Just like Chris Evans "Goodbyeee, Helloee

Thursday, 10 June 2010 19:54

But not really .......

We said goodbye to the Peak Forest Canal this morning. Yet another canal "under our belt" on Epiphany! But first we had Stanley lift bridge (1), a date with diesel (maybe not a good thing in the light of our experiences later!), an Aqueduct to cross and then .......

John did the lift bridge

We reversed into "Portland Basin" Marina for our diesel - (68p/117p per litre) and topped up the tank. In the old days, the marina's arm was a spur from the Ashton Canal to Dukinfield. The junction with the Peak Forest Canal was once just south of the aqueduct  and the arm.

Having filled up, we left the narrow marina arm, crossed the Dukinfield Aqueduct over the River Tame and cruised under Dukinfield Junction Bridge.

Tame Aqueduct and Junction Bridge ahead

 The Ashton Canal continues past Portland Basin, as the sign explains!

BW sign, on the right of the bridge in the above picture.

Portland Basin was constructed to enable working boats to make the sharp turn onto the Peak Forest Canal. The restored warehouse of the Ashton Canal Company was built in 1834. The Basin has a sad nickname - "Weavers Rest". Reputedly weavers drowned themselves here during hard times.

Portland Basin and boats at wharf

We turned right onto the Ashton Canal for its last mile north eastwards. Looking back the attractive junction bridge and the factories of Ashton under Lyne lead to the centre of Manchester. It is a shame that we did not have time to "join the ends" by travelling west. Last year we went to Manchester before our northern cruise.

Dukinfield Junction and Junction Mill chimney

A little way along the Ashton we moored just beyond the footbridge for a quick trip to Asda - just across the busy main road.

Setting off again we burrowed under Asda through the tunnel that was built in 1989 to open the way onto the Huddersfield Canal. We wondered why the slope up had been blocked off - maybe to deter vandals?

Asda Tunnel

Light industry lines the canal for the brief section before the Railway Bridge (32) that leads into Whitelands Basin, the end of the Ashton Canal and the start of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal (HNC).

Railway Bridge

But that has to be the next blog as I begin the story of our adventures on the HNC!

Peak Forest Canal. SW of Stanley Lift Bridge to Ashton Canal, Ashton Under Lyne Junction (Whitefields Basin)

0 hours  40 minutes, 0.9 miles, 0 locks