Top of Bosley Locks to Danes Moss Bridge (Macclesfield Canal)

The sun was shining as we set off this morning, we are only going a few miles to somewhere near Gurnett Aqueduct.  We chugged on along the canal, it is a nice canal with lovely views but quite shallow in places.

Passing Alton the Diesel Boat

Royal Oak Swing Bridge

Going through Royal Oak Bridge

We passed Alton the Diesel boat moored up and soon we were at Royal Oak Bridge.  This one is electrically operated with a BW key.  I walked across the bridge and put my key in and pushed the button and down came the barriers and the bridge swung and Bill and Kev went through.  We held up a couple of cars and some cyclists.  I closed the bridge and hopped back on the boat and on we went.

Bill & Kev going through Swing Bridge

A couple of bridges up there is another swing bridge, Broadhurst Swing Bridge and we read that it is usually kept open, but it wasn’t today!

Lovely view as we come to our mooring

Sutton Hall Chapel Plaque

This one is manual, but you have to insert your key to release the bridge then push it open.  Bill opened it and went through, then Kev dropped me on the bridge as he went through and I shut it.  Kev stopped the other side of the bridge and gave me a hand to close it as it was very heavy then we were on our way again and shortly after that we came to some lovely open moorings and tied up there.  We were going to go on and moor on Gurnett Aqueduct, but the moorings there get very busy and also they are not so open, this is a much nicer place to stop.

Sutton Hall Chapel now the Kitchen!

Sutton Hall

We had lunch then went for a walk along the towpath to the Aqueduct and down onto the road where there is the Old Kings Head pub and opposite that is Sutton Hall, the ancestral seat of the Earls of Lucan – yes that Lucan!  It is now an upmarket dining and drinking establishment so we went in there.  It is lovely inside with lots of small rooms and even a bit of a library and has a lovely garden to sit in as well.  There used to be a chapel in the grounds which is now the kitchen!

The Sutton Gamekeeper

Plaque for Charles Tunnicliffe

We then walked on along the road to the village of Sutton (real name is Sutton Lane Ends) and we found a farm shop so needless to say we had to go in and buy a few things.  Apparently Charles Tunnicliffe, a Bird Artist lived in the buildings where the farm shop is now.  We then found another pub, The Sutton Gamekeeper so we went in there for a drink as well.  This was also really nice and very classy.  

Farm Shop

We then walked back down to the Aqueduct via the road and went past the house that James Brindley, the canal builder and civil engineer did his apprenticeship in.   There is a plaque on the wall commemorating this.

House where James Brindley did his apprenticeship

We then walked back to the boat, it was quite a long walk but really nice.  Near where we are moored, there is a retail park with a path to it from the canal so we went and had a look around there.   

We are staying here tonight and probably moving on tomorrow, but not sure yet, we will decide in the morning.

Moored at Danes Moss Bridge