The Lancaster Canal runs quite close to the the village of Levens and the towpath is a popular walk for visitors. In its heyday the canal carried goods and passengers to and from Kendal but it is also possible that there were local wharves used for deliveries of heavy goods such as coal and lime. The canal company may also have employed people from Levens as, apart from general maintenance duties, there was a local stable for the horses that pulled the packet boats. Also the nearby Hincaster Tunnel required boats to be hauled through using ropes attached to the walls or "legged" (the boatman lying on their backs on the side of the boat and pushing it along with their feet against the wall) while the horses were walked over the top.

Unfortunately the Northern Reaches of the canal from Tewitfield to Kendal are now devoid of boats after the M6 was built in the 1960's and the short sighted decision not to provide bridges over the canal. However, as has happened in many other parts of the country, it is hoped that before too long this section of the canal will be restored and see boats navigating its waters again.

Driving the campaign for its restoration is the Lancaster Canal Trust.

Since its formation in 1963 as the Association for the Restoration of the Lancaster Canal, the Trust’s main objective has been to restore, and reopen to navigation, the length of the canal from Tewitfield, just north of Carnforth, to Kendal. In addition, the Trust aims to increase awareness and promote interest amongst all users of this historic and beautiful waterway, be they boaters, walkers, cyclists, or anglers.

As well as working towards full restoration, the Trust is committed to the ongoing maintenance of our existing heritage. As a result of the efforts of the Trust many of the original structures have been protected, further losses of cruising waterway have been successfully resisted, notably in Preston, and improvements have been made to the towpath by erecting interpretative panels at various sites along the canal.

The Trust attends many local events to promote its aims and runs regular work parties in the winter to ensure that important structures are maintained and preserved. Nearby at Crooklands, in the summer, the Trust's boat "Waterwitch" provides free trips allowing visitors to experience the beautiful scenery of the southern lakeland while cruising along a section of the canal.

More information about the Trust, the canal and how to become a member can be found on the Lancaster Canal Trust website.