunk. The lock is just to the right. #40before40 #ukcanals #gloucestershire

050

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 19/10/2025

19: Pidcock's Canal Short tub boat canal serving ironworks and collieries up and around the Lyd valley. Perhaps misnamed as it predated the Pidcocks' management of the forges... should be Tanner's Canal! These photos are the cut passing through Lydney. #40before40 #ukcanals #gloucestershire

An old watercourse viewed from a bridge. There are buildings on each side of the water and vegetation growing within it. The water appears shallow.

060

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

18: North Wilts Canal Shortish canal linking the W&B and T&S. Love this stretch down to the aqueduct over the Thames (not as grand as it may sound!). First time back since 2020. Lots going on here – junction, aqueduct, lock, basin! #40before40 #ukcanals #wiltshire #almostgloucestershire

Restored masonry approaching an old canal lock. There is scaffolding over the canal and an old building is in the background

An old towpath running alongside the dry bed of an abandoned canal

070

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

17: Leeds and Liverpool Canal The Stanley Locks, connecting the canal to Stanley Docks. Some wicked 1840s buildings going on here! #leedsandliverpoolcanal #ukcanals #40before40

A flight of canal locks, behind which are flats and a railway bridge

0122

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 14/09/2025

16: Andover Canal Not much to explore on this – taken over by the railway, then that too was removed and most now on private land. But a rainy September drive through Clatford meant one thing... a climb through brambles! Last photo is at Rooksbury Mill in 2020. #40before40 #hampshire #andover

Undergrowth. A very slight camber can be seen, the sign of an old embankment

140

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 06/09/2025

15: Maidenhead Waterways Here, the York Stream and Moor Cut meet and become the Brat Cut. The Weir has boat rollers, but there are plans for a pound lock here to eventually link the town's waterways ring with the Thames. #ukcanals #40before40 #berkshire

A Weir and boat rollers on a stagnant waterway

020

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 06/09/2025

#14: Grand Junction Canal Splitting the GU up for this seems sensible (my game, my rules!) Startops End Bridge, with its double arch – on the right, the extant wide lock. On the left, the infilled and short-lived narrow lock. #ukcanals #40before40 #buckinghamshire #hertfordshire

030

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 06/09/2025

#13: Aylesbury Arm Another GU arm... and treated to a staircase lock at the top! Wouldn't want to travel the pound between locks 3 and 4 at the moment. But that weeping willow 😍 #ukcanals #40before40 #buckinghamshire

091

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 06/09/2025

#12: Wendover Canal Lovely short arm of the GU, winding past the old Tring Mill buildings on the way to Tringford Pumping Station. Plenty of damsons too – lavly! #ukcanals #40before40 #hertfordshire #buckinghamshire

050

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

A hint of the autumn to come this morning. LOVE IT. #ukcanals #berkshire

090

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

#11: Stratford-upon-Avon Canal One of my faves in the midlands. Just wandered from the Avon up the first 4 locks – the lock off the river (into the basin) is broad, the rest narrow... Check out the balance beam at Maidenhead Road Lock!!! #40before40 #stratforduponavoncanal #warwickshire #ukcanals

050

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

#10: Oxford Canal Despite being relatively local, I've only visited 3 times and only boated once (even then, it was from Duke's Cut to Jericho). Had a lovely pint at the Jolly Boatman at Thrupp this week. Lock and house photo from Nell Bridge Lock in 2020. #40before40 #oxfordcanal #oxfordshire

110

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

#9: Stroudwater Navigation Originally surveyed by John Hore - him off of the Kennet and the Avon (but not the Kennet and Avon) fame. Two photos of John Robinson Lock during a Feb 2023 visit with @paulwhitewick.bsky.social and @courtabovethecut.bsky.social #40before40 #ukcanals #gloucestershire

1131

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

#8: Portsmouth and Arundel Canal I've explored a lot of this – Chichester Basin, the two locks on Portsea Island and the two near Chi – but this is finishing the job... The two locks near Ford. One is under that meadow somewhere! And I'm now 20% complete! #40before40 #ukcanals #westsussex

150

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

#7: Rother Navigation Nestled in W Sussex, the river was made navigable to connect Midhurst with the Arun, therefore giving it access to the both the sea and the country's waterways network. This is Coultershaw Lock – a fab little area of industrial heritage! #40before40 #ukcanals #westsussex

020

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

#6: Coombe Hill Canal This short canal was built in 1796 to serve Cheltenham with coal. It had one lock off the Severn, and terminated in a basin on the Tewkesbury–Gloucester rd. The lock was borked by a winter storm in 1876 and was never navigable again. #40before40 #ukcanals #gloucestershire

291

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

#5: Thames and Severn Canal By fluke I found myself near a part of the T&S I'd yet to visit – the Smerrill Aqueduct. It was built to cross the road from Cirencester to Kemble. It had a single arch and a stop lock, but now only the embankment remains. #ukcanals #Thamesandseverncanal #40before40

The embankment of a former canal aqueduct

070

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

#4: Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal The Bye Street locks, nestled in a cutting in Ledbury. Less than 90 years after the canal opened, in the 1890s the canal was infilled and they plonked a railway there instead. #ukcanals #Herefordshire #Gloucestershire #40before40

The site of a former canal lock, now a footpath

070

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

#3: Parole d'oro I never said the canals had to be navigable! Parole d'oro is named after the "golden words" on the bridge at the waterworks south of Lucca, Tuscany. Waters from the hills north of Pisa collect in these canals, before running down the Nottolini Aqueduct #40before40 #italiancanals

Gold writing on a stone bridge. The inscription says

KAR.LVD.BORB.I.H.DUX.N.AUG.AQUIS.E.PLURIBUS FONTIUM ORIBUS.COLLIGENDIS.ET AD URBANOS PONTES LARGIUS PERDUCENDIS.MONUMENTO.AETERNO.PROVIDIT.DUCATUS.SUI.ANNO.VI

A wide channel at a waterworks. The channel is full of grass and vegetation

A water channel and various walls and steps at an Italian waterworks

020

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

#2: Paddington Arm That way, Birmingham! Short wander around #LittleVenice today. Stopping off at the stop lock/toll house before wine and cheese pairing on the Cheese Barge. #ukcanals #40before40

A canal junction. A narrow boat is turning in the junction.

A glass of port and a platter of cheese.

030

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

#1: Neath Canal Four locks on the canal near Glynneath today. I think a lot of the canal above these locks is infilled; there were four more locks that lifted it up into Glynneath but these are really easily accessible. And a bit of wild garlic at Maes-Gwyn Lock 👌 #ukcanals #southwales #40before40

070

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

At some point in the next 18 months I'll be turning 40. I've decided to set myself the challenge of visiting 40 different canals before then. No real rules – obvs disused is better – but anything goes! Rather arbitrarily, it starts today... #ukcanals #40before40

2142

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

Annual walk along the Basingstoke Canal at Up Nately for wild garlic picking. Three vats of pesto and a freezer full of garlic butter (frozen in ice cube trays). 👌 #ukcanals #hampshire #foraging #wildgarlic

1171

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

I think the lock's probably full enough! #ukcanals #stormbert

A lock on a river navigation. The river levels are high through recent flooding.

091

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

A hole in the woods... 8ft across and over 100ft deep. Down there is the Sapperton Tunnel – over two miles long with the best pair of tunnel portals going #ukcanals #tunnel

An elaborate stone portal of an abandoned canal tunnel

The castellated stone portal of an abandoned canal tunnel

1121

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

It's frosty out! -1°c yesterday morning on the K&A. #ukcanals #brrrrrr

1131

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

Another abandoned lock chamber... always loved this shot as it looks more like some sort of ruin hidden in a tropical rainforest than a canal lock in #somerset #ukcanals #canal

The overgrown chamber of an abandoned canal lock

190

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Few things I enjoy more than bunging my boots on and walking through a disused lock chamber! Visited this one – Llanthony Lock near Gloucester – back in May 2021. #gloucester #gloucestershire #severn #ukcanals

A disused canal lock chamber. There is a footpath through the lock, which is overgrown, and a footbridge spans the lock.

081

Canal Boy @canalboy.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

And finally, the easternmost one is at Inglesham where the T&S meets the Thames. CCT had an open day there in 2022, so seeing the lock and roundhouse, both of which are on private land and normally inaccessible – was pretty spesh! #disusedcanals #thamesandsevern #riverthames #gloucestershire

A disused canal lock, bridge, and round stone tower building. The canal bed is dry and grassy.

A disused canal lock over which is a stone bridge. Besides the bridge is a round stone three-storey building

A river, with weeping willow and old stone buildings.

030