The Lancaster Canal - first impressions

Friday, 29 May 2009 14:42

The first "official" mooring after the Ribble Link is at Cottam. It is beside Preston Sports Centre, but all was quiet when we arrived and we had a good night.

Epiphany moored at Cottam

There are BW moorings on the canal, but it is possible to moor elsewhere as long as you remember that the canal is "V" shaped and the edges very shallow. This is OK for cruisers but narrowboats with a flat baseplate or a deep draft will need a gang plank!

In the morning there was a cycling event and the tannoy commentary was quite loud as we left!

I was looking out for the mile posts which are quite distinctive in character with slight variations. I think they give the original mileage from Kendal to the old Preston Basin so do not reflect the cruise mileage.

The canal from Harrisons Bridge (Quaker's in Nicholson) 19 to Wilson Bridge 25 (nearly 2 miles) is within the BNFL emergency zone (nuclear!) and there is a warning notice at Salwick Wharf moorings. If there is a loud continuous siren you are supposed to leave the area as soon as possible - find a mooring and run or dive off the boat and swim for it?

We passed through some attractive bridges, There are a number of different styles on the canal. Most of the original are masonry arches with varying parapets and abutments.

Lea Malt Kiln Bridge 18

After Salwick bridge the canal loops around to Swillbrook - this was to accommodate a canal to Fleetwood that never happened! The Lancaster Canal is a contour canal, using the 70 degree contour, so it can bend around a fair bit to accommodate the hills.

One of three swing bridges is at Hollowforth, we left it as we found it as advised in the guide

Hollowforth swing bridge in good condition

Park Head Bridge 41 is another style of bridge

We stopped for water at Bilsborrow. The area was very busy with extensive moorings and a well known pub and craft centre, Owd Nell's and Guys Thatched Hamlet.

Like the bridges Brock Aqueduct was designed by John Rennie

The plaque on it gives its details

We began to have good views of the Lancashire Fells after the aqueduct. The countryside is beautiful with plenty of domestic and wild animals to see!

The Forest of Bowland

We passed the nearly empty Barton Grange Marina

We ended the day at Catterall Bridge - mooring on an non-official mooring so a little out from the bank!

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