Thelwall to Lymm (Bridgewater Canal)

M6 Motorway Bridge

Cobbled Alleyway from Canal

We are moving on a couple of miles this morning to Lymm.  It was very overcast and spitting with rain as we set off but Kev kept the cover up so he didn’t get too wet.  We chugged under the M6 and on along the canal and soon we were at Lymm.  We managed to get a space as this is a very popular mooring place.

Lymm

Lymm Cross & Stocks

We got tied up and went in and just as well as then the heavens opened and it poured down.  It was still raining as we went up into the town via a nice little cobbled alleyway which leads from the canal into the village.

We had a walk around and went into the Butchers, it has a very good reputation and all the meat looked really nice so we bought a few things and then walked down the street to the Bakers. 

Butchers

There is a Cross in the centre of Lymm which stands on ancient steps carved from sandstone and dates from early to mid-17^th century and was restored in 1897.  At the foot of the Cross is a set of replica stocks which replaced the original ones dating back to 1775. These would have been used as a means of rudimentary justice in by-gone days.

Lymm Dam Info Board

Lymm Dam

Info Board for Sandstone Rock

It was raining quite heavily so we went back in the Bakers which was also a coffee shop and had a drink and a toastie and then took our shopping back to the boat.

Sandstone Rocks by the Dam

Cormarants at the Dam

Church at Lymm

We then walked through the village to Lymm Dam.  It was built in 1824 when a turnpike road was created from Warrington to Stockport.  After its completion, a pool and stream below the church became the lake which is now called Lymm Dam.  It is a really nice walk around although today it was a bit soggy under foot and we did a couple of caches along the way.

Matthews Corbetts House

There is some Sandstone Rock by the dam which is really interesting and the path goes by it, we then walked onto the Church but unfortunately it wasn’t open.

Lymm Village Pond

We then walked back to the village and we managed to do the whole walk in the dry and we even had a bit of sun!

 There is a house by the canal and we have been told that Matthew Corbett of Sooty fame lives there, but there was no Sooty or Sweep waving at us from the window today!

We are staying here tonight then chugging on tomorrow.

Moored at Lymm

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

Dutton (Trent& Mersey Canal) to Moore (Bridgewater Canal)

We were very undecided what to do today as one minute it was glorious sunshine and the next it was pouring with rain.  It seemed to brighten up so we decided to move, bad move as it rained really hard for the mile or to Preston Brook Tunnel and Kev got wet!

Dutton Stop Lock in the Rain

Coming into Dutton Stop Lock

Preston Brook Tunnel

We came to Dutton Stop Lock which is only a few inches deep and it was pouring with rain as I went down to the lock and opened the gate.  Kev brought the boat in and the rain eased off by the time we were through, a boat was just coming out of the tunnel so we left the gates opened for them and moored up before the tunnel.

In we go

Daylight at the end of the Tunnel

Preston Brook Tunnel is timed entry and for the way we were going, it was on the hour to 10 past so we waited a few minutes until it was time and then in we went.  The tunnel is 1239yds long and is crooked but you can just see the end.  We chugged through the dark and after 15 minutes or so we came out and guess what it was raining!

Passing under the Motorway

Now we are on the Bridgewater Canal. The canal was built by Francis Egerton, third Duke of Bridgewater, to enable coal from his mines at Worsley to be transported to Manchester and sold cheaply.  His agent was John Gilbert and his engineer was James Brindley, who designed a lockless contour canal which crossed the River Irwell on a stone aqueduct.  In 1762 the Duke received sanction to extend the canal to the Liverpool tideway at Runcorn – this was later amended in order to connect with the new Trent & Mersey Canal at Preston Brook.  The route between Liverpool and Manchester was opened in 1776, although Brindley did not live to see its completion.  In 1795, the Duke received the Royal Assent for the final part of the network, which linked Worsley to the Leeds & Liverpool Canal at Leigh.

The Runcorn Arm

Passing the Daresbury Science Park

The Bridgewater Canal is a tribute to its builders in that it continued to carry commercial traffic until 1974.

We chugged and passed the Runcorn Arm, hopefully we will explore that on the way back, then under the M56 and  passed the Daresbury Science Park.  We had showers on and off most of the time but went on and moored at the village of Moore outside the Village Stores.

Village Stores by the Canal

It brightened up for a while so we had a walk up into the village where there is a few houses and a pub then came back to the boat and went in the shop for a few things.

We are staying here tonight then hopefully the weather will be better tomorrow and we will chug on a bit further.   We have only ever done this canal once before when we first bought our boat from the boat yard at Lymm back in 2008 so this is really new to us and we can’t wait to go on a bit more and explore.

Moored at Moore

Anderton (River Weaver) to Dutton (Trent & Mersey Canal)

Lovely Rainbow across the Canal

Last night, we had several really heavy rain showers but the sun was out and there was a lovely rainbow across the water.

We are going back up the lift this morning and onto the Trent & Mersey Canal heading to the Bridgewater Canal.  The booking office opens at 9am so we walked up there and booked ourselves on for 10am.

In We Go

Passing the boat going down

We walked back down to the boat and moved to the lift holding moorings. The CRT chap came and chatted to us and said the lift was open and we could go in, so we started the engine and in we went.

Coming to Barnton Tunnel

We had to wait a bit as there was a boat coming in the top and then we went up and passed the other boat going down and on we went until we were at the top, it is a wonderful structure and great to go on and the views are lovely.

Lovely View from the Top

We chugged out of the lift and onto the Trent & Mersey Canal and turned around in the winding hole.  We have really enjoyed our time on the River Weaver and quite sad to leave, but time to go on to pastures new.

Into Barnton Tunnel we go

Out we come

Going into Saltersford Tunnel

Coming out of Saltersford Tunnel

We chugged on along the canal and soon came to Barnton Tunnel which is 572 yards long.  You can see the end and two boats were coming through so we waited for them to come out and then in we went into the darkness but soon we were coming out in the daylight.  We chugged on and soon came to the next tunnel which is Saltersford Tunnel which is 424yds long and is crooked and it is timed passed, we had to go through on the hour to twenty past and we got there about 10 past so in we went through the dark and out the other side, there was a boat waiting to come through.

Chugging on the Trent & Mersey

We went on along the canal, we had a bit of rain while we were chugging along but nothing much.  We went on for a few miles and then came to some nice moorings with a lovely view overlooking the valley with the Dutton Viaduct in the distance so we moored up here.

Plaque marking the Breech

Lovely View from our Mooring

There is a plaque on these moorings marking the breech they had here in 2012, let's hope they fixed it properly and we don't have one while we are here!!

We had a nice cooked Sunday lunch and then just chilled out as it rained on and off for most of the afternoon.

We are staying here tonight then maybe heading on tomorrow or staying put, depends on the weather, we will decide in the morning!

Moored at Dutton