captain birdseye

We have stopped overnight at the Festival park twice over the summer as my children like to go to Waterworld, we have had no trouble either time. Barlaston is fine as is the mooring near the Wedgewood factory. We also had an afternoon stop at Trentham to look round the gardens without any problem. Westport lake is fine if you miss the tunnel or if you go through either below the first lock at Kidsgrove at least, or if going up the Macc, just past the aquaduct over the T&M is fine. Visit the Blue Bell near the top lock, great beer

We had a Bunny on our last boat, easy to 'drive' and with a back boiler runs central heating fine. Gave us no problems in ten years.

Astley has two pubs , the Boathouse by the canal and the Ross Arms just up the road, next to the chippy. Last time we were there both did food, but the beer in the Ross was better. We did Astley to Parbold in a day, just the two of us with a small baby. The Windmill is good there. The Ship Inn at the junction with the Rufford Branch used to be good as well, I am sure if anything has changed in recent times somebody will let you know. At Tarleton, the bowling club in the village is the place to drink, somebody will always sign visitors in. Have a good trip, hope the crossing is calm, the Lanky is worth the trek

It was great to see you and your lady out on the boat this summer. Having been there we are enjoying boating more than ever now. Hope all goes well with her treatment, see you on the cut.

If you are stopping near King Lock, the pub of the same name does some excellent beer and cracking food. I have no connection with said pub by the way

If you are heading over the Branch to the Shroppie Moor near the second bridge above Wardle lock. Go west along the road and follow the sign to the lesure centre. This brings you out into the back of Tescos car park

Might I add this topic was not started by me . Note slightly different user name

Bill, Would one of the modern air filters as fitter to the RN DM2 not fit the National Chris (Gnome)

If you are north of Macc the Trading Post at Braidbair boats is your best bet for fuel. The regular fuel boat that does that run (Brian on Alton) won't be running this weekend as he is out on the slip for some work on the boat.

The Upper Peak Forest or the Macc. Both of these are lovely rural canals and both have train stations with regular services to Manchester Piccadilly, and so on to the airport. The Peak follows the rail line up the valley. The top end of the Macc has the Middlewood Way which is a cycle path and crosses the railway at, Middlewood Station. An easy ride from Lyme View or Victoria Pits moorings. There is also a regular express bus service to the airport runs down the A6 which is never far away from the Peak Forest. Not sure about data speeds but I get a decent signal on my phone up most of the canal up there.

When we recently moved our boat from Beeston to Chester I left my car just up the main road in the lay by on the left. It was perfectly ok for the weekend and I returned on the 84 bus to the red Fox and walked down to pick it up

be good to see some improvement of sanitary stations in the NW region. The Macc Peak Forest and Ashton are practically bereft of them

That's usually what I do when I do it myself. It's the first coat that takes the time getting in all the nooks and crannys with a brush. I use a fence paint brush round every corner and strake, and any bare parts, then roller three coats from just above the water line down and a couple above where usually apart from where we have rubbed paint off there are no bare bits. We have always used one of the modified coal tar vinyls and they seem to work pretty well, blacking every two years

If you will fit under Lumm Lane you should be OK everywhere else. There is a slight dip in Woodley tunnel near the Marple end on the non towpath side which can catch you out. The only other low one is approaching Middlewich (coming downhill) near British Salt where the old bridge is lower than the new road widening bridge.

Mac, you make it sound like Spey boating is just one long pub crawl Chris (Gnome)

Wouldn't bother stopping in Stoke. Stone has a couple of good pubs. One near the bottom lock called the Swan and a titanic brewery pub called the Royal Exchange. At Kidsgrove you can moor below the top lock and it's only a short walk up to the Blue Bell Wheelock has the commercial which has decent beer. The Barbridge is now sells decent beer despite being a food pub. Some people I was talking to last weekend had stopped at Audlem and didn't like the Shroppie fly (beer not too well kept) but said the Bridge was much better, The Comberbach has a couple of guest beers on most of the time. Wouldn't bother with the Kings Lock, there are better pubs in Middlewich, like the Narrow Boat or even the Big Lock. Nantwich has a number of pubs in th ebeer guide should you find yourself there in the evening.

I prefer to angle the light slightly downwards. As well as preventing dazzling the reflected light off the water provides additional light further along the tunnel walls

We came up from Atherstone to Manchester the week before Easter via the T&M and even with a day at Drayton Manor Park (slight detour onto the B&F) with the children and half a day at Waterworld at Stoke we had plenty of time with an extended week with the Bank holiday weekend. Coming down Cheshire locks is a doddle compared with going uphill so if going back via different route I would definetly use the T&M going north and the Shroppie south. It's only half an hour from Waters Meeting where the Worsley line leaves the Manchester line so a trip into Castlefield is well worth it. If you like a pint there are good pubs in Stone, the Blue Bell at Kidsgrove is very good. Middlewich is good for pubs and shopping as is Stone. Lymm is a good stop before Manchester 3 1/2 hours to Castlefield Say hello to Paul for me when you get to Bedford

Yes the Navi does food and usually has a good selection of beers

Having arrived just as the woman concerned had left the boat there, this was on 2nd of June, and talking to the guy on the boat using the second water point. Her attitude seemed to be that she had an old boat and could leave it where she wanted. I would not have minded so much if it wasn't for the fact that there was enough room for myself and another boat waiting to use the water point to moor behind her. She did say she was just off to fetch a horse and would be back soon, so I am supprised the boat was there for so long.

the campsite at the Cotton Arms at Wrenbury on the Llangollen is good with a decent pub and playground for the children. Access straight from the towpath if you are with friends on a boat