Harecastle Tunnel Summer Opening Times 2026

Due to prolonged dry weather and ongoing challenges with water resources being lower than would normally be expected for this time of year, and to help conserve water resources and maintain navigation for as long as possible, we are introducing restricted operating hours at Harecastle Tunnel from Thursday 30 July 2026.

There will be Open passage: 8am - Southbound 9am - Northbound 10am - Southbound 11am - Northbound 12:00 - Southbound 13:00 - Closed

You will not be able to make any bookings during this period. Please turn up for allotted times and you will be directed through by the Harecastle Tunnel team.

We appreciate the patience and cooperation of all boaters during this period.

Following feedback on our original operating proposal, the Trust have revised the booking arrangements for Harecastle Tunnel.

From 1 April 2026, passages will operate as follows:

• Bookable passages at 8am (Southbound) and 9am (Northbound)
• Open, non bookable window from 10am to 2pm
• Bookable passages at 2pm (Southbound) and 3pm (Northbound)

The open window allows boats to arrive and pass through without a booking, subject to capacity and safe operation on the day. Each passage can accommodate up to eight boats.

While these times provide a clear structure, the tunnel team will remain flexible wherever possible. Staff and volunteers will use their judgement on the day to make best use of available capacity, including accommodating unbooked boats, using unused booking slots, or allowing early arrivals to join an earlier passage where it is safe to do so.

Changes to bookings should be made by 5pm on the day before your planned passage wherever possible. Where late changes cannot be made online, the team will try to accommodate them on the day, although this cannot be guaranteed.

Please pre-book online here: https://licensing.canalrivertrust.org.uk. For any other enquiries, please contact us on 0303 0404040. For direct tunnel enquiries please email eventsnorthstaffs@canalrivertrust.org.uk.

Summer opening times from 1 March 2026 to 31 October 2026:

To guarantee passages please pre-book online 48hrs before your planned passage . We cannot guarantee of passage for boats unless pre-booked.

Where possible, and subject to availability, if you turn up earlier than your booked slot, or you have not pre-booked and arrive before 12 noon, the Tunnel Keepers will do their best to get you through.

We appreciate that navigation plans can be affected by various factors. If you have pre-booked but do not think you will arrive in time for your slot, or for any other enquiries, please contact us on 0303 0404040. For direct tunnel enquiries please email eventsnorthstaffs@canalrivertrust.org.uk.

Bookable passages are available:

• Southbound (Kidsgrove to Tunstall) at 8am, 10am, 12pm, and 2pm
• Northbound (Tunstall to Kidsgrove) at 9am, 11am, 1pm and 3pm

Please always follow the directions of our team members on site. Passage is only permitted with a working horn and tunnel light; at present we are unable to lend such items