mahunt

Thank you all. There is quite a diversity of opinion. I think I'll buy both Nocholsons and Pearsons. One for me and one for Keri and we'll see which we like best. Matthew

Is there any significant difference between these two Guides? Regards Matthew

Thanks Alistair and John You have given me confidence. In answer, John, one large company wouldn't hire for such a long time (strange), one small company was definitely averse to me going ......."my biggest concern is the Rochdale canal and the Cheshire Ring, there has been alot of trouble with boats being robbed and also people attacked on that canal it is a very bad stretch "...... Another large company were OK with me going to the area but their boats coudn't be gauranteed to be less than 6'10". I remember reading somewhere that some of the locks had caved in slightly so maybe he was worried about this. Or his boats have sprung. And two small companies (Empress Holidays and Claymore Navigation) were happy and helpful. I finallty settled on Countrywide Cruisers due to price, recommendation from Bill Kennedy who wrote in this forum (way back) and because if there is water supply problems in the Rochdale or Huddersfield at that time of year then I can change plans quickly and still see some pretty areas. Countrywide are at brewood on the Four Counties Ring so I will see this area and also the Cheshire Ring. I'm greatly looking forward tom the trip. John re your previous comments on being streetwise in cities: I assume that generally speaking larger places have problems with loutish behaviour and the best idea is to do what you have to do in bigger towns and get out to where you want to tie up for the night. In1990 we spent a week on a canal boat on the Oxford Canal and had a ball but we were always mooring in country areas anyway. Matthew Hunt

I have booked 4 weeks on a canal boat in September of this year with the intention of including the Rochdale/Huddersfield Narrow Canals in my travels. Various sites, and various hire firms I have contacted are a bit reticent about me travelling on these canals for reasons of safety due to 'Bandits". Also reading other forums I have seen that people have found the cruises on these canals pretty trying due to poor mooring and very hard lock mechanisms. I don't know how old some of these opinions are. Has anyone on this board been to these canals during your last summer? What did you think? Matthew Hunt Tasmania