The UK's 200 year-old canal network attracted a record number of visitors during 2009.

The number of adults visiting an inland waterway during the year rose above 13 million, illustrating - says British Waterways (BW) - a turnaround in fortunes which has seen canal restorations grow the network by 10 per cent and the number of canal boats increase by more than 40 per cent since the turn of the century. BW is using the British Tourism Week - which takes place this week (15-21 March) - to attract those people aiming to save cash by 'staycationing' at home, with canals offering flat walking and cycling routes and the chance of gaining an insight into Britain's industrial past.

It says that tourism and leisure have been crucial ingredients in the renaissance of Britain's canals and rivers and will be likely to play a growing role if the network is moved into a proposed new 'national trust for the waterways'.