JohnEW2912

The nearest marinas to Liverpool would probably be Preston Brook near Runcorn or Anderton - there are also plenty of other smaller sites on the Bridgewater or northern Trent & Mersey. There would also be the marinas on the western end of the Leeds & Liverpool but getting to these would mean crossing the city. There are moorings on the southern end of the Lancaster canal north of Preston, which would be the nearest to Blackpool. The big new marina at Barton Grange may well have space.

We have been members of RCR since we got our boat 5 years ago. This year is the first year we have not had to call them out. We are complete mechanical incompetents so some of those call-outs could no doubt have been avoided if we were more practical - mostly not though. In general the service has been excellent but there was one occasion last year when we could not start the engine when fairly near our home boatyard. They quoted us a time of several hours before they could be there so we gave up and called on our regular mechanic.

I didn't know the Ship had closed - it was certainly open in early September when I last passed it. I thought I had heard from somewhere that the Scarisbrick Arms was going to be converted to offices? No idea on the Running Horses. None of these were in the 6 I quoted above.

True, but still 6 in 8 miles between Burscough and Haskayne (not counting those in Burscough itself).

There is a small operation with one or two boats at Heath Charnock, near Chorley, but I think the boats won't be big enough for you. Can't remember the name of the company. Claymoore to Liverpool should be fairly easy in a week. You could probably also be able to do it from Black Prince at Acton Bridge or at a push Alvechurch at Anderton, particularly if you're up for long days. It's a very easy cruise with only 8 locks to the current terminus and deep broad canals, especially the Bridgewater. Bear in mind, though, that there will be another 5 locks to get to Albert Dock. Lots of swing bridges west of Wigan but BW will open all the ones round Maghull and Aintree for you. Best of all, lots of pubs, especially west of Burscough.

Agree Richard. The first 30 miles on the Llangollen aren't in my opinion even as good as the L&L between Barrowford and Wigan and almost no one cruises there.

Given the time of year you are going to need most of the available daylight to get round in a week. For good beer and cider the Blue Bell at Hardingswood Junction is not to be missed, although it doesn't do food. It's also only open evenings and not at all on Monday.

I'd agree with Richard. Stopping at East Marton on the Saturday is the most logical option. Saturday will be a bit longer than Sunday doing this but not by much - you will still have 9 miles, 12 locks and a good few swing bridges on the Sunday. You will be able to judge Saturday's cruise when you pass East Marton on the way and find a suitable spot to turn.

Probably might be better, if you need a pub, to moor above Gargrave top lock and walk back into Gargrave, rather than doing Bank Newton. The Anchor is the nearest but the Masons Arms is a far better pub. You should be able to stop at East Marton on the way back to enjoy the Cross Keys.

It's about 17 miles and 15 locks each way so should be doable in 2.5 days, but it won't be all that leisurely. You probably need to go beyond Gargrave on the first day, ideally through bank newton locks if you can. If you do, it will be easy thereon. I think the tunnel is open for 10 minutes on the hour going westbound and the same on the half hour coming back. It takes 15-20 minutes to get through. Given there's a winding hole just beyond the tunnel exit you should be able to get through, turn round and come back in 80 minutes.

If you want a more contemporary pottery as well then Emma Bridgewater is to be recommended. It's alongside the Caldon, although I can't remember the bridge number without my Nicholsons.

The Blue Bell at Kidsgrove right by Hardings Wood Junction is not to be missed if you like real beer and cider - no food though. If you're stopping there make sure you moor up below the last lock as mooring between the lock and Harecastle Tunnel is not recommended by the tunnel keepers. I found the Shroppie Fly pretty run down in June - the Bridge is a better option.

I haven't heard the interview so can't vouch for what he said but why would he be expected to offer a view to a lay audience about extra costs for continuous cruisers, something that is nothing to do with him as a marina owner? Also why do you expect someone who is business to make money from marina development to voluntarily talk about rising boating costs? Maybe the interviewer could have pushed him but I doubt he would be well enough briefed. Anyway a 200 berth marina development should surely have the effect of depressing mooring costs in a currently difficult market shouldn't it - more supply coupled with less demand?

In recent years we have stayed a few times in Granary Wharf above River Lock. It's not beautiful but it's very central - you can often hear the announcer on Leeds station. Never had any trouble there.

Harrall Brokerage at Northwich is the biggest site in the north west, if not in the country. I'm not aware of any big single sites north of the Mersey.

If you haven't definitely decided to moor at Rufford you might want to consider cruising times from there back to the main line. We have been moored at Rufford for 5 years since the first marina opened and we are now pretty fed up with navigating the 2.5 miles and 7 locks back to the main line at Burscough every time we want to go anywhere. It never takes less than 2.5 hours. We are about to move to the new marina at Scarisbrick. Although it's further from Burscough it will only take 1.5 hours to get back to the junction and we won't have the 7 locks to do, some of the slowest on the whole network. We will also be within easy striking distance of the new Liverpool link.

I think there are laundry services (and showers) at the BW Services at Rose Grove, Burnley, which is also a safe mooring place. If your canal guide is not up to date it might not be marked on as it moved from the centre of Burnley. An outstanding place to moor for views of the Calder valley and the Bowland hills is just beyond Simpson's swing bridge to the east of Clayton-le-Moors.

Not sure it's a great idea to moor overnight in the middle of the flight. I don't think the BW guys will be keen on you doing that either. You should be up to the top in no more than 4 hours and then you have a peach of a canal for miles.

Presumably there will be competition for you for services at Scarisbrick from Alan Mawdsley's new marina from next month?

Done it quite a few times now over the last 5 years, the last time two weeks ago. It always seems to take us about 4 hours for the full flight, no matter how many crew or how the locks are set. We don't find it particularly hard at all, but then we're moored on the Rufford branch and the Wigan flight is easy after those locks. There should be BW guys around helping - I understand the extra Summer staff are off on Mondays and Tuesdays - unless there's a more deserving case on the flight as well. Plenty of good safe rural mooring spots at the top if you're coming up, but if you want worldly pleasures I would recommend Adlington - excellent collection of pubs, two Indian restaurants, a Bistro, several take-aways and a handy Co-op. Good moorings on the offside alongside the park. Lots of boats seem to stop at the Crawford Arms at Red Rock. I haven't been in for years, when it was dreadful and I was told it was no better by a hire boat crew two weeks ago.

Having agreed how quiet the L&L is, I've actually found it quite busy in two short trips this week. On Monday/Tuesday we moved up from Parbold to Adlington - saw half a dozen others on Wigan locks - bit more than usual. Yesterday we moved from Adlington to the Top Lock at Wheelton and there seemed to be boats everywhere - the fishermen were asking me if there some special event on. Still quiet compared to other canals further south but good to see plenty of activity.

My experience is that the only busy spot on the L&L is between Foulridge and Silsden, primarily due to the hire boats based around there. We see more boats these days west of Wigan, due to the Ribble Link and the newish marinas at Rufford. Next year will presumably get even busier with the opening of the Liverpool Link and the new 200 berth marina at Scarisbrick. Overall, though, it's still a lot quieter than many Midlands canals. In particular the patch between Johnson's Hillock and Barrowford is always virtually empty. I presume because people assume it's a grim urban industrial stretch. There are a few patches of grot and the M65 can be a nuisance but by and large it's pleasant semi-rural with lots of views of the Bowland fells.

Absolutely no problem in Castlefield - we regularly visit and have had no trouble there at all. As above, the Rochdale 9 can be a bit of hard work and it's better if you go through with someone else if you're going that way. Otherwise, you need take no more precautions than you would in any urban canal area.

Others more used to the journey may know for sure, but I understood it was the number of swing bridges, many with busy traffic and also that some of them are temperamental and it is better to have BW on site if something goes wrong. After Netherton Bridge you are left to do the last 2 hours as the swing bridges run out, but if they have time they also keep an eye on you in the van, so it must be concern about vandalism or obstructions in the canal as well. having said that we had no problems whatsoever in that respect. The guys themselves don't know what will happen to the assisted passage next year when the link is open and the number of boats will increase significantly.