cheshire ring holiday

[stormdancer]

We are taking the family on the Cheshire ring from Heritage narrow boats at Congleton from the 2nd of August for a week. Dose anyone know of any special events or must see places along the way. There are 7 of us ages 10, 15, 16, 40, 42, and 2 over 65. Also any good eating places as there is no way im spending the whole week stuck in the kitchen. This will be our first family holiday in a very long time. Not sure how we will all get along in such a small space so want lots of things to see and do lined up. Thank you xxx

[PhilR]

We are taking the family on the Cheshire ring from Heritage narrow boats at Congleton from the 2nd of August for a week. Dose anyone know of any special events or must see places along the way. There are 7 of us ages 10, 15, 16, 40, 42, and 2 over 65. Also any good eating places as there is no way im spending the whole week stuck in the kitchen. This will be our first family holiday in a very long time. Not sure how we will all get along in such a small space so want lots of things to see and do lined up. Thank you xxx

 

I haven't time to give a full reply now, but will do soon. Which boat have you hired? and are you going clockwise or anti-clockwise?

 

Phil

(Congleton)

[muddywaters]

A stop at the Anderton boat lift is a must

[stormdancer]

I haven't time to give a full reply now, but will do soon. Which boat have you hired? and are you going clockwise or anti-clockwise?

 

Phil

(Congleton)

 

We are hireing Mow cop. The people at the hire place have been great helping with arangements. I think the plan is to go anticlockwise. Is this a good or bad idea !!!

 

A stop at the Anderton boat lift is a must

I will put that in my book thank you xxx

[PhilR]

We are hireing Mow cop. The people at the hire place have been great helping with arangements. I think the plan is to go anticlockwise. Is this a good or bad idea !!!

 

 

A good idea in my opinion. That is my preferred direction. I'm sure you will have a great time and it sounds like you will have plenty of able-bodied crew.

[BGA]

Allow plenty of time to get through Manchester, some of the locks are very hard work and access to the one by Canal Street is or was difficult.

[kevinl]

Good luck, at 97 miles and 92 locks you'll have to go some. Generally this is quoted as a 50 hour trip so 1 week is quite a push, just as well you have a few willing youngsters (bit of an oxymoron?) to do the locks some of which are quite challenging I've always thought.

100 miles at 4mph and 97 locks at 15 minutes each is 50 hours(ish) The advantage to anticlockwise is you get the 30 lock free miles on the Bridgewater near the end of the trip so you can play catch-up a bit if necessary (within the speed limits obviously).

That may all sound a bit negative but go for it, it's a great cruise but if it were me I'll lake to have a bit more time to enjoy: the Anderton lift, Lymm (Cheshire in general really, it's all nice), Barton swing bridge (only a short diversion off the ring), city centre Manchester (Castlefields) too much to list. One thing I would take is large umbrella, it's not been as clement Up North as it has for some of the rest of the country.

Have a great time and wave when you overtake me.

[mayalld]

We are hireing Mow cop. The people at the hire place have been great helping with arangements. I think the plan is to go anticlockwise. Is this a good or bad idea !!!

 

Anticlockwise is my preferred way of doing it, as it makes the transit down into Manchester much easier.

 

You need to plan your first couple of days to ensure that you are positioned to do the run into Manchester easily.

 

So, plan on stopping as follows, assuming a 2pm pickup from Heritage;

 

1) Congleton

2) Bollington or Poynton

3) Bottom of Marple, or Ashton-under-Lyne

4) Castlefield

[JohnEW2912]

Anticlockwise is my preferred way of doing it, as it makes the transit down into Manchester much easier.

 

You need to plan your first couple of days to ensure that you are positioned to do the run into Manchester easily.

 

So, plan on stopping as follows, assuming a 2pm pickup from Heritage;

 

1) Congleton

2) Bollington or Poynton

3) Bottom of Marple, or Ashton-under-Lyne

4) Castlefield

With teenagers on board they would probably appreciate some time in Manchester, so I would go for being at or around Dukinfield junction for night 3 ready for an early start and therefore mid-afternoon arrival at Castlefield.

[Machpoint005]

>>> Also any good eating places as there is no way I'm spending the whole week stuck in the kitchen. <<<

Assuming you get back to base the night before the boat is due in, I'd recommend the Rising Sun for food and beer. Just 5mins walk downhill from the bridge near Heritage.

[avonside1563]

Did the cheshire ring about 15 years ago in the clockwise direction hiring from Anderson boats in Middlewich. No problem doing it in a week, although that was with similarly aged crew of 6 (in our late tewenties at the time). Couldn't comment on the current situation through Manchester and the Ashton but we had no problems anywhere, although it was in school term time.

[Robin2]

What about a nice leisurely trip to Whaley Bridge and back - with time to see things?

 

Mind you, even doing that in a week would be racing by my standards

[dor]

We recently did the Cheshire Ring. Started the Ashton flight at 7:15 AM and were tied up in Castlefield by about 2:00pm. If possible do the Rochdale 9 with another boat - it makes it much easier. The locks are nowhere near as hard as their reputation suggests - worst lock parts were the bottom gate paddles on the Marple flight which were heavy.

 

We did it in early June - pm me your email address in the next day or so (I'm out of the country for a week from sunday) and I can send you a trip log if you re interested.

[NickF]

We are taking the family on the Cheshire ring from Heritage narrow boats at Congleton from the 2nd of August for a week. Dose anyone know of any special events or must see places along the way. There are 7 of us ages 10, 15, 16, 40, 42, and 2 over 65. Also any good eating places as there is no way im spending the whole week stuck in the kitchen. This will be our first family holiday in a very long time. Not sure how we will all get along in such a small space so want lots of things to see and do lined up. Thank you xxx

A full week should be fairly comfortable, when I went on a hire boat we had a full day to spare at the end but then I am not one for stopping too much on the way. Mow cop is a lovely boat build by colecraft ...have a great time.

[stormdancer]

We recently did the Cheshire Ring. Started the Ashton flight at 7:15 AM and were tied up in Castlefield by about 2:00pm. If possible do the Rochdale 9 with another boat - it makes it much easier. The locks are nowhere near as hard as their reputation suggests - worst lock parts were the bottom gate paddles on the Marple flight which were heavy.

 

We did it in early June - pm me your email address in the next day or so (I'm out of the country for a week from sunday) and I can send you a trip log if you re interested.

 

 

My email is scjrm@msn.com Thanks for that xxx

 

A full week should be fairly comfortable, when I went on a hire boat we had a full day to spare at the end but then I am not one for stopping too much on the way. Mow cop is a lovely boat build by colecraft ...have a great time.

 

Hi Nic thanks for the reply. How many of you went on the boat and is there plenty of storage? Thanks x

[Robin2]

My email is scjrm@msn.com Thanks for that xxx

 

 

 

Hi Nic thanks for the reply. How many of you went on the boat and is there plenty of storage? Thanks x

 

Its not a good idea to put your email address on websites - it can be picked up by spammers. Disguise it - for example by splitting it in bits and using at instead of @ and dot instead of .

[landroversforever]

I did the Cheshire ring (anticlockwise) last summer with some friends. We hired from Middlewich. We had long days cruising so we actually ended up with a spare day in Manchester!

 

We saw mow cop on out travels , also shared locks down through Manchester (cant remember the name of the canal at that point... Rochdale?).

Edited July 29, 2011 by landroversforever

[Tiny]

What about a nice leisurely trip to Whaley Bridge and back - with time to see things?

 

Mind you, even doing that in a week would be racing by my standards

 

And if you get back to base with a couple of days spare you can sample the delights of Harecastle tunnel and a chunk of the Caldon canal.

[Ron]

Our diary for T & M and Cheshire Ring 2010 is at http://www.canalbarge.co.uk/Canal%20Boat%20Holidays/cruise%20diary%20-%20Trent%20and%20mersey%20with%20Cheshire%20Ring.html

Really enjoyed looking around Manchester for the first time.

Moored on the wooden pontoon at Piccadilly Basin ... accessible from Dulcie street via gate with BW lock on it. Spent 2 nights here without problems, though we were warned off mooring on the car park side,which is the original site of Picadilly Basin. Youth get lively!

Edited August 2, 2011 by Ron

[Minos]

I grew up with a view of Mow Cop Castle from my bedroom window, and was delighted to see a boat on the Macc with the same name. Cruising those canals, stopping at the pubs I was thrown out of for underage drinking... happy memories.

 

Marple flight on a sunny weekend afternoon is fantastic. It's through a park, and whole families stop and chat and ask for a go with the windlass.

 

The only disappointment on that whole route we had was a gang of kids throwing stones on the way into Ashton. They buggered off as soon as we pointed a camera at them, so have a camera on standby. If you do get a picture, just email it to the local PCSOs.

[DeanS]

I've just done a bit of the Manchester/Bridgewater.

 

Here's my take on things. (There are 6 of us on our boat).

 

Dont moor at the top of the Manchester lock flight. Moor at the bottom...There's water/elsan disposal. You can walk into town, and catch the free city buses...green, orange or purple routes...they are all circle routes and you can get around for free, every 10mins. Manchester is like any big city...restaurants etc.

 

When you leave Manchester...head down the Bridgewater...and eventually you will get to a bit after about 30mins...a bridge to the left..and one to the right. Take the one to the right...travel about 15mins, and watch for the Trafford Centre...on the left. HUGE place...kids will love it. You will love it. THIS is where you want to eat out, and do your shopping. DONT go walking through Manchester...spend it here. It's really impressive. When you're done, get back in your boat, keep going past the next aquaduct, and you'll be able to turn your boat around...and go back to the T junction with the 2 bridges....keep going straight....heading towards....Sale...nice small town...some shops etc. That whole stretch of the Bridgewater is relaxing.... you can fill up with diesel, water, clear toilets etc at Thorne Chandlers..in Stockton Heath....a very nice small town..shops, food etc.

 

Then...I guess you can carry on to the Trent and Mersey...head for the Anderton boat lift....but that stretch will take you through 3 tunnels..before you reach it.

 

ETA - the Bridgewater...has NO LOCKS....for tens of miles...and it is very picturesque......and you can moor up anywhere you like...so it's very different to the British Waterways routine of searching for visitor moorings....on the Bridgewater...you can stop and go, at your pace...and moor up for the night near towns. It's been my favourite stretch to relax along, for months.

enjoy!

Edited August 4, 2011 by DeanS

[rgreg]

We are taking the family on the Cheshire ring from Heritage narrow boats at Congleton from the 2nd of August for a week. Dose anyone know of any special events or must see places along the way. There are 7 of us ages 10, 15, 16, 40, 42, and 2 over 65. Also any good eating places as there is no way im spending the whole week stuck in the kitchen. This will be our first family holiday in a very long time. Not sure how we will all get along in such a small space so want lots of things to see and do lined up. Thank you xxx

 

Our family of four did it comfortably in a week and managed a trip up the Peak Forest and through the Harecastle Tunnel as well. With a crew like yours, once you work out a system and everyone knows what they are doing, you should have no problem. An excellent choice for a great family holiday. Have fun.