A lock flight is one of the great free spectacles of the British countryside. Where else can you watch several tonnes of boat being lifted uphill by nothing more than water, a few oak gates and a bit of patience? The best flights are also brilliant places to walk: usually well surfaced, easy to reach from a town or station, and full of small details that reward a slow amble. Here are five worth building a day out around.

Caen Hill, Kennet & Avon Canal

Caen Hill, on the western edge of Devizes in Wiltshire, is the showstopper. Twenty-nine locks carry the canal up roughly 237 feet, and the heart of it is a dead-straight run of sixteen, each with its own sizeable side pound, so the whole thing looks from above like a giant staircase of water.

The walking is straightforward. Start at Devizes Wharf, where there are cafés and public toilets, and follow the towpath west for about a mile to reach the foot of the flight. Alternatively, park near the top of the flight and walk down, which saves the climb at the end. The surface is mostly good gravel, though it narrows in places where the side pounds pinch the path.

Give yourself two to three hours for the round trip, more if you stop to watch boats working through. Early morning is best for photographs, with the sun behind you and mist sitting in the pounds.

Foxton Locks, Grand Union Canal

Foxton, near Market Harborough in Leicestershire, is a staircase flight of ten locks, arranged as two sets of five with a passing pound between them. Because the bottom gates of one lock are the top gates of the next, the water is shared — which makes for a wonderfully efficient piece of engineering and a slightly chaotic-looking queue of boats on a busy afternoon.

Look out for the side ponds, which act as reservoirs to save water, and for the remains of the Foxton Inclined Plane, a boat lift that once carried narrowboats up the hill in a caisson. Interpretation boards around the site explain how it worked.

It's an easy walk from Foxton village, and there is a large car park at the top of the flight. The circuit around the locks and down to the bottom takes about 45 minutes at a stroll; allow two hours with a pub stop.

Hatton Flight, Grand Union Canal

Twenty-one wide locks in around two miles, climbing about 146 feet, make Hatton one of the most satisfying flights to walk in the Midlands. The locks are broad, paired in places, and the towpath is generally wide and firm — good for pushchairs and for anyone who doesn't fancy a scramble.

It sits just outside Warwick, and Hatton railway station is a short walk from the bottom of the flight, which makes it an easy car-free day out. From the top there are pleasant views back over the Warwickshire countryside, and you can extend the walk along the canal towards Shrewley Tunnel if you want more mileage.

Beware the cyclists commuting along this stretch, and keep an ear out for bells. The lock gates here are heavy, so if you're helping a boater, take instruction before pushing.

Bingley Five Rise, Leeds & Liverpool Canal

The Five Rise at Bingley in West Yorkshire is a genuine staircase of five locks, lifting boats about 59 feet in one continuous flight. It opened in 1774 and is still working, with lock keepers on hand through the season to help boats through. Just below it, the Three Rise continues the climb.

This is a compact, family-friendly visit. Bingley town centre and the railway station are a short walk away, and the viewing area beside the top lock gives you a clear look down the staircase. From the bottom, the walk up alongside the locks takes perhaps fifteen minutes, but you'll want longer to watch.

The towpath here is tarmac for much of the way, and the surrounding Aire Valley scenery is lovely. A half day is plenty, and there are plenty of places in Bingley for lunch.

Tardebigge, Worcester & Birmingham Canal

Tardebigge, near Bromsgrove in Worcestershire, is the longest lock flight in the country: thirty locks in a little over two miles, rising about 217 feet. It is quieter and rougher than the others here, with a towpath that can be muddy after rain, but that's part of its charm.

Walk from Tardebigge Wharf at the top, past the reservoir and the short tunnel, and follow the locks down towards Stoke Pound. It is a proper full-day outing if you do the whole flight and back, and there is a canalside pub at the bottom for a well-earned rest. Bromsgrove and Alvechurch stations are both within a taxi or a longer walk of the flight.

The locks are narrow and closely spaced, so there is nearly always something happening. Take a flask.

Practical tips for a lock-side walk

• Wear proper shoes. Towpaths are uneven, and lock surrounds are often cobbled, slippery or muddy.
• Keep back from the edge. There are no barriers at most locks, and the water is deep and cold. Hold children's hands near open gates.
• Never step onto balance beams or push a gate while a boat is moving through — wait for the boater to signal.
• Check for stoppages before you travel, especially in winter, when lock flights are sometimes closed for maintenance.
• Take water and a snack. Facilities are often a mile or more from the middle of a flight.
• Give way to boats and anglers, and keep dogs on a lead around locks and moored craft.

Any one of these five makes a fine few hours out, and all of them are free. Take your time, watch a boat or two go through, and you'll soon see why lock flights have such a hold on people.