Anderton to Manchester

[Jimj]

We have done couple of weeks previously on other canals.we have rented a boat for 1 week from anderton 2nd week in august

 

We fancy taking it easy and heading up to Manchester and back ,spending couple of nights up in Manchester itself as we have two kids 10 ad 7

 

Looking for some help with possible itinery and mooring places on the way / return.

 

Thanks

[Tim Lewis]

Deleted

Edited July 27, 2014 by Tim Lewis

[Tim Lewis]

Not the most exciting boating holiday, four days travelling amid one lock.

 

Would be tempted to do a side trip to Worsley to see the Barton Swing Aqueduct and also to do a trip down to Anderton boat lift.

 

Lymm is a nice place to moor as is Castlefield. Lots to do in Manchester, the science and industry museum is excellent.

 

Tim

[Richard10002]

Not the most exciting boating holiday, four days travelling amid one lock.

Would be tempted to do a side trip to Worsley to see the Barton Swing Aqueduct and also to do a trip down to Anderton boat lift.

Lymm is a nice place to moor as is Castlefield. Lots to do in Manchester, the science and industry museum is excellent.

Tim

This suggests that all of us on The Bridgewater live an unexciting life Perhaps because there are no locks?

 

The Anderton Lift is exciting, as are the tunnels. Stockton Heath, Lymm, Little Bollington, Dunham Massey, are all interesting and nice places to be. I'm currently moored in Castlefield, with the whole of the City Centre minutes away.

 

As you say, the swing bridge over the ship canal is interesting, and Worsley is pretty.

 

Anderton to Manchester and back, with a diversion to Worsley, will be a nice relaxing weeks cruising.

[Jimj]

Thanks for the replies.

 

We are just looking for something nice and relaxing so this will do nicely .Will add the Worsley trip as per Tim's suggestion

 

Will be get space to moor up ok at Castlefields being height a busy time of year ? Is there plenty room around Llymm?

[little duck!]

We moored some where on the brigewater near (but not opposite ) the science place near didsbury. Fields on one side that had just been harvested and on the other side of the canal the cows came down to drink from the water in the evening, a lovely tranquil settting!

Oh and a trip up the Runcurn branch is woth doing, you could make a day of it as you can moor near a large park, very pretty!

[Richard10002]

Thanks for the replies.

 

We are just looking for something nice and relaxing so this will do nicely .Will add the Worsley trip as per Tim's suggestion

 

Will be get space to moor up ok at Castlefields being height a busy time of year ? Is there plenty room around Llymm?

I go to Castlefield 3 or 4 times a year and have never had any difficulties finding a space. The arms by the YMCA can accommodate quite a few boats.

 

Daresbury is where the science Park is, not Didsbury Just after Preston Brook.

 

Lymm is often busy between the village

Centre bridges. Coming from Anderton, we usually Moor on the left by the houses, before the first Bridge. There is often space after the second Bridge, (by Sooty's house), opposite Lymm Cruising Club.

[little duck!]

I knew it began with a D!! i didnt have canal books to hand, but i knew someone would know what i meant!

[arbutus]

A couple of years ago we did the Bridgewater canal. The one thing I remember was going to the Swan With Two Nicks Pub which does food and is well known but well hidden. It’s in a little hamlet but can’t be seen from the canal. We moored in what seemed the middle of nowhere, but right by a small aqueduct which is hard to spot as the only indication from the canal is a short stone wall. Walk down the steps by the aqueduct and come to a cart track. Walk under the canal and a couple of hundred yards up the track and you are at the pub. http://www.swanwithtwonicks.co.uk/index.html

[pendle]

Moore is also a good overnight stop -very close to Daresbury-there is little to see at the science labs-the church in Daresbury is famous for its Lewis Carroll windows.

[Richard10002]

A couple of years ago we did the Bridgewater canal. The one thing I remember was going to the Swan With Two Nicks Pub which does food and is well known but well hidden. Its in a little hamlet but cant be seen from the canal. We moored in what seemed the middle of nowhere, but right by a small aqueduct which is hard to spot as the only indication from the canal is a short stone wall. Walk down the steps by the aqueduct and come to a cart track. Walk under the canal and a couple of hundred yards up the track and you are at the pub. http://www.swanwithtwonicks.co.uk/index.html

The hamlet is Little Bollington.

 

The mooring is at Bollington Underbridge, by Bollington Winding Hole. There are a few rings to moor to just before the short stone wall, (which is the aqueduct/underbridge), or you can moor to pins on the bank a bit further on, where the view is extensive. Lovely pub with great food. Once you have gone under the bridge walking towards the pub, if you turn round there is an ugly gargoyle type thing on the left hand side of the bridge about 10 feet up.

 

http://canalplan.org.uk/cgi-bin/gazetteer.cgi?id=hehv (not sure if this will show the page on Canal Plan)

Edited July 27, 2014 by Richard10002

[Ian Mac]

An interesting request this, I think Anderton the Manchester is a days run.

Assuming late afternoon pick-up stop at Acton Bridge and walk down to the pub. Investigate the smithy and www.nooksyard.com for Cider and perry.

 

There are many places worthy of investigation on the Bridgewater, firstly pop down to Runcorn, explore the old town. You can also explore Norton Abbey.

Moore is good to stop at

Graphenall is ok, the pub was good last time, Next stop Lymn well worth walking around here. The park and Mill at Dunham Massey. Watch house crusing club or Sale if its open, for good boater banter. Castlefields is great I prefer the Knot to drink in but you have the whole of Manchester to go at including the Hilton with its in the clouds cocktail bar. There are some epic pubs. Run out to Worsley or (Boothstown the pubs better - just) One can moor at the Trafford centre and do some shopping, have an explore of the Barton swing bridge, and/or visit the wirlitzer organ museum (open Wednesday dinner times). Then visit the other club - (Sale or Watchhouse) There is also a pub in sale but its not my taste, the bar on the railways station at Brooklands is better in my book. then theres Dunhan village and its pub, followed by Stockton Heath. Moor at Dutton and walk back up over the tunnel to the pub there (if its still open!), press onto Barton cricket club which is worth a visit, and the Tip (Stanley Arms) at Anderton.

[captain birdseye]

Mac, you make it sound like Spey boating is just one long pub crawl

 

Chris (Gnome)

[kevinl]

I think all the best places to stop have been suggested already, Lymm, Castlefield, Worsley, Barton Aquaduct and the Anderton Lift (if you're allowed to use it, some hire boats aren't). But if you want to spend a day or 2 in Manchester then on the way in you have Old Trafford football ground and the Imperial war museum right by the canal and if you moor in Castlefields then there is the museum of science and industry and the air and space museums just 50 yards from the cut and both are free.

If you're in castlefields then a few hundreds yards away is the stop for the Metroshuttle (link below), basically it's a free bus service that does a circular run round the city centre just get on and get off when you see anything you like the look of, runs ever 10 minutes so you can go see the sights for free.

K

 

http://www.tfgm.com/buses/Pages/metroshuttle.aspx

[nebulae]

Castlefield Basin busy last week,but still room in the arm nearest to the Museum of Science and Industry.Most people seem to go past the Grocers Warehouse .All safe moorings .For the pub in Moore,you can moor by the post office and walk along the road or moor a few hundred yards towards Preston Brook and walk across a field .Dunham Massey,moor by the village hall for the pub .Nothing to see at Daresbury Lab.Lots of no mooring signs .Run in to Runcorn is O.K.,but would not advise mooring overnight. Worth walking down the old flight of locks,moor by Waterloo Bridge(but not overnight). .Even the Waterloo Pub has closed.Top Locks has now lost its character.Definately worth going on the Anderton Lift if you can.

[muddywaters]

If you do go to Worsley for an extra hours cruising you could get as far as Astley Green and the mining museum

[Tim Lewis]

If you do go to Worsley for an extra hours cruising you could get as far as Astley Green and the mining museum

Check before you go as it has very limited opening hours, pub next to it looked to have good beer but we were too early to sample them.

 

Tim

[DeanS]

The Walton Arms does a carvery...most of the week, and Sunday......eat as much as you like...very cheap.....great meal....worth a visit if you're looking for a overnight stop near there. (High Walton/Moore)

 

There's also the Animal farm/park which is also close to Moore.....you'll know it when the boat is covered by large trees....

[IanD]

If you moor at Castlefield, by far the best pub in the area for beer and food (NB. only up to 8pm) is the Knott Bar opposite Deansgate station, it's only a couple of minutes walk away. Looks like a typical overpriced yuppie bar from outside but it's absolutely not :-)