Canals by KennetRose
One thing that gives England, and especially the Midland counties, its special flavour is the extensive network of canals. They were built (mostly) in the heady days of the Industrial Revolution and underpinned that revolution - though their great working days were short and they fell into disuse and disrepair after the coming of the railways from 1830 onwards.
In the last thirty years there has been a growth of interest in the recreational use of canals, coupled with a huge renovation programme which is still going on. A week or two chugging slowly along the network in a traditional narrow boat makes a great holiday and is a terrific way to appreciate the country away from the roar of roads. The canals lead you to out-of-the-way pubs, villages and some fascinating offbeat towns. They are also linear nature reserves, and wonderful places to walk or cycle.
