The flight of 16 locks rises 209 feet in total height over its one-mile length.
The locks were originally completed in 1804 to transport limestone from the Peak District to the industrial areas of Manchester.
The flight connects the lower level of the Peak Forest Canal to the higher level, crossing a significant topographical divide.
The nearby Marple Aqueduct, which carries the canal over the River Goyt, is the highest canal aqueduct in England at 100 feet.
The lock gate mechanisms remain hand-operated, requiring boat crews to physically manage the sluices and gates.
The site is a Grade II listed structure reflecting the industrial heritage of the early 19th-century canal boom.
Marple Locks is a flight of 16 narrow locks on the Peak Forest Canal that lifts boats 209 feet over a distance of one mile. It represents one of the steepest lock flights in Britain, traversing the valley side from the Marple Aqueduct toward the upper canal level. The locks are integrated into a heritage landscape featuring original 18th-century stone masonry and associated towpaths. The site remains a functional part of the canal network managed by the Canal & River Trust. Visitors can observe the mechanical operation of the locks as narrowboats navigate the elevation change. The towpath provides a continuous walking route connecting the locks to the nearby Marple Aqueduct. It serves as a key junction between the Peak Forest and Macclesfield canals.
The viewpoint near the top lock looking down the flight provides a clear perspective of the sequential lock chambers.
Wear waterproof footwear as the towpath can become muddy and uneven in wet weather.
Bring binoculars if you wish to observe boat traffic navigation and local birdlife from a distance.
Park in the designated public car parks in Marple village rather than attempting to park directly on the narrow canal access lanes.
Do not attempt to operate the lock paddles yourself, as this is restricted to qualified boaters and staff.
Give way to boaters and cyclists on the towpath; keep dogs on a lead near the lock edges.
