colmac Posted March 27, 2016 Report Share Posted March 27, 2016 Hi, am planning our extended summer cruise and was looking at going down to Braunston and up to Market Harborough. We have done this bit before but did not venture any further north due to family commitments. We are now planning to retrace our steps but carry on up to Leicester. What advice re moorings etc would those of you more experienced than us give please. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGoat Posted March 27, 2016 Report Share Posted March 27, 2016 To get it rolling and expecting a bit of flack - There's a lot of locks 'twixt MH and Leicester. Seems tedious to retrace then and the rest for your hols: Without 'canalplanning' for you - wouldn't a ring be easier / quicker?? 'Tis said and I agree, the only safe place to moor in Leicester is by Castle Gardens. Gets congested but folks accept breasting up. The upside of that is you're right where the action is - Shopping museums Roman rocks / bath cathedral Market - that's a must. What do others say?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colmac Posted March 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2016 Thanks for that old goat. To explain; we are out April to October ( retired ) so time isn't really an issue so it isn't really a "holiday" as such, more of an annual voyage. In my posting I tried to avoid mentioning anything to suggest that there may be problems with mooring in Leicester as this often meets with some negative replies. I always like to try and benefit from others' local knowledge when we venture somewhere we have never been before. Thank you for your reply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Detling Posted March 27, 2016 Report Share Posted March 27, 2016 If you are extending to Leicester why not carry on down the Soar and onto the Trent and Mersey, it is a nice run and in the summer many of the locks are open as they are flood locks, not level locks so there are not many to work. It passes some lovely country with nice pubs what more can you want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ally Posted March 27, 2016 Report Share Posted March 27, 2016 (edited) Agreed, moor at kilby bridge before heading to castle gardens safe mooring, then the next good mooring spot after leicester is Birstall. Then carry on and enjoy the Soar. She is a very beautiful river, with loads of safe moorings, some canalised sections, and well worth the trip. Edited March 27, 2016 by Ally 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesterboy Posted March 27, 2016 Report Share Posted March 27, 2016 Have to agree with Oldgoat. OK to moor at blaby or south wigston but then carry on to castle gardens. Birstall next stop. Why not carry on to the Trent really pleasant north of Leicester on the Soar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frahkn Posted March 27, 2016 Report Share Posted March 27, 2016 Have to agree with Oldgoat. OK to moor at blaby or south wigston but then carry on to castle gardens. Birstall next stop. Why not carry on to the Trent really pleasant north of Leicester on the Soar. I am not going to say "it's safe" because I wouldn't want to lead you into problems but I have moored twice on 'the mile' in Leicester and had no problem at all. We have a dog and we don't usually leave the boat unattended but nevertheless I have a feeling that possibly people bring their own 'problems' with them. I know that not everyone will agree but I can only report my own experience. Frank. (We are both retired and I have a slight disability so it's not that we frighten the locals.) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alway Swilby Posted March 27, 2016 Report Share Posted March 27, 2016 Has the boat that had errm.... "broken down" on the Castle Gardens moorings last June moved on yet? Leicester was good, well worth the trip from Foxton. As others have said it's good further north too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteS Posted March 27, 2016 Report Share Posted March 27, 2016 As I'm one of the local volunteer lock keepers I've generated some local information documents. If you drop me a PM with your email address I'll send them to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maffi Posted March 27, 2016 Report Share Posted March 27, 2016 Has the boat that had errm.... "broken down" on the Castle Gardens moorings last June moved on yet? Leicester was good, well worth the trip from Foxton. As others have said it's good further north too. He was moved off in October Point to note the Abbey Park Road bridge water depth going north is inches on the right hand side! Keep Left Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tuscan Posted March 27, 2016 Report Share Posted March 27, 2016 Beware the pounds north of Leicester if you are deep drafted one in particular is full of silt and a real struggle to get through, took us about 1.5 hours rocking the boat all the way last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Todd Posted March 28, 2016 Report Share Posted March 28, 2016 (edited) Agreed, moor at kilby bridge before heading to castle gardens safe mooring, then the next good mooring spot after leicester is Birstall. Then carry on and enjoy the Soar. She is a very beautiful river, with loads of safe moorings, some canalised sections, and well worth the trip. You can certainly moor quite happily much nearer then Kilby Bridge - Gees or Blue Bank Locks are quite rural and OK. Edited March 28, 2016 by Mike Todd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard T Posted March 29, 2016 Report Share Posted March 29, 2016 We left Sileby last Friday. Spent a night at castle gardens but the boat we locked into Leicester with found a good mooring above Aylestone Meadow lock, we have also moored above Kings lock and Blue Banks lock without any problems. There is an issue with a lock gate at Gees lock so the pound to Whetstone is being kept 450mm below normal levels- this would have been ok but we found it 600mm down so we dragged the bottom all the way along the pound but couldn't get into the lock. We stuck about a boat length short. We ran water down for about 15 mins to raise the level to get over the obstruction but it was hard work and not for the faint hearted. Had to enlist the help of a passerby to get off to run the water down. Spoke to CRT about it but was advised that pound is being kept low. We draw about 750mm so are not really deep in the water. There is also an unofficial mooring by Aldi in aylestone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe the plumber Posted March 30, 2016 Report Share Posted March 30, 2016 There is also an unofficial mooring by Aldi in Aylestone Sorry to dredge up my old joke from last year, but I take it that's the Canaldi mooring then...? Incidentally, once you've passed through Leicester and Foxton heading south, don't forget to pop down the Welford Arm. It's lovely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty40s Posted March 30, 2016 Report Share Posted March 30, 2016 . There is also an unofficial mooring by Aldi in aylestone This is the one that IWA Leicester branch have been faffing around since Aldi redeveloped the site 4 plus years ago to get a proper accessible mooring at (without a metal raiing 2" away from the water to jump before you tie up). Agree about Welford Arm, it is indeed, although susceptible to sudden rises in water levels in exceptional circumstances. (2 weeks ago) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frahkn Posted March 31, 2016 Report Share Posted March 31, 2016 This is the one that IWA Leicester branch have been faffing around since Aldi redeveloped the site 4 plus years ago to get a proper accessible mooring at (without a metal raiing 2" away from the water to jump before you tie up). Agree about Welford Arm, it is indeed, although susceptible to sudden rises in water levels in exceptional circumstances. (2 weeks ago) Can you wind a 70' boat at the end of the Welford arm? I have been a couple of times but years ago and in a 57' boat, I seem to remember that it was a bit tight at the end. Frank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGoat Posted March 31, 2016 Report Share Posted March 31, 2016 frahkn, on 31 Mar 2016 - 1:05 PM, said: Can you wind a 70' boat at the end of the Welford arm? I have been a couple of times but years ago and in a 57' boat, I seem to remember that it was a bit tight at the end. Frank. It looked a bit tight when we went last year - the WH can have boats 'nearby' We're only 60 ft - so thought I'd show off by reversing back to the marina (?) entrance instead. Got applause and some satisfaction.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe the plumber Posted March 31, 2016 Report Share Posted March 31, 2016 I'm pretty sure you can just wind a 70' boat at the end of the arm. One went past yesterday that looked that length to me and returned (facing the other way) a while later. The chaps on board did say it had been a bit awkward though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theo Posted March 31, 2016 Report Share Posted March 31, 2016 I am not going to say "it's safe" because I wouldn't want to lead you into problems but I have moored twice on 'the mile' in Leicester and had no problem at all. We have a dog and we don't usually leave the boat unattended but nevertheless I have a feeling that possibly people bring their own 'problems' with them. I know that not everyone will agree but I can only report my own experience. Frank. (We are both retired and I have a slight disability so it's not that we frighten the locals.) I have given you a greenie for that. There are loads of rings on the straight mile. We stayed there last year for the R111 celebrations. We were on the Castle Gardens moorings but there was a boat moored on the opposite bank a little way down and there was just no trouble. It is such a shame that Leicester has the no go reputation. I really don't think that it is any worse than other cities. Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty40s Posted March 31, 2016 Report Share Posted March 31, 2016 Can you wind a 70' boat at the end of the Welford arm? I have been a couple of times but years ago and in a 57' boat, I seem to remember that it was a bit tight at the end. Frank. Yes you can.☺ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colmac Posted March 31, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2016 Thank you all for your replies, will go for it methinks, full steam ahead and damn the torpedoes and all that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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