The Leeds & Liverpool, from Liverpool to Wigan 7.6.14 - 17.6.14

The Leeds & Liverpool Canal 

Liverpool to Wigan

Our return journey through the docks to the locks at Stanley

By Saturday we're ready to leave. We've done all we want to do and get the boat ready for our trip back through Liverpool and onwards to Leeds, our next destination.

It's the longest canal in Britian built by a single company at 128 miles long with 91 deep wide locks.

We have to go back to Wigan where we'll continue past the junction with the Leigh branch and onwards through Blackburn, Burnley, then Skipton and on to Leeds.

We leave Salthouse Dock in the pouring rain

On Saturday 7th June we had to leave our place in Salthouse Docks. It was heaving it down with rain but the trip was booked, and we couldn't wimp out even if we wanted to. The forecast was for heavy rain, thunder and lightening and hail storms.

So at 8.45am we left the pontoon along with 4 other narrow boats and a wide beam that pulled out in front of us just to get to the lock first.

This widebeam boat was desperate to get to the lock first after he pulled out in front of us!

And it just kept on raining, narrow boats drifting all over the place waiting to get in the lock

We did the return trip through Albert Dock and hung about in Canning Dock for the C&RT guys to see us through the lock. They were 15 minutes late, doesn't sound like long but it was chucking it down with rain and there was nowhere to tie the boat up, so we were drifting about all over the place in the big wide dock.

Still raining, and with a man down, the C&RT workers came to see us through the first lock

At last the work force came to see us through the lock, turns out they were one man down and we were going to have to do the majority of the lock work ourselves. Also the widebeam that was in front of us had no windlass to operate the lock, and was a novice boater so they had to see him up the locks. He wasn't in their best books! We were to go ahead of him and do the work ourselves.

Leaving the first lock we headed out past the Liver Buildings

So the guys saw us through the lock with another narrow boat, a single handed guy called Dave on his boat Arcadia. We went under the tunnels and into the second lock, this time emptying it and opening the bottom gates for the boats following.

In the lock with Arcadia...

... and we cruise on past the clock tower and onwards towards the Stanley locks

Through all the open docks and the channels onwards to Stanley Dock, the huge warehouse to our right looming over us as we entered the first of the Stanley Locks going up.

We turn left heading towards the tobacco factory on our right

It really is quite a huge building!

We're heading for the small bridge hole in the centre

And we're in the bridge hole, the locks up ahead

Between us and Dave we got up the flight of four locks pretty slowly, huge great big gates to push open and massive deep locks to fill.

And we're on our way again, at the top we make our way through Bootle and Litherland

At the top it started to rain again, the C&RT guys came up the top to thank us for our help and let us go on our way.

Cruising on through reeded up canal....

We were the first in the convoy of 5 boats leaving that day. The trip went well, raining on and off most of the time.

.... the rain still pours down, while we shelter under the brolley

Going through Bootle and Litherland we got plenty of bags and rubbish on our prop again but managed to spin most of it off in reverse. We got to the first of the two swing bridges at Aintree and waited ten minutes, soon the guys were there to see us through.

The C&RT guys were soon there to see us through

Another 40 minutes later and we were at Hancocks swingbridge. We tied the boat up and waited for the guy to see us all through that one too. 10 mins later and the bridge opened and we were out of bandit country - for now at least!

Hancocks Swing bridge, the convoy of boats are shown through the bridge and we're on our way

We made our way the couple of miles to Holmes swingbridge, Paul opened it and everyone chugged through. Straight away I pulled over and we tied the boat up, it was 3.15 and we'd got pretty wet through today. There was also several boats here waiting to go into Liverpool the next day, so it was pretty packed! But we felt safe again, out in the countryside where we belong!

Back on familiar ground... Holmes Swingbridge, our stop for the night

There's plenty of other boats here, some resting after leaving Liverpool, some ready for the trip in tomorrow

We lit the fire and had a welcome hot shower. After walking Jack around the grassy meadows we settled in for the evening, we'd earned our sleep that night!

There's a tiny bit of rainbow over yonder.... but the skies are still grey and looming

It's an amazing evening as the sun sets down the canal but we're tired and resting now

On Sunday it was damp and cold. After walking the fields with Jack, Paul doing his 'man thing' checking the engine and I untangled copious amounts of plastic bags off the prop we set off by 9.30am.

Our bundle of 'joy' wrapped around the prop

Its a grey and windy day out on the canal as we set off for our day's cruise

It's windy, cold and grey and we cruise on the couple of miles to Maghull to our first of 5 swing bridges. the countryside is flat and open making the wind seem much stronger as it blows across the fields and tunnels up the canal.

It's open countryside here, the wind blows across the flat fields...

Crops planted in the open fields, just like the fens!

Eventually we get to Coxheads swing bridge, the one that was broken last week when we came up the canal, and luckily it was all fixed now.

Leaving Coxheads Swingbridge, all fixed now thank goodness

We carried on another 3-4 miles till we got to Halsalls Hill bridge. It was quiet, full of public footpaths across lovely fields, empty of boats and a lovely towpath. We decided to stop here and tied the boat up.

We found a quiet spot out in the middle of nowhere...

We had a lovely time here, the walks were amazing and Jack ran to his little hearts content.

We sat and watched a family of water voles scurry around in and out their hole in the bank opposite the boat, amazing to see! We saw lapwings and oyster catchers in the fields and Paul caught some humungous fish!

Oyster catchers feed in the grassy fields...

This little water vole is a rare sight these days....

... so we sat and watched as they scurried around in and out of their holes in the bank

... and this one's had a swim!

Paul's a happy man, this bream's not so happy tho!

We stayed another day here, using the time to give Jack a much needed haircut, he was like a puppy once again!

Happy Daze snuggled up in the bank, beautiful blue skies too!

We'd enjoyed our stay here, but by Tuesday we were ready to move on again. So with the weather threatening storms, the wind getting up, we left by 9am for our short journey to Burscough.

This swing bridge is out of use now, so we cruise on through....

Flat fields all around us again

There's flat open countryside around us, all sorts of vegetables growing in neat rows in huge fields. We cruise on and a couple of swing bridges and 6 miles later we arrive at Burscough.

Filling up with water at Burscough, the cottages here used to be stables for the working horses

We watered up, dumped rubbish, emptied the toilet and moved 50 yards away from the water point and moored up. We went off to Tescos and filled up with the necessary and the not so necessary items for our fridge. Paul got on his bike and found a fishing tackle shop and stocked up on maggots.

The skies were grey and nasty, along with the thunder and lightening that followed

When he got home the skies got blacker and the heavens opened. We had violent thunder and lightening and massive rain. It was like that all afternoon. Thunder rumbled all around us, lightening cracked and banged in forks and sheets, the rain chucked bucket fulls down on us. We took Jack out once and had to run for it back to the boat as it was pretty dangerous to be out in that. But second time lucky we managed a very soggy walk and were soon back in the boat when it soon started all over again!

 So we stayed in and watched telly, but the first time ever the power failed on us! Batteries were flat and we didn't know why, so all in the dark we went to bed!

The rain didn't stop all night, but by the morning the sun was out. Paul did some checks

in the engine room and found one of the batteries to be dead and that was taking the other three batteries down with it. So he disconnected it and well get a new one when we can.

Every kid's dream, this tree house was built to last!

We cruise on past the Rufford Branch, we're going 'Wigan' way and eventually onwards to Leeds

We then set off down the canal, Paul and Jack walking the towpath and me cruising the boat. Two swing bridges later and 3-4 miles and we'd arrived in Parbold. 

On our way to Parbold... the Pennines in the distance and we're heading that way!

We decided to stay here a day or so, so we pulled over and tied the boat up on the moorings just out of town. It was still only 9.30am, so we had a day to sort some jobs out on the boat.

Moored up in Parbold

Paul cut up some wood and tidied up the front end of the boat, I sanded the window sills down and gave them the first of 7 coats of Danish oil. I also put up the latest plaques we'd achieved cruising the latest canals! Looking pretty full now!

Our collection of the plaques is pretty large now, there's not much more room!

We walked Jack in the glorious sunshine finding a new and varied walk for him over Christmas tree plantations, in woodlands and over corn fields. 

Jack loved his run through the small christmas trees!

The next day we walked Jack for his usual hour over the corn fields and he ran and ran again! We decided as the sun was shining we were going to catch a train and go to Southport.

Waiting at the station in the glorious sunshine

We took Jack and boarded the train for the twenty minute journey to the beach.

A typical seaside main street...

This large lake was filled with salt water and was a run off from the sea

Jack loved his romp on the sand, but the sea was miles away, we never did get there....

.... even the end of the pier wasn't at the sea either!

It was a typical seaside town, people everywhere eating ice creams and chips! We went to the beach but we couldn't get to the sea! 

Here you can take your car on the beach, the sand was firm and solid, but there's still no water to splash in!

It was so far out we walked on the muddy sandy beach but never actually reached the sea! But Jack had a lovely time chasing the frisky and ball and splashing about in the water pools.

Paul tucks into a sherbet dipped ice cream

Of course we ate chips and ice cream too, well you have to really don't you!

We caught the train back and Jack slept for the next few hours!

Edna and John moored up two boats behind us... we chatted the rest of the afternoon

After discovering Ed and John were also back at Parbold we spent the rest of the afternoon chatting to them, then we settled in for the rest of the day. Jack had his first fall into the canal of the trip, he missed the side of the canal after leaping off their boat and went straight into the water! He needed the dunking tho, it was hot so it cooled him down!

Leaving Parbold.... it's been lovely here

On Friday we moved from Parbold onto Crooke. It was a lovely day and the 4 1/2 mile cruise there was great. 

Lovely woodland all about us now, long gone are the open flat fields

Ed and John came with us and we got through the two locks and a swingbridge without any problems. 

Our lovely friends, Edna and John, pull over to help with the lock 

John and Edna work out the locks...

How about this for a washing line! This trike fits on their front deck a treat!

... and just around the corner is where we stop for the weekend

We pull over in roughly the same place as before, just behind my new friend, Lindsey, who we met when we were here before.

I made some elderflower cordial and left that to brew for the day. 

We pull over just behind Lindsey's boat

Saturday we moved the boat up a little way to the diesel barge boat, Ambush and filled up with diesel. After a perfect reverse back to our spot we stayed put all weekend.

Looking down over the bridge as Edna and John make their way to the Leigh branch

Away with you! We're quite sad to see them off, but hope one day we'll meet them again

Ed and John left for their continuing journey back down the Leigh branch but our next part of the journey was the Wigan locks and it was not a good idea to go through at the weekend so we enjoyed our relaxing time in Parbold. 

Walking over the disused coal pits, now a beautiful bit of land left to nature...

One of the pit entrances, now filled in and fenced off

Looking down over Wigan, the fields and woodlands went on for miles

We discovered some amazing walks over to an old coal pit called Johns pit, now it's been left to nature and it's lovely! Woodlands, ponds and lakes and open rabbit infested areas Jack had the best time ever!

Jack loved his swim in the lakes...

Many wild flowers grow here, including these 'rare' wild orchids

We went out to the Crooke Hall Inn for our tea on Sunday evening and had lovely food at great prices! Well, we are up north now!

The elderflower cordial was lovely, mixed with sparkling water and a slice of lemon it is a fragrant refreshing drink!

We chatted to nb Krystina owners, Sharon and Chris, they too are going down the Leigh branch but we will all do the first 4 locks together until the junction where we're going straight on to the Wigan flight of 21 more locks and they will turn right.

So we got an early night in, preparation for our long day tomorrow.

6.00 am and we set off with n.b. Krystina following behind

On Monday 16th June we were up early. The alarm was set for 5am, we're leaving at 6am with Krystina. So at 6am were all out getting things ready. Paul walks Jack up the towpath to the first lock, a mile away and gets it ready for both boats. It's sunny and still, the canal is quiet and empty.

The canal is calm and still, it's early yet and people are still sleeping! Wigan Athletic FC in the distance....

The original 'tipper' used to tip the coal into the boats from the pits... in Wigan

Krystina enters the third lock, only one more to go on this leg of the journey

The sign for the Leigh branch, you can just make out 'Blackburn' on the other side, that's where we're going!

It's a breeze! We cruise on through the first 4 locks easily and get to the top by 7.45am. Sharon and Chris turn right at the Leigh branch and we all wave goodbye as we go on round the corner to face our next 21 locks.

Yesterday we had a phone call from Edna who had chatted to a couple of boaters on a boat called Myfanwy (!) and discovered they were heading up the 21 locks from the Leigh branch. We had arranged to meet them at the bottom of the locks between 8-8.30am, result!

Waiting at the bottom of the Wigan 21 locks for Caroline and Chris and n.b. Myfanwy

We waited at the locks for them to turn up and along they came at 8.30!

Paul had already cycled up the locks to set a few ready, opened up the first one, and in we both went. 

Paul got the first lock ready while I waited for nb Myfanwy to turn up...

They soon arrived, and we made good progress up the locks....

... despite most of them leaking badly from the top and bottom gates

It was a long flight. All the locks were wide and deep, but we soldiered on. Caroline was on the tiller on their boat, Chris was setting the locks with Paul. There really wasn't any that were too bad.

Looking down at the bottom gates, water gushes out faster than you can fill the lock

You even had to make sure your windows were closed or you'd get a boat full!

Most of the underground paddles didn't work, so the top gated paddles had to be used instead

There was plenty of water in the lock pounds, most of the bottom gates had massive gaps between them so as fast as you filled them up to go up, they were emptying!

The chain winches used to open some of the gates as they were just too tough to push open

Chris winding one of the chain winches... look at the condition of the locks! Discusting!

Most of the locks were different, some had chains to winch to open the gates, some had the winding gear on top of the paddles, but all had an extra precaution of the anti vandal key to unlock the paddles. The first few were set slightly further apart than the last ones, they were one after another continuous.

Meeting a pair of narrow boats was a doddle, there was plenty of room to pass in the lock pounds

This wide beam was fine too, we passed with plenty of room

We met a pair of boats coming down and then a wide beam coming down, but neither gave us a problem.

I told you it was called Myfanwy, what a ridiculous name! And they're not even Welsh! It means 'child of the water'!

Looking back down at Wigan, we're nearly at the top now...

Jack was out for most of the 2 mile flight, the surroundings were grassy and seemed nice, although this can be deceptive!

This was the bottom end of the lock, water gushing out fast and furious....

And this notice was pinned to the top gate! Save water? What a joke!

Paul had a few lapses of mind on the way up, first he forgot his empty cup, he left it at a lock further down, but off he went on his bike and retrieved it. Next he forgot his bike, that was only one lock down! Finally he forgot to pick up the bucket we'd put out for Jack to have a drink, so off he went again and came back with that too! So all was good... he had been up since 5am, so was still a bit vague!

The date on the bridge shows when the whole of the Leeds to Liverpool canal was completed

And we're here, at the top!

It took 4 hours in total to get to the top, it was 12.30 and we were buzzing! We'd made it to the top of  the Wigan flight with no problems!

Leaving Myfanwy behind, after our water stop, we make our way along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal

We pulled over at the services at the top and dumped rubbish and filled up with water, then after a cheery wave and goodbye to Caroline and Chris we were on our way along the Leeds and Liverpool canal.

It's really pretty  here, woodland all around us

We're 300 foot above sea level now, and its peaceful and quiet

Half a mile later we were away from Wigan and cruising 300ft above sea level looking down over trees and hills and valleys. Slopey concrete banks lined the canal and we were looking for somewhere to stop.

Red Rock Visitor Moorings, but we didn't stay here long

A couple of miles on we got to Red Rock 48 he moorings. It was on a built up platform, just after a fairly busy bridge and right beside a small but fast road. Not ideal at all, but we were ready to stop. After a cuppa and lunch we decided to move on, there's got to be somewhere better than this!

The bridges are old but still surviving, still beautiful

We stopped in amongst the woodland walks, perfect for our explores that we like!

Only another mile on we entered beautiful woodland with footpaths running through, a golf course and lakes! We found a spot we could get the boat in reasonably close to the bank and tied up. We were happy here, it was peaceful and quiet, nothing and not many people about. Perfect! Trees for one view and the other side was fields!

What an amazing spot, surrounded by trees and birds!

We went off to explore and were in awe of the surroundings. We were in Arley woods just near to Adlington with more walks than we could fit in!

The woods were huge, and amazing.. went on for miles and miles

Out the other side of the woods we walked this corn field and had a great view of the Pennines

We lost the footpath and ended up going through the undergrowth to get out onto familiar ground!

Little bridges over the river Douglas were all over the woods leading off in different directions

In fact we loved it so much we stayed here until Thursday. We all had the best walks ever, discovering new ones every day! We went through woods and along the banks of the River Douglas, grassy meadows and corn fields, along the lakes and footpaths beside the reservoirs, all public footpaths too! 

And Jack can't resist a swim in the lakes and reservoirs to cool off

You could be here a month and find a different walk every day, all beautiful.

Well, we're leaving here on Thursday19th June on our way to Chorley where we're going to have to go shopping and find a laundrette. But until then were relaxing and  enjoying the peace and quiet and glorious sunshine and the amazing woodlands and fields around us ....

 Last updated 18th June 2014