North of Macclesfield in a 62ft narrowboat - Summer trip

[fer]

Well.. not summer yet but already out and about. All the comments for last year's trip were top tips and invaluable, hoping I can pick your brains and experience again. 

Plan is to go a bit more up the Trent and Mersey and into the Macclesfield Canal. My initial idea was to go to Leeds (Leeds and Liverpool Canal), but the more I read about it, the more doubts I get. Maximum length is 62ft (which I understand is with bow on one side and stern in the middle of the lock, tricky!) but, is this for all/most locks between wigan and Leeds? or just a handful of them? I single hand, I could cope with a handful of tricky locks, but if every one of them is going to be a challenge and nerve breaking, I rather give it a miss. By the way, trad stern and cratch cover. 

The other option is to do the HNC to Aspley basin, and then to Liverpool. Any places on route or detours I should not miss? Any recommendations more than welcome. Thanks

I'm very much looking forward to this trip!

[Arthur Marshall]

I gave up on the L&L several years ago. Some of the swing bridges were almost impossible to shift single handed last time I went and I  doubt they've improved. Stoppages are incessant and it runs out of water early, and I worried about ever getting off the damn thing. Which is a shame, because I would like to do it again ... And yes, all the locks are short, if I remember rightly..

 

[PaulJ]

1 hour ago, fer said:

 

The other option is to do the HNC to Aspley basin, and then to Liverpool. Any places on route or detours I should not miss? Any recommendations more than welcome. Thanks

I'm very much looking forward to this trip!

60ft is generally regarded as about as long as you would squeeze through the Huddersfield Broad /C&H.  Im sure the first lock from Aspley is the tightest as had this conversation with another boater and CRT bod once - cant remember exactly how long the boat was but he didnt try it, turned round and went back.

So the L&L locks may be your only option (depending on the exact length) and spacious in comparision. You will get very wet going downhill on some, not as bad uphill if your cratch is sturdy and watertight and can cope with alot of water hitting it 😀

If you turn off before Wigan Flight the locks are 70 ft so loads of room..

 

 

 

Edited May 18 by PaulJ

[fer]

11 hours ago, Arthur Marshall said:

I gave up on the L&L several years ago. Some of the swing bridges were almost impossible to shift single handed last time I went and I  doubt they've improved. Stoppages are incessant and it runs out of water early, and I worried about ever getting off the damn thing. Which is a shame, because I would like to do it again ... And yes, all the locks are short, if I remember rightly..

 

Thanks for that Arthur. I hadn't thought about the swing bridges on a broad canal. Sounds like a great trip on paper, but seems a bit too much hassle to be honest. There will be the usual hiccups with stoppages and water shortages any way I go, so no point in making it even harder for myself. 

 

10 hours ago, PaulJ said:

60ft is generally regarded as about as long as you would squeeze through the Huddersfield Broad /C&H.  Im sure the first lock from Aspley is the tightest as had this conversation with another boater and CRT bod once - cant remember exactly how long the boat was but he didnt try it, turned round and went back.

So the L&L locks may be your only option (depending on the exact length) and spacious in comparision. You will get very wet going downhill on some, not as bad uphill if your cratch is sturdy and watertight and can cope with alot of water hitting it 😀

If you turn off before Wigan Flight the locks are 70 ft so loads of room..

 

 

 

Indeed, Huddersfield Broad and C&H are out of question. Regarding the L&L Wigan to Leeds, cratch cover is good and since I single hand, I wouldn't be standing on the stern. Looks like a trip I will have to postpone for when the canal gets fixed a bit and I get somebody to come with me 🙃 

 

Ok, so the HNC it is. I saw I have to book Standedge Tunnel and Marsden flight, anything else I should be aware of? Any recommended places to moor or visit?

Rochdale canal is another option, I need to see how far I can go on that one. I just hope I don't get trapped in any of them

[PaulJ]

1 hour ago, fer said:

 

Indeed, Huddersfield Broad and C&H are out of question. Regarding the L&L Wigan to Leeds, cratch cover is good and since I single hand, I wouldn't be standing on the stern. Looks like a trip I will have to postpone for when the canal gets fixed a bit and I get somebody to come with me 🙃 

 

Apologies- had read your post as you were intending to go that way to Liverpool. I can read fine but my interpretation is often questionable 😃

There is a 63ft x 14ft about to go down/gone down the Wigan flight if that helps your confidence any-apparently they have done it many times..must be entertaining getting the gates open.

 

[fer]

ah, no problem, I had to rewrite it a couple times as I found it confusing myself

hmm... might have to stop near the junction for a few days and have a wander, see if I can spot any 62ft boat going down. Maybe widebeams are easier as the stern is already in the middle of the lock  but 63ft! blimey!

 

I must measure my boat to get an idea of how long it actually is. Although I guess any measurement I can do will be pretty inaccurate.

 

[JoeC]

1 hour ago, fer said:

Ok, so the HNC it is. I saw I have to book Standedge Tunnel and Marsden flight, anything else I should be aware of?

Just check your boat dimensions for going through the tunnel.



 

It doesn't seem to want to copy the link name to the above squares but it takes you to the CRT dimensions page.

Edited May 19 by JoeC

[fer]

12 minutes ago, JoeC said:

Just check your boat dimensions for going through the tunnel.



 

It doesn't seem to want to copy the link name to the above squares but it takes you to the CRT dimensions page.

Good lord, why is it all so tight in the North?

I reckon I shall be ok, I have a pretty standard narrowboat. But will get out with a measuring tape if it ever stops raining. 

Thanks for the link. 

[Rob-M]

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/media/document/g5CiqWRDUZimfjFTdsNlXw/4JSEUeTig9t5hUuokY3tDzWBkYY45FjHw8On-NJ8a_U/aHR0cHM6Ly9jcnRwcm9kY21zdWtzMDEuYmxvYi5jb3JlLndpbmRvd3MubmV0L2RvY3VtZW50Lw/018dcb61-9404-786a-a5f8-502ec9d67318.pdf

 

Expanded link from above

[Hudds Lad]

4 hours ago, fer said:

Good lord, why is it all so tight in the North?

 

You have to ask? We're famous for it  

[Jen-in-Wellies]

On 19/05/2026 at 14:08, Hudds Lad said:

 

You have to ask? We're famous for it  

70'? 'Ow much! Only got t'brass for 57'6". 

[fer]

Since I couldn't make much progress due to the locks ahead closed, I had plenty of time to do some crochet, start playing with node red, and .. measuring the boat.

61ft4" long, without counting fenders or rudder. Still not 57'6" though!  

But 6'1" airdraught at the cratch board! Full tank of water. How will this fare in Standedge? I read of people scratching handrails and sometimes even the sides. Not ideal, but I can live with that. But how about the cratch board at the top? High risk of damaging it being so close to the max height limit (6'2")?

I watched a couple of videos and seems like a rough ride. I'm an ok steerer, but keeping in a straight line for an hour and a half will be a challenge! 

Edited May 28 by fer

[Stroudwater1]

4 hours ago, fer said:

Since I couldn't make much progress due to the locks ahead closed, I had plenty of time to do some crochet, start playing with node red, and .. measuring the boat.

61ft4" long, without counting fenders or tiller. Still not 57'6" though!  

But 6'1" airdraught at the cratch board! Full tank of water. How will this fare in Standedge? I read of people scratching handrails and sometimes even the sides. Not ideal, but I can live with that. But how about the cratch board at the top? High risk of damaging it being so close to the max height limit (6'2")?

I watched a couple of videos and seems like a rough ride. I'm an ok steerer, but keeping in a straight line for an hour and a half will be a challenge! 

The people letting you through will measure the boat up and advise or prevent passage. They have specific boards for this and are quite careful . 
 

The good news is  if you are looking for a straight tunnel Standedge is probably not the one. It’s quite bendy in places with widenings then narrowings to catch you out.
 

I’m sure you will manage fine but many boats will get a scape here and there. It’s a great experience though . 

[Jen-in-Wellies]

10 hours ago, Stroudwater1 said:

The people letting you through will measure the boat up and advise or prevent passage. They have specific boards for this and are quite careful . 
 

The good news is  if you are looking for a straight tunnel Standedge is probably not the one. It’s quite bendy in places with widenings then narrowings to catch you out.
 

I’m sure you will manage fine but many boats will get a scape here and there. It’s a great experience though . 

It is a great bit of adventure boating though. However @fer is going to have to turn round at Huddersfield, at the furthest and come back, which is 74 locks and the tunnel times two. Twice as many chances for a lock to break, or the summit to run out of water and close the navigation. Something to consider, given the HNC's fragility. 

[fer]

On 28/05/2026 at 08:45, Jen-in-Wellies said:

It is a great bit of adventure boating though. However @fer is going to have to turn round at Huddersfield, at the furthest and come back, which is 74 locks and the tunnel times two. Twice as many chances for a lock to break, or the summit to run out of water and close the navigation. Something to consider, given the HNC's fragility. 

hmmm... 

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/019e734b-ae14-7e28-ab9d-d9dfce731d29

And I'm still waiting for Bosley to open.

 

Edited May 29 by fer

[fer]

[IanD]

On 27/05/2026 at 22:17, Stroudwater1 said:

The people letting you through will measure the boat up and advise or prevent passage. They have specific boards for this and are quite careful . 
 

The good news is  if you are looking for a straight tunnel Standedge is probably not the one. It’s quite bendy in places with widenings then narrowings to catch you out.
 

I’m sure you will manage fine but many boats will get a scape here and there. It’s a great experience though . 

Given the number of invisible-to-the-steerer-sticky-out-bits in Standedge, and the way that keeping to the middle of the roof bit you can see doesn't mean you're in the middle of the channel you can't see, I'd say you'd have to be extremely lucky not to collect a few scrapes on the hull -- we certainly did, but given the existing scrapes from 3 years of boating the end result doesn't look that different. No scrapes on the cabin though, in spite of the number of bashes and bangs during the transit... 😉 

 

Would still thoroughly recommend it though, unless you're paranoid about every tiny scratch on your boat... 🙂 

[fer]

1 hour ago, IanD said:

Given the number of invisible-to-the-steerer-sticky-out-bits in Standedge, and the way that keeping to the middle of the roof bit you can see doesn't mean you're in the middle of the channel you can't see, I'd say you'd have to be extremely lucky not to collect a few scrapes on the hull -- we certainly did, but given the existing scrapes from 3 years of boating the end result doesn't look that different. No scrapes on the cabin though, in spite of the number of bashes and bangs during the transit... 😉 

 

Would still thoroughly recommend it though, unless you're paranoid about every tiny scratch on your boat... 🙂 

Thanks Ian, it definitely sounds like a great experience. 
I'm not bothered about scratches on the hull, plenty there. Scratches on handrails I can easily live with. Cabin sides would be a shame, but hey ho, they tell the story . I'm more worried about the cratch board as it is quite high, and wider than usual. The thing weighs a ton and I can't take it out on my own. Plan was to go the tunnel entrance and ask somebody to help me put it down. I cannot afford to break it, so I had made out my mind to not go through with it still up. 

In any case, now that they are closing the HNC east locks mid June, I'm wondering if I really want to go through just to turn around and come back. I might be better off waiting for the locks to be reopen..  and the Bridgewater, and the Anderton lift haha. 

By the way, we "met" in Stone, I'm the one that pulled out just in front of you as you were approaching the star lock, to then make a mess when confronted with incoming boats and cygnets, and finally stop for water 😇

[IanD]

13 hours ago, fer said:

Thanks Ian, it definitely sounds like a great experience. 
I'm not bothered about scratches on the hull, plenty there. Scratches on handrails I can easily live with. Cabin sides would be a shame, but hey ho, they tell the story . I'm more worried about the cratch board as it is quite high, and wider than usual. The thing weighs a ton and I can't take it out on my own. Plan was to go the tunnel entrance and ask somebody to help me put it down. I cannot afford to break it, so I had made out my mind to not go through with it still up. 

In any case, now that they are closing the HNC east locks mid June, I'm wondering if I really want to go through just to turn around and come back. I might be better off waiting for the locks to be reopen..  and the Bridgewater, and the Anderton lift haha. 

By the way, we "met" in Stone, I'm the one that pulled out just in front of you as you were approaching the star lock, to then make a mess when confronted with incoming boats and cygnets, and finally stop for water 😇

A tall wide cratch might well be a problem, it all depends how high in the water your bow is, and they're scrupulous about taking measurements.

 

We were cursing you for pulling out and "stealing our lock" until we realised you were stopping for water -- didn't think your mess was in any way unusual, seen far worse... 😉

Edited May 30 by IanD

[fer]

well.. it escalated pretty quickly...

 

There is a winding hole in the HNC before lock 24W, what are the chances I will get trapped for weeks if I venture there?

Next option is the Rochdale, but it has been closed since 31st March, with the last CRT update on 18th May... 

Hope they open Bosley soon. There is only so much crochet and NodeRed I can do before I get bored 😆

While I am at it. Any recommendation for filling up with diesel north of Congleton? or are all places about the same? fuel boat?

 

 

[hoopdriver]

I live on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. Up on the summit pound.  I’ve a 58-foot narrowboat. According to the “official” figures the limit up here is 62-foot and that seems about right in my experience. I helped somebody take a 60-foot widebeam down a few locks a couple of years ago and that was no drama so I would think a 62-foot narrowboat would certainly be do-able.

 

The swing bridges are irritating. There’s lot of them and they are designed so that the operating mechanism is in the opposite bank to the landing, which is a total pain if, like me, and you apparently, you’re a single hander. That said, I’ve never had to wait long before another boat came along to pair up with, and quite often passersby will offer to lend a hand. So, the bridges are an obstacle but not really a deal breaker.

 

yes there are water issues and last summer the canal was closed between late May and mid September. That was something of an exception due in part to the hot dry summer and even more because some of the reservoirs had already been drained for repair works. This year they are apparently all right. Certainly there are no closure dates that I’ve heard of and lately a fair bit of traffic going by.

 

its a beautiful canal, lovely scenery and some nice towns and pubs along it. 

[IanD]

3 minutes ago, hoopdriver said:

I live on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. Up on the summit pound.  I’ve a 58-foot narrowboat. According to the “official” figures the limit up here is 62-foot and that seems about right in my experience. I helped somebody take a 60-foot widebeam down a few locks a couple of years ago and that was no drama so I would think a 62-foot narrowboat would certainly be do-able.

 

The swing bridges are irritating. There’s lot of them and they are designed so that the operating mechanism is in the opposite bank to the landing, which is a total pain if, like me, and you apparently, you’re a single hander. That said, I’ve never had to wait long before another boat came along to pair up with, and quite often passersby will offer to lend a hand. So, the bridges are an obstacle but not really a deal breaker.

 

yes there are water issues and last summer the canal was closed between late May and mid September. That was something of an exception due in part to the hot dry summer and even more because some of the reservoirs had already been drained for repair works. This year they are apparently all right. Certainly there are no closure dates that I’ve heard of and lately a fair bit of traffic going by.

 

its a beautiful canal, lovely scenery and some nice towns and pubs along it. 

Some of those swing bridges are a real PITA though, not just offside but sometimes immovable by one person -- unless they've all been miraculously fixed/relubricated since last time I went through them... 😉 

 

Love the canal, not so much the swing bridges... 😞 

[hoopdriver]

There’s one by Rodley which is comically elaborate and requires the coordinated efforts of several people to operate. The one by Snaygill (#181) was nearly immovable when I passed through there last month, but that has since been repaired. As far as I know the rest are okay, if a bit heavy 

 

(I’m talking here about the eastern half of the canal - the pretty half, in my opinion, which is where I travel)

Edited Tuesday at 15:27 by hoopdriver

[IanD]

3 minutes ago, hoopdriver said:

There’s one by Rodley which is comically elaborate and requires the coordinated efforts of several people to operate. The one by Snaygill (#181) was nearly immovable when I passed through there last month, but that has since been repaired. As far as I know the rest are okay, if a bit heavy 

Every time I've been along the L&L at least a couple of the manual swing bridges have been really difficult, and twice one of the electric ones didn't work and I had to call CART out... 😞 

 

Give me locks any day... 😉 

 

(which are of course also regularly broken...)

[hoopdriver]

Given the number of swing bridges along here, I guess the odds are pretty high one will be stuck or broken.  But at the moment at least - knock on wood - the ones on this half of the canal seem to be behaving themselves. Boats are moving and I’ve not heard about anyone being stranded. Always subject to change of course.

 

Perhaps living up here now for the past couple of winters I’ve developed the canal version of Hawaiian Time - Leeds & Liverpool Time - where you just chill and shrug off delays 😊

Edited Tuesday at 15:51 by hoopdriver