UK Canal Boating

Day 1

The River Weaver is a navigation that is tidal and occasionally carries commercial traffic, in small seagoing ships night & day, and the locks are quite large but are all manned by British Waterways Staff so find out about the times of opening before you start your trip.

The bridges are either very high or are big swing bridges operated by British Waterways staff.

The shortest bridge between the Anderton Boat lift and Winsford is 6 foot 4 inches high, so you should be able to duck under it, so you don't have to call the BW staff to open it.

If you arrive at the boat lift in season, you can just turn up & wait for a slot, as the glass topped trip boat goes up and down the lift all day, but you might have to wait in the high season, but it is no hardship, as it is fascinating to watch the amazing structure of the Boat lift.

The Lift connects the River Weaver with the Trent & Mersey Canal. There is a large Operations Centre housing an extensive interactive exhibition, and a shop and a cafe with a seating area offering good views out over the River. There is also a pub opposite the Boat lift- The Stanley Arms, where children are welcome & they have an outside seating and childrens play area Tel 01606-75059.

Your 1st day will be spent in getting your boat down the lift, as you may have to wait for a slot.

Day 2

Beyond the Anderton Boat lift the river is very rural , the River continues through a beautiful green narrow cutting to Frodsham, with no house or roads in sight. From Sutton Swing bridge the scenery is more industrialised and you can continue to Weston Marsh Lock where you can turn around.

You cannot continue onto the Manchester Ship Canal as this is used by large ships and you have to have the correct authority and equipment to venture onto here!
It is 2.5 hours from Acton Swing Bridge to Weston March Lock, so 5 hours there & back.

Cruise back in the other direction back towards Boat Lift, the only road crossing is by Acton were there are moorings just after Acton Swing Bridge and a water point.
The swing bridge is very impressive being 650 tonnes, but which uses just a small amount of electricity to open it.

There are 2-3 pubs near the bridge.
Moor here for the night, it is 6.75 hours cruising to here.

Day 3

Cruise past the Boat Lift and soon you will reach Northwich.
Northwich is a rather attractive town on the junction of the Rivers Weaver & Dane.
As with every town in the area, salt has been responsible for the towns prosperity and there is a salt museum in Northwich 01606 41331 which is open all year
For 200 years Northwich was prominent also for building and repairing ships and barges, because if you go northwards along the River Weaver you reach the Manchester Ship Canal.
Nowadays the wharves by Town Bridge are empty and are an excellent mooring site for visitors to the town. The town centre is very close, much of it has been completely rebuilt with an extensive shopping precinct.

There is a floating Hotel close to the Northwich marina- The Floatel, tel 01606 44443,


From the Boat lift down the River Weaver towards Winsford takes just 3 and half hours,

You can cruise down to Winsford and turn here, do not go under the Bridge into Winsford Bottom Flash, as it is very shallow. There are a few pubs near Winsford Bridge, and shops

Cruise back the way you came and go up the boat lift, it should take about 8.5 hours cruising plus the time it takes you to go up the lift back to the marina

Day 4
You should be back at the marina by 9.30am

 

NB: This route has been provided as a guide only. Information may become inaccurate or out of date. You should always check with the marina that the route is possible within your time frame, current weather conditions and canal stoppages etc.