The easiest access to the canal is at Canal Head (postcode YO42 1NW). The entrance is just off the A1079 road between Hull and York, on the opposite side of the road to the Wellington Oak pub which is now closed but is a still a useful landmark.  There is a brown sign at the entrance to the Canal Head picnic site, where there are two car parks.  Look out for the brown signs 300 yards in either direction of the entrance to the picnic site, on the A1079.

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To visit the canal at Melbourne (YO42 4QJ) please park carefully in the village and walk down the lane alongside the pub to the Melbourne Arm and go on further until you reach the canal.  Cross the swing bridge and turn right to walk towards Canal Head or left towards East Cottingwith.  There have been recent concerns about parking close to junctions, especially at Forge Close and Kidd Lane in Melbourne.

Other access points are at Coates Bridge (YO42 4JS), Bielby (Mill Lane YO42 4AE), Church Bridge (YO42 4QJ), Walbut Bridge (YO42 4RF) and East Cottingwith (Canal Lane, YO42 4TJ).

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BOAT TRIPS RUN FROM MELBOURNE ARM and not Canal Head!​​