Bridgewater Canal
to Lymm or Manchester
( To Lymm 42 miles & 14 locks each way) |
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From
our boatyard you cruise on the Shropshire Union main line to Barbridge
Junction and turn left onto the Middlewich Branch. At Middlewich turn left
again onto the Trent & Mersey canal which you follow to Preston Brook
where it joins the Bridgewater Canal.
The countryside to Middlewich is quiet, undulating farm land and the canal
follows the River Weaver valley with views of Winsford Flashes (salt
mining subsidence lakes).
Middlewich (‘wich’ or ‘wych’ means salt) is a pleasant town with useful
shops and boatyards. Once out of the town, the canal follows a tortuous
course along the beautiful wooded valleys of the Rivers Dane and Weaver,
skirting around Northwich to arrive at Preston Brook and the Bridgewater
Canal. On the way it passes the magnificent Anderton Boat Lift (now fully
operational) and travels through 3 rather crooked tunnels.
The Duke of Bridgewater’s Canal was the first canal of ‘The Canal Age’. It
is broad and deep and carries you to the charming town of Lymm with
excellent shops and pubs. |
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Middlewich useful town (7hrs)
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Anderton Lift (11 hrs)
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Preston Brook Bridgewater Ca. (13 hrs)
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Lymm pretty town (16 hrs)
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Dunham Massey Hall (N.Trust) (17½hrs) |
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| River Weaver via Anderton Boat
Lift |
| From the Trent and Mersey
Canal the Anderton Boat Lift gives access to the River Weaver. This marvel
of Victorian engineering consists of 2 tanks, each capable of
raising/lowering 2 x 70ft narrow boats or 1 x 14ft wide barge, through a
height change of 50 ft between the two navigations. Having been un-usable
for nearly 20 years, a major reconstruction has been carried out on the
structure. Restoration is now completed and the lift was reopened for public use
at Easter 2002.
The Weaver is a river of great contrasts. Originally only a very minor
river, it has been enlarged several times over the last 300 years, and is
able to accommodate small coasters, which still occasionally penetrate
upstream to Anderton wharves.
The salt and chemical industries that were once the lifeblood of the river
are now only evident on 2 miles of the 20 miles Navigation. The remainder
wanders through a tranquil and often beautiful vista of woods and fields.
Banks are generally low, as on a narrow canal, giving good views of the
surrounding countryside. |
| The 4 locks are only operated by resident keepers during normal working
hours. Take note of the particularly impressive masonry on locks, navigation structures and high level railway bridges.
All the swing bridges (for ships) have plenty of clearance for narrowboats.
Excellent shopping is available in Northwich, with good moorings, where
the navigation passes right through the town centre. Winsford’s salt
industry has mostly been landscaped into the Weaver Valley Park, but the
only rock salt mine in the country may still be seen alongside the river.
The main shopping centre is less than ½ mile from Winsford Bridge. The
official Navigation ends at this bridge. The large Winsford Flash (lake
caused by subsided ground) looks inviting, but is extremely shallow in
parts. Boats should not attempt to cruise this water. |
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| Please note that The Weaver is a river navigation, with much deeper water
than narrow canals, and stronger water currents at times of heavy rain.
Advice on moorings downstream of Anderton should be sought from the Lock
Keepers, who will know if any shipping is due. |
Cruising times from
Beeston:
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Middlewich (7 hrs)
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Anderton Lift (11 hrs)
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Upstream to Winsford (+3 hrs)
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OR downstream to Runcorn (+4 hrs) |
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