Bollington by the Adelphi Mill to Higher Poynton (Macclesfield Canal)

Going over Bollington Aqueduct

The sun was shining again as we set off this morning and it was already really warm, not complaining though, much better than rain!

Passing Clarence Mill

We had been having trouble yesterday especially under the bridge holes with the canal being really shallow, so before we set off we moved our diesel cans to the front of the boat and took out a bit of ballast from the back to see if that would make a difference.  We did go up an inch so hopefully that will help.

Not sure what these were on the side of this boat

We went over Bollington Aqueduct and past Clarence Mill and under a few bridges.  We seemed to be going better today so hopefully moving the weight from the back has helped.

Passing Marina

We came to Addlington Basin where there is a boat yard and marina and really nice visitor moorings, we shall stop there on the way back.

On along we went and after a while we were at Higher Poynton and moored up before Bridge 15 in a really lovely sunny spot where the canal is very wide here.  It is this width due to the result of ancient subsidence from a coal mine, which necessitated the continual raising of the canal banks and bridges to hold the water in the sinking canal.

Lord Vernon's Wharf

Higher Poynton was a mining village; coal was dug here until 1926, and loaded onto boats in the arm (Lord Vernon’s Wharf) now occupied by a boat builder.  There was also a network of tramways and inclines providing a link with Anson, Nelson and Park collieries.

We had lunch then went for a walk along the canal to Lord Vernon’s Wharf where there is a small shops called The Trading Post selling gifts, coal, logs, ice-creams, etc.

The Middlewood Way

We then walked down the road to the Nelson Pit Visitor Centre which tells you the history of the mines here.

The Middlewood Way runs through Higher Poynton , it is an old railway line which runs from Macclesfield to Marple and is now a pathway popular with cyclists and walkers.

It is a glorious evening and the sun is still shining.  We are staying here tonight and also tomorrow as there is also the town of Poynton which is about a mile and a half away so we are going to walk there to explore that area.

Moored at Higher Poynton