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Saturday, 05 June 2010 14:14

How to follow up and beat the Macclesfield Canal

Can the Macclesfield Canal be beaten for beauty, yes I think so. The Peak Forest Canal is as lovely and as we turned onto it to go south towards Whaley Bridge we were immediately struck by the views. To "do justice" to the journey this is one of my longer blogs!

Turning onto the Peak Forest Canal

Despite the number of moored boats and narrowboats at the Junction our eyes were drawn to the offside as the canal is high above the River Goyt Valley. This hill (I think it is Strawberry Hill) was visible for a long time as the canal bends around the valley.

View from the canal just beyond Marple Junction

There are two lift bridges and two swing bridges on this stretch of canal. Turf Lea Lift Bridge (22) was where we lost a windlass from Twelfth Night. Fancy remembering that, I wonder if it is still there! We were pleased to see that this bridge would be easy for single-handers (as are the others) as it had off-side access. Perhaps this is a good example for all the other waterways that do not do this!

Off-side access

John was amused by something as he lowered Wood End Lift Bridge (24)

Higgins Clough Swing Bridge (25) is approached from the north via narrow passage and a sharp lefthand bend, with moored boats on the offside. It is not a good place to meet a boat coming the other way. However we did, and I had to reverse as he kept coming and did not think to hover near the bridge where it was easier to pass. Duh! It was a tricky manoeuvre but I did not hit anything!

Approach to Higgins Clough Swing Bridge

New Mills is appropriately named, as Brunswick Mill towers over the canal at Thornsett Road bridge (28) and, as Nicholson warns, there was a sweet smell in the air! We were passing Matlows "Swizzle" factory which appears to incorporate the mill. Can we still buy "Swizzles"?

Looking back at Thornsett Bridge

Down in the Goyt River Valley we could see the railway which more or less follows the line of the canal and at Torrs Riverside Park it crosses on an attractive viaduct.

Rail Viaduct in valley

As John waited for me to open Carr Swing Bridge - a BW key is needed to unlock the vertical bolt - he snapped the signal box at New Mills South Junction. I remember seeing this on a trip south last year, but had been unaware of the canal above.

Signal Box

We passed the entrance to Bugsworth Basin (much more about that later!) and made our way to Whaley Bridge, passing all the long term moorings. At the end of these moorings are 7 day moorings with only room for two or three boats. It seems strange that there are not more visitor moorings, but a kind gentleman allowed us to breast up with his narrowboat once we had winded in Whaley Bridge Basin.

Whaley Bridge Basin

The warehouse at the end of the basin has an interesting history, but we would explore Whaley Bridge later, as this visit was just to leave a prescription at the pharmacy there.

So we moved on back to Bugsworth Basin. We were excited, as last time we were here it was closed because the basins were leaking badly. We were looking forward to "entering history" on our own narrowboat!

Entrance to Bugsworth Basin

Peak Forest Canal

Marple Junction to Whaley Bridge - 3 hours 49 minutes, 6.27 miles, 0 locks

Whaley Bridge to Bugsworth Upper Basin - 0 hours 40 minutes, 1.01 miles, 1 "lock" (stop lock)