Moore to Thelwall (Bridgewater Canal)

When we got up it was dry, but very overcast, but we decided to move on a few miles.

Nice Road Bridge

Passing Stockton Heath

Kev kept the pram cover up in case it started to rain and hoped the bridges would be high enough to go under and if not, he would drop it down, but the bridges were nice and high so we didn’t have any problems.

Nice houses at Grappenhall

We set off along the canal soon came to Higher Walton and went under a nice road bridge.  On we went passing Stockton Heath where we hope to stop on the way back.

Where ferry goes across ship canal

We then came to Grappenhall and on a bit further we moored at Thelwall before Bridge 19.

Kevin our Ferryman

Going across the ship canal

We had lunch then went out for a walk.  We down the lane and onto the road and then down a bit further and soon we came to the Manchester Ship canal where there is a little ferry you can get across the ship canal to the other side.

For the past 120 years a small rowing boat has been taking passengers from one side of the Manchester Ship Canal to the other in order to maintain a long-established right of way.  Known locally as The Penny Ferry because the ride across the canal used to cost one old penny, now 11p, but officially called The Thelwall Ferry, its current captain is called Kevin and he has been the Ferryman since 2002.  The ferry used to run from 6am in the morning to 10pm at night but these days it operates 7am -9am, 12noon-2pm and 4pm to 6pm.

Kevin was in his hut but he came out and said although it was a bit windy, he would take us across if we wanted to go, we did, but I was a little nervous as it is a small aluminium boat.

Ferryman going back across

Latchford Locks

I got in first with Kevin the Ferryman and it wobbled quite a lot but was okay and then Kev got in, we settled in our seats and the boat levelled out and across we went.  The boat is propelled by a single stern-mounted oar that Kevin operates using an ancient technique called ‘Sculling’ which involves him moving the oar from side to side whilst changing the angle of the blade to generate forward thrust.

Stained Glass Window & Carnving

It was a bit choppy to start off with but when we got going it was fine and soon we were getting out on the other side.  Kevin went back across and we waved goodbye.

The Ram's Head Inn

We walked down the lane alongside the ship canal and then came to Latchford locks.  We walked across the locks back to the other side.

We walked up the road past a row of shops to the old part of Grappenhall where the street is cobbled and there was a Church and two pubs.

St Winifred's Church

We went into the Ram’s Head and had a drink and a coffee.  It is a really nice classy pub.  We then went inside the church which is really nice and has some lovely stained glass windows and on the Alter a lovely wood carving of the Last Supper.

We then walked back along the road and eventually got back to the boat and all in the dry for once!

We are staying here tonight then off to the village of Lymm tomorrow a few miles along the canal.

Moored at Thelwall