Manchester

[magpie patrick]

Sorry if this is a repetition of other posts: just point me at those if so. I've done a search and can't find the exact answer I'm looking for.

 

The question is, what are the best timings/ovenight stop when going from the Bridgwater to the Peak Forest? I know the other way it's stop o/n at Fairfield and the go down nice and early, but what's the equivelant going up?

[Stonker]

Sorry if this is a repetition of other posts: just point me at those if so. I've done a search and can't find the exact answer I'm looking for.

 

The question is, what are the best timings/ovenight stop when going from the Bridgwater to the Peak Forest? I know the other way it's stop o/n at Fairfield and the go down nice and early, but what's the equivelant going up?

 

We have always stopped at Castlefield and gone straight through, up the Rochdale Nine and up the Ashton to Portland Basin in one day. Some people stay at Piccadilly Village after the Rochdale Nine but we have never done that. It's taken between six and eight hours depending on whether we've shared the Rochdale Nine with another boat and how much traffic there was.

 

Stewart

[Capey]

We have always stopped at Castlefield and gone straight through, up the Rochdale Nine and up the Ashton to Portland Basin in one day. Some people stay at Piccadilly Village after the Rochdale Nine but we have never done that. It's taken between six and eight hours depending on whether we've shared the Rochdale Nine with another boat and how much traffic there was.

 

Stewart

 

just thought I would mention, we also have a very nice visitors mooring at Warble Wharf, just 1.5 miles from Portland Basin up the Peak. Not as pretty as Portland, but you will have friendly neighbours - watch out for the barbecue fire, or give us a wave as you pass us.

[Pie Eater]

We normally stop overnight at Piccadily Village and start at 8.00am the following morning. Watch out for the mooring rings on the right hand side of Piccadily Village after you have done the Rochdale nine.

 

Steve

[Stonker]

just thought I would mention, we also have a very nice visitors mooring at Warble Wharf, just 1.5 miles from Portland Basin up the Peak. Not as pretty as Portland, but you will have friendly neighbours - watch out for the barbecue fire, or give us a wave as you pass us.

 

 

I never knew there was a visitor mooring at Warble Wharf, is it new or just never been signposted? Mind you, anyone heading up that way from PB needs to ignore the sign that says Warble is 50 yards away, longest 50 yards I've ever seen.

 

Stewart

[Capey]

I never knew there was a visitor mooring at Warble Wharf, is it new or just never been signposted? Mind you, anyone heading up that way from PB needs to ignore the sign that says Warble is 50 yards away, longest 50 yards I've ever seen.

 

Stewart

 

Ah yes if you beleive that 50 yards, you would beleive anything that the previous owner would tell you as well

 

Yup new managemetn and a lovely little wooden jetty, Ok you do need to walk the plank to get off your boat, but there is an elsan point of sorts - good enough for us to use every day at any rate, gas is for sale during working hours, water is availalbe and there is a chandlery on site also during working hours. Main thing in its favour is that its very secure - you really can lock up and go there - high fence all around, locked gates and other boaters always around on weekends - us and one other there during the week as well.

[magpie patrick]

Thanks everyone: I quite fancy doing Castlefields to portland (or even Warble) in one day as it gives us more flexibility on the Bridgwater, just wanted to check it was a good idea. If we're well ahead I might get up the Rochdale nine for the overnight stop, but nice to know I don't have to.

[RobinJ]

We have always stopped at Castlefield and gone straight through, up the Rochdale Nine and up the Ashton to Portland Basin in one day. Some people stay at Piccadilly Village after the Rochdale Nine but we have never done that. It's taken between six and eight hours depending on whether we've shared the Rochdale Nine with another boat and how much traffic there was.

Things have improved somewhat from the old days, it used to be a question of get up early and go all the way.

There are plenty of moorings in and around Castlefield, although (depending on your lifestyle) some can be more noisy than others. There are also a few places to stop over on the Ashton too.

Personally I still avoid weekends and school holidays!

[Capey]

Things have improved somewhat from the old days, it used to be a question of get up early and go all the way.

There are plenty of moorings in and around Castlefield, although (depending on your lifestyle) some can be more noisy than others. There are also a few places to stop over on the Ashton too.

Personally I still avoid weekends and school holidays!

 

I think that is still the pattern around the ashton - avoid stopping if you can help it and dont cruise donw there outside of school hours. last time one of our fellow WWCC (That stands for the Warble Wharf Cruising Club) came through there early hours of the morning his boat was boarded by neo nazi type skinhead people, who rammed the lock with his boat, breaking the lock and trying to throw him off the boat. He only managed to escpae by calling his brother and getting him and his friends down to help him. Very scary stuff - so yes make sure you are past that area before the monsters come out.

[Pete of Ebor]

I think that is still the pattern around the ashton - avoid stopping if you can help it and dont cruise donw there outside of school hours. last time one of our fellow WWCC (That stands for the Warble Wharf Cruising Club) came through there early hours of the morning his boat was boarded by neo nazi type skinhead people, who rammed the lock with his boat, breaking the lock and trying to throw him off the boat. He only managed to escpae by calling his brother and getting him and his friends down to help him. Very scary stuff - so yes make sure you are past that area before the monsters come out.

 

 

We last went up Ashton 2 or 3 years ago. It would have been about 3rd week in May, so in school term time, which may make a difference. We moored in Castlefields Basin overnight, and did the Rochdale 9 and The Ashton all the way to Duckinfield Junction by lunchtime, and we couldn't leave Castlefields Basin until 8am because there was a broken gate on the Rochdale 9 which had to be operated by BW staff. We saw no problems at all - apart from The Strawberry Duck being closed !

[magpie patrick]

I think that is still the pattern around the ashton - avoid stopping if you can help it and dont cruise donw there outside of school hours. last time one of our fellow WWCC (That stands for the Warble Wharf Cruising Club) came through there early hours of the morning his boat was boarded by neo nazi type skinhead people, who rammed the lock with his boat, breaking the lock and trying to throw him off the boat. He only managed to escpae by calling his brother and getting him and his friends down to help him. Very scary stuff - so yes make sure you are past that area before the monsters come out.

 

This one story from Capey worries me: we are scheduled to go up on Sunday in the middle of the bank holiday weekend...

 

what's the general view: unless there are volunteers out there the crew will be me, Magpie Val and possibly my parents (who are in their seventies): we're quite capable of moving very early though... before 7 if need be.

[Machpoint005]

This one story from Capey worries me: we are scheduled to go up on Sunday in the middle of the bank holiday weekend...

 

what's the general view: unless there are volunteers out there the crew will be me, Magpie Val and possibly my parents (who are in their seventies): we're quite capable of moving very early though... before 7 if need be.

Go early and take a couple of big blokes with you!

[Capey]

Sorry did not mean to cause you anxiety, but living around that area, although Warble is off the ashton, the general rule of thumb is as above, only go along that section up to Fairfield during school hours or take the local rugby team with you (you can drop them off with me if you like :-)

[Liam]

It's a shame I'm at the FBCC rally this weekend, otherwise I would of gladly lockwheeled you, in the hope of meeting Capey's daughter at the end of the day

[Stonker]

This one story from Capey worries me:

snip.

 

I'm not trying to cast nasturtiums but is there anyone answering this thread who has first-hand experience of any problems with people on the Ashton.

 

I've been up or down there 4 times in the last five years in August. Yes, there have been problems with drained pounds and broken lock gear but I've never had problems with people. Maybe I've just been lucky.

 

Stewart

[gaggle]

martin clarke (pennine waterways ) has put something about this on nbw email or you tell us section. says dont be scared at all , well no more than you would be anywhere else on the system.

[magpie patrick]

Very helpful thanks: I think we'll go for it then with an early start. I'll be off line for a couple of days now but I'll check for further advice from anyone before Sunday. That's assuming I round the Asland Lamp succesfully tomorrow, otherwise I'll send you all a postcard from Douglas

[RichardH]

Trouble can happen all over the system. I was reading an old copy of Canal Boat over the weekend and was saddened to read of a couple who had their boat windows smashed whilst moored at Cherry Tree on the Wigan side of Blackburn. I would tend not to moor between Riley Green and Bridge 109 but even so Cherry Tree is a relatively pleasant area with decent housing.

 

We didn't have any probs on the Ashton despite ignoring all the advice and going down in school holidays in blazing sunshine. We had the usual kids in locks but thank full nothing serious.

[gaggle]

going up this saturday or sunday , not sure which day yet.

[MartinClark]

martin clarke (pennine waterways ) has put something about this on nbw email or you tell us section. says dont be scared at all , well no more than you would be anywhere else on the system.

That would be Martin Clark (no "e"!).

 

I'll happily re-post it here, for the benefit of those who don't like visiting NBW, and also because it can't be said too many times that the Ashton is no different from many other urban canals.

 

What follows was written in specific response to questions asked about the Ashton:

 

"Bernie and Mick are right to be dubious about tales of doom and gloom regarding travelling through Manchester or on the Ashton Canal. The advice "don't stop between Waters Meeting and Marple" is clearly rot!

 

For a start, Castlefield is a safe and interesting place to moor overnight, and even to stay for several days while exploring Manchester. Even the Dale Street area at the top of the "Rochdale Nine" is regarded as being safe, and should become increasingly so as more and more developments are built alongside the canal. Other places usually regarded as comparatively safe around the corner on the Ashton are at Paradise Wharf (before Store Street Aqueduct) and Telford Basin (off the Ashton at Piccadilly Village).

 

Many boats stop overnight with no problems at Portland Basin on the summit of the Ashton or round the corner on the Peak Forest between the first railway bridge and the lift bridge.

 

The Ashton Canal suffers from having had a poor reputation in the past, and old mud takes a long time to unstick! The Ashton Canal is an urban canal and is no worse (or better) than other urban canals. Yes, there are occasional problems but these could happen anywhere. Boaters use the Ashton Canal as part of the Cheshire Ring every day and the overwhelming majority experience no problem of any kind.

 

However, if you are anxious about urban canals, there are a few sensible precautions that you can take to reduce any possible risks:

- Where possible travel on a week day in school term time.

- Where possible pass through the urban areas in the morning.

- Lock the front doors of the boat.

- Don't leave valuables on the roof or on view where they could be a temptation.

- Speak civilly and patiently to youngsters who may ask lots of apparently silly questions.

- Don't allow youngsters onto the boat and politely decline requests for rides. Explain that your insurance won't allow it.

 

You invite anecdotes. I have travelled the length of the Ashton Canal quite a number of times, but I recall two occasions when tight schedules meant that we needed to do the Ashton in the afternoons of hot summer weekends. These were times when the pessimist might have expected trouble, particularly as we encountered a large group of youngsters around Lock 4 on one day and a group of youngsters swimming in Lock 12 on another. However, neither group was the least bit intimidating. They took little more than a mild interest in our passing and the trips were as uneventful as all the others!

 

You ask where the vandals and stone throwers are. Unfortunately they could be anywhere on the canal system."

[gaggle]

yeh sorry martin about the clark with an e once again , i remember you telling me the first time but can never remember if you said with or without the e , each time i jump the wrong way.

[magpie patrick]

Thanks Martin and everyone else: Just what I needed to know.

 

We'll be spending Saturday night at either Castlefields or Picadilly and going up on Sunday first thing. I'll post how it goes next week.

[Hairy-Neil]

....going up on Sunday first thing.

 

It talks of heavy rain so that will keep the little buggers indoors with a bit of luck.....

Edited May 23, 2008 by Hairy-Neil

[cotswoldsman]

This one story from Capey worries me: we are scheduled to go up on Sunday in the middle of the bank holiday weekend...

 

what's the general view: unless there are volunteers out there the crew will be me, Magpie Val and possibly my parents (who are in their seventies): we're quite capable of moving very early though... before 7 if need be.

 

You will all sorts of stories on here and elsewhere based on some of these none of us would ever move anywhere.

Anyway I came up Ashton about 4 weeks ago after spending the night at Picadily village. Had no problem except rubish on prop!! When the children came out of school it was also no problem but then I always engage them in friendly conversation, ask them to open and close gates and paddles had one group of kids do 3 locks for me and they thanked me for being allowed to help!!

[Mac of Cygnet]

I went down and up the Ashton last September single-handed on successive days (yes, I know, but it's a complicated story), and the most dangerous thing that happened was a lump of metal bouncing off the boat roof a few inches in front of me, having been carelessly dropped from the top of one of the construction sites near Piccadilly. The site safety officer was apologetic, but I would wear a hard hat going past there again. The only attention I got from the locals was a few cheery waves. A couple of the locks were really hard, though.

 

Mac