Westport Lake (Trent & Mersey Canal) to Poole Aqueduct (Macclesfield Canal)

We are moving onto day and going through Harecastle Tunnel which is 2,926yds long and takes on average about 45 minutes to go through, not our favourite place to be but it has to be done!  There were once two tunnels here: only one is now navigable.

Old Brindley Tunnel

Tunnel Keepers Cottage by Tunnel

Harecastle Tunnel Sign

Commemorative Plaque at Tunnel Entrance

Boat coming out of Tunnel

At Harecastle Tunnel

Dec, The Friendly Tunnel Keeper

In Harecastle Tunnel

We set off along the canal and got to the tunnel where we filled up with water.  In this tunnel  you  only go through one way at a time and there are tunnel keepers each end to count you in and count you out.  There were five boats in the tunnel coming towards us so we had to wait about 40 minutes or so for them, then the tunnel keeper checked our light and horn and then it was time to go in the tunnel. We were first and there were two boats behind us, in we went waving to Dec the friendly Tunnel keeper as we went into the dark.  The tunnel steeps down at various points and there is one part which is very low and somehow we went winky wonky and bounced from one side to the other for a bit, Kev managed to steady us and we went straight again and after just over 30 minutes we were coming out into the sunshine which is always a relief!  Unfortunately some of our back cover was hanging over the edge of the boat and it sustained some damage but we have managed to patch it up for now and will get it repaired when we can.

Hurray, I can see the end!

Nearly There

Sign post at Hardings Wood Junction

We chugged on around the corner and we were at Hardings Wood Junction, this is the junction where the Trent & Mersey Canal meets the Macclesfield Canal and that’s where we are off, so we turned left and on to the Macclesfield Canal we went.  Strictly speaking, this isn’t yet the Macclesfield canal, rather the Hall Green Branch of the Trent & Mersey.  Hall Green Stop Lock, with a rise and fall of just 1ft, marks the beginning of the Mac proper.

Turning onto the Mac

We went on along the canal and then turned sharp right onto Poole Aqueduct, an early example of a fly-over junction subsequently copied by road builders the world over.  We moored just up from the aqueduct.

Red Bull Pub

Poole Aqueduct

We then went for a walk up to Kidsgrove stopping off at the Bluebell Inn, an old ale pub with no tv, pool table, etc. and serving no trade name beers and lagers.  We then walked up to the shops and then back to the canal and on along to the Red Bull pub where Bill was having a drink in the garden.  We had a few drinks with him as today his is birthday then we all walked back to our boats.

We are staying here tonight and then moving on tomorrow.  We have not done this canal before so we are excited to get on and explore and see what new places we can find.

Moored at Poole Aqueduct