Foxton Inclined Plane upper arm

The upper arm of Foxton Inclined Plane is where the real drama happens. This isn't a gentle lakeside stroll - it's a proper engineering marvel that actually works, hauling narrowboats up and down a steep flight of locks like nothing you've ever seen on the canal network.

You're looking at the upper basin where boats queue to descend, or having come up from below, take a breather before heading onwards. The water sits high here, and the mechanical system - Victorian engineering at its finest - does the heavy lifting that would otherwise require ten traditional locks. It's mesmerising to watch, especially if you time it right and catch a boat actually in transit.

Walkers get the most from this spot. The surrounding towpath is excellent, with decent views back down the flight, and you can see for miles across the Leicestershire landscape. It's not a climb that'll exhaust you, but it's not flat either - bring decent shoes. The whole experience takes a couple of hours if you're properly exploring, maybe 45 minutes if you're just popping by for the view and a photo.

It's free to visit and accessible year-round, though spring and summer bring more boat traffic, which means more action to watch. Leicester's only six miles away if you fancy combining this with urban stuff, and the glamping at Hidden Hideaway makes for a decent base if you want to stay local. The Inclined Plane is worth the detour - genuinely one of the Midlands' quirkier attractions.