Advice on Chester/Ellesmere Port visit

[Bugsworth Tippler]

I'm heading up the Shroppie and may visit Chester and the Boat Museum at Ellesmere Port. I have heard some negative towpath comments about 'bandit country' which are putting me off. Has anyone any recent knowledge of 'safe' moorings, places to avoid, etc. on this section?

[BEngo]

Had no problems last year at Tower Wharf in Chester, both ways, nor just outside the museum gates, though it would be worth paying the little extra to moor in the middle basin. The Museum did not impress us.

 

Ellesemere Port, as a town centre, looked like it would have improved if it had been twinned with Mururoa atoll.

 

Also moored rurally just outside Chester. No probs there, though not particularly deep on the bit of piling I picked.

 

Moored at Christleton on the way in.

 

N

[NB Alton]

We moor in the Chester & Ellesmere Port area fairly regularly. Good moorings in Chester are at Christleton, by the Steam Mill, just before Cow Lane Bridge (before the Lock Keeper pub) & in Telfords / Chester Basin below Northgate Staircase. The only place in Chester that tends to get a bit of hassle is below the walls through Cow Lane Bridge, where youths, drinker or druggies can sometimes congregate.

 

At Ellesmere Port the moorings just through the bridge before the museum sometimes gets the attention of the local scallies, so most folk moor up just by the museum entrance, or even better in the lower basin.

 

The moorings inbetween Chester & the Port such as at Mollington, Craughton & Stoak ( handy for the Bunbury Arms) tend to be pretty good.

 

Cheers, Brian

[MHS]

We have had no problems there. Remember the zoo is close to the canal and is worth a visit.

[adam the wanderer]

I am new to narrowboating and really enjoyed the Museum when we went last year

[Andy Healey]

Moor in the museum, much quieter, and worth the fee to moor in a historic area. Try a trip out to Port Sunlight, delightful village, interesting museum with history of the soap industry, a short train ride from Ellesmere Port station.

[midnight cowboy]

Was there last April may - main issue is the slow approach to Chester due to miles of online moorings. The town moorings, near the Dee arm are fine - but get busy - arrive early - pub opposite can be a bit noisy - safety not an issue here - try Wigan, Nelson & Colne on the L&L!!

 

Don't miss a walk around Chester on the city walls - uniquely intact and accessible [other than Derry] and the 2 tier shops in the centre. The racecourse is also a great walk around. Do visit the River Dee and the weir - it's said to be navigable on Spring highs - to be seen to be believed!

 

The canal north to Ellesmere P is very open to the wind - we were driving at 15 degree angle in April and there is some noisy motorways in places. The museum needs some investment so seems rather run down - more like a salvage yard of old ships in places - but is worth a visit. Great views of Liverpool across the Mersey. Would like to cross it by boat sometime.

 

Enjoy

[little duck!]

We live near there so are allowed to say Ellesemere port itself isnt a tourist attraction and not worth visiting! However the canal is a different matter, yes there are on line moorings but slow down relax and have a good nose at the variety of boats. We have moored at Egg bridge and Christleton before now. Have stopped at cow lane bridge during the day but never moored at night in Chester as need never arose! We did moor inside the boat museum and though you pay it is worth the peace of mind and you can say you have "done your bit" to suuport the museum! The views across the Mersy there are fab especially with a sunset! You can marvel at how close industry and yet how much or a rural setting the canal seems to be in. Having travelled into the city (chester) right next to the walls and then back out into the countryside 10 mins later is lovely!

I'm talking myself back into it. I love the run into Chester but on the way back operate the locks slowly (i think Chemistry and Christleton in particuar but someone will correct me)

They can throw you about a bit (well they can if your boat is 45ft!)

Definately worth doing, have a great time!

[Bugsworth Tippler]

Thanks for all the helpful advice. We'll probably go for it, particularly if today's fantastic weather is likely to continue.

[Odana]

We are moored in Ellesmere Port tonight after the run from Chester. Paid our wad to moor in the lower basin (3x entrance fee even though only one of us wanted to visit the museum), but there was no space in the narrow bit the museum owns, so we are in the other half of the huge basin outside some flats. This bit is apparently council owned and there seem to be no restrictions. You live and learn! No gates but very quiet so far. Nicer than the CRT mooring up the top.

 

Chester - nice moorings in town above the staircase which are convenient for town, if we did get a bit of road noise. Tower Wharf ones looked delightful when we passed them. Chester is fab.