[Reedley to Leeds]

18 hours ago, Opener said:

OK - seriously weird!! We just got back last weekend from having done the self same trip. Just a couple of learning points.

 Make sure you are well 'watered up' before you moor up in Leeds centre. The last water point is just above Office Lock so fill up before you go down.

Opinions seem to vary on 'length of stay' - in the first 'bay' on your left (Granery Wharf) there are rise and fall pontoons for about 6 or 8 boats (50ft pontoons) but they are labelled 48H - not wholly clear what that means. There is a power outlet for each pontoon with what appears to be a coin meter but no instructions - decided not to play with them. There is also a tap on that bollard but non-operational when we were there.

There are also white bollards around the edges of this bay which you can use without obstructing access to the pontoons. Just round the corner there are about four moorings in a couple of bays - just hope that they have sorted an obvious problem with the local sewer by now!!

Speaking of sewers, there is no sanitary station  as advertised in the CRT boaters guide, so arrive with an empty tank/cassettes. The option appears to be to sail down onto the river or transport your cassette by hand via the free river bus.

Enjoy your trip - we did. The run down into the city centre is very pleasant despite dire warnings about mooring before the centre.

 

 

Always good to get first hand advice. We will pump out & water up before we get there. 

Many thanks!

18 hours ago, Robbo said:

There’s prob more water points at Leeds than anywhere else! With water points at office lock, multiple points at Clarence dock and at the sani station moorings.  The electric has never worked at granary Wharf, Clarence dock has electric if required and cards are available from the office on the other side of the river.  Pontoons at granary are 48hr but rest is 14 day, and is usually pretty empty of boats so moorings are usually always available.  Clarence dock is usually full as it only has room for a few boats.   Granary Wharf feels better than Clarence dock so is my favourite place to stop in Leeds 

Granary Wharf it is!

[Reedley to Leeds]

Many thanks.

 

[Reedley to Leeds]

Just planning a trip to Leeds from Reedley, our first big trip since buying the boat, and would like to know how long we can stay on the visitor moorings in Leeds. Any help appreciated!

[Skipton Visitor Moorings]

43 minutes ago, Peter Thornton said:

Yes, a very scary looking policeman with a very big gun, just at the end of the wharf. No nonsense that time! A party conference was taking place and I suppose a canal boat is a potential threat to the hotel behind Gas Street.

I can understand that given the state of the world right now.

[Skipton Visitor Moorings]

22 hours ago, Peter Thornton said:

Last time we were untied was in Birmingham, on the canal near Broad Street. It happened twice in one night, which was annoying.

we commented that it hadn't happened to us 5 years ago when we'd moored there, then remembered that there had been an armed guard near our boat last time! 

Moral being, if you want to feel really safe go to Birmingham during the party conference season!

Armed guard, eh.?

[Skipton Visitor Moorings]

3 hours ago, Titus said:

You've confused me Lily, How can they not go further than Barrowford but you recommend Salterforth and East Marton, surely they are travelling east ??

Dave

 

All I can say is I have absolutely no idea of direction, nor left or right. It is a major hindrance and a huge irritation to Himself when he shouts "port" or "starboard". I can only apologise if I have misinformed. Still say, though, Barrowford is lovely

[Skipton Visitor Moorings]

48 minutes ago, Peter Thornton said:

Hi Lily

We are planning a trip from Nantwich to Leeds in September and researching the best moorings. We also have Skipton down and will take on board your comments. Plus Barrowford Visitor Moorings. What's your thoughts on those?

Also be interested in any other places to head for, or to avoid?

Thanks

Peter and Hazel

I love the 3 day visitor moorings at Barrowford. It is so pretty there and very quiet at night. Barrowford is a lovely place too. I recommend stopping at either East Marten or Salterforth for an overnight and a meal in the local pubs, too. If you go down the locks, leave it til the morning, @8.30, and you may very well be helped by Michael, the lock keeper. He's a good guy and a great chatter. Further along takes you past Reedley Marina and into Burnley. Personally, I would recommend staying at Barrowford and not going any further.

Maybe see you en route!

 

[Skipton Visitor Moorings]

6 hours ago, Martin Megson said:

Popped down to say hello but must have missed you.  Hope the experience doesn't put you off as it's a beautiful canal and a very nice little market town.  I'm biased as I'm a Yorkshireman.

 

Ah, no! We moved off yesterday morning and are now at Barrowford top lock for an overnighter. We'll be back up in a couple of weeks; we love Skipton. The canal is breathtaking and having the sun for the last few days has really brought the beauty to life. I normally  experience it through a drudge of rain, wind and mud! If you're still around I'll nip over and say hi.

1 hour ago, Gimley said:

We had a stone throwing incident whilst moored up, in the basin at Slaithwaite a few weeks back. The locals we spoke to were very surprised and we were assured this is definitely not the norm. We've just put it down to wrong place at the wrong time. 

I must admit though, with every passing uneventful night I become slightly less convinced that everybody under the age of 65 within the vicinity of my boat have mischief on there mind and bulging pockets of stones.

Absolutely nothing wrong with a healthy dose of paranoia!

[Skipton Visitor Moorings]

17 hours ago, rgreg said:

We moored in Skipton on the Leeds side of the services a couple of weeks ago without a hint of trouble. We've also moored in other areas of Skipton before without issues. As others have said, I think it's down to luck and problems can happen anywhere.

I think Fate decided it was our turn this time!

14 hours ago, Mark Rawlinson said:

While it's certainly correct to point out that these things can and do happen all over the system, especially in school holidays, I think that they just seem more shocking when they occur in a supposedly quiet/safe town like Skipton, although interestingly a bit of Googling suggests that there was a similar problem with vandalism seven years ago to the extent that the local paper was declaring Skipton a "no go area" for boaters:

http://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/4861723.Thugs_make_canal_a__no_go__area/

“Canal boat owners obviously talk to each other and their message is, ‘Don’t stop in Skipton, you’ll get trouble from local kids,’” said Mrs Clarke.

“It’s sad, but Skipton is getting a really bad reputation. Instead of stopping, people are passing through and it’s a big loss for the town

 

Perhaps the above was hyperbole, but the Mrs Clarke quoted is one of the owners of Pennine Cruisers, so she presumably saw what was going on first hand?

 

The reason for my interest in this thread is that we are hiring on the L+L in September, and was planning an overnight at the location in question (i.e. between the swing bridges), but hopefully with the 'little darlings' being back at school by then, things should have quietened down by then?  

 

MARK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, I wouldn't let our experience put you off. It is a lovely town and well worth staying there a few days. Between the swing bridges is a decent location, very handy for Morrison's and Bizzie Lizzie's. The little sweethearts should be back at school around 2nd September and, hopefully, too tired for mischief. We plan on going back in a couple of weeks, so may see you there!

[Skipton Visitor Moorings]

21 hours ago, Mrs Paxo said:

What a shame. It doesn't take more than a few little savages to ruin things does it?  We moored up outside the Herriot hotel. There for about 5 days. No troubles at all. Really handy for Morrisons. 

We may try there next time. I think part of it was we were quite visible (not hard in a widebeam) and moored next to steps down to the road. 

20 hours ago, Neil2 said:

I think this a case of really bad luck, no-one could describe Skipton as a remotely dodgy location, I guess this sort of thing could happen literally anywhere if you happen to be in the wrong place when someone with mischievous intentions comes along.  The fact that the police are taking it seriously suggests it's not a routine occurrence.   

I agree. We will be taking more care now and implementing stringent security measures. The police seemed to know who it was as well. Perhaps a stiff warning will help.

20 hours ago, Nick D said:

It's a shame you had this experience.  We live near Skipton and although our boat is not moored there, it's a really lovely town to visit and linger for a few days.

It's not put us off at all. We love Skipton and plan to be back in September for a few days.

[Skipton Visitor Moorings]

9 minutes ago, Martin Megson said:

I've been moored in Skipton for around 10 days on the moorings between the two swing bridges to the Liverpool side of the basin. It's been very quiet with no bother from the local youth. The canal to the Leeds side of the basin looks less inviting, I think this is near the car park Frangar mentioned.  

Then we were neighbours! I think they picked on us because we're a bright & shiny widebeam. We were just by the water pipe near the electric swing bridge. Putting it down to experience now. The kids do seem to congregate over near the bus station; there was a herd of them there last night when we came back from the Chinese.

[Skipton Visitor Moorings]

18 hours ago, Timx said:

Very annoying, I sympathise, are you tying the ropes back to your boat, I'e  they have to get on your boat to untie. Get some motion lights, might help to deter when darker.if they jump on your boat , then you can set off an alarm, you can buy cheap pull alarms. Anything helps.

We are doing so now, we're also looking at other security measures e.g a chain for mooring. Also a dog that will wake up in time to bark and not just sleep through it all!

11 hours ago, frangar said:

When we moored in skipton a couple of years ago we were opposite a car park which seemed to attract a certain type of youth...when space became available we moved round to by a big chimney for a second night which was much quieter...it's funny how a place changes in just a couple of hundred yards. I hope you didn't have further problems. 

It is strange how areas can differ. We always try to stay where there is bright lighting when in towns. Didn't work out so well this time though. However, it was a good learning experience and no real damage was done. The police are looking into it, as well. We moved off this morning as we have to get back to Burnley in time for the match on Saturday!

[Skipton Visitor Moorings]

Just sent the photos via email to the local police. Bloody angry at the moment!

[Skipton Visitor Moorings]

Just a warning to anyone who is on, or plans to use, the Skipton visitor moorings during the school holidays. We are moored up behind the council offices and have just had our ropes untied by a group of teenagers who have been hanging around the 14 day moorings for a couple of days. There are 5 or 6 of them, a mixed group, and the ringleader is @15, with short, blond hair. They are on the look out for trouble. I have photos of them.

[wide beam]

21 hours ago, DRP said:

Stop worrying, and enjoy it.

Here's inspiration for you;

Margaret is 5feet 2ins, 71/2 stone and "well over 21".

You'll soon find you don't need the bow thruster, and certainly not the silly stick thing on the tiller.

Welcome to the world of fat boats!

 

Many thanks for this; Margaret is a power house and I have a lot to live up to if I don't want to let the distaff side down!

[wide beam]

1 hour ago, Canal321 said:

By my count, you have 7 locks at Johnston's, and then 6 through Blackburn ( not that many really). And only 3 swing bridges, also 1 tunnel. A nice stretch from Clayton to Readly which will be easygoing (apart from all the shopping carts and bicycles that are lurking beneath... especially on the burnley mile ).

Please don't be to worried about using the boat,  and try get out of the marina as much as possible! I've seen 3 or 4 new builds go into Readly in the past few  months and several over the years and alot of them never move again. There seems to be a thing about marinas, in my opinion, where boats take root and owners have no interest in going for a sail. 

Get settled in and comfortable with the boat, then go for a cruise to Bingley for a few weeks (great scenery, pubs, people... the list goes on) and enjoy the waterways. This gives you a real chance to do some locks and swing bridges, they just keep on coming at ya.

Enjoy you new 'home' but remember to get out there and explore!  good luck

 

 

Thank you for this breakdown of locks etc. Looking at the numbers it does seem eminently achievable.

We plan on using the boat a lot (why buy one if you're not going to play with it?) and, after the first week settling in, are making towards Skipton for our inaugural trip; after that - Bingley! Then, hopefully, the whole of the Leeds-Liverpool will unspool before us over the summer months.

Really, really excited by the new adventure!

 

[wide beam]

We pick up our, brand new, wide beam next week and our first trip from Botany Bay to Reedley Marina is a little heavy on Locks so this thread is very informative. Because we are newbies, despite recently getting our Inland Waterways Helmsman licences, we are having a professional come with us the first day, as I would hate to get it wrong first time out. I particularly like the attachement to the tiller, which we will be getting. We've also had bow thrusters fitted as a "boot n' braces" job but are hoping not to use them often.

If any of you are out on the canal the first weekend in June and you see a very stressed woman guiding a wide beam through the locks/swing bridges please be kind and shout words of encouragement!