After the Marsden Flight - more locks still

Friday, 18 June 2010 17:53

What a glorious day!

Cellars Clough countryside

The mill here is sadly languishing away now. It was opened in 1888 and owned by Samuel Frith of Marsden along with another mill at Holme.

Cellars Clough Mill

Booth Lock (30E) and the winding hole before it was so lovely - we were tempted to moor up but carried on!

Booths winding hole and lock to the right

I was amazed to see flowering vegetation in the next lock, Bank Nook. It seemed to thrive on a regular dunking! But enough of admiring the scenery, it was time for me to do some work and let John back on the tiller for a "rest"!

Shuttle Lock (24E) on the outskirts of Slaithwaite was a shock! Not only was it right by a busy factory with large lorries driving up and down the towpath, there was a slipway at the top and a guillotine gate at the bottom. You can just see the slipway directly ahead of our bows in this photo.

Approaching Shuttle Lock

As we arrived, so did two Policeman. I had a nervy fleeting thought that they were waiting for us, but they were just curious and watched as we worked the lock!

Leaving the lock

We were in low bridge territory again - the bridge (Upper Mill) at the tail of this lock was low and the pipe bridge immediately beyond it was even lower. A bit of clever steering and I got through.

Dartmouth Lock (23E) gives a hint of the town of Slaithwaite to come. I was unable to lift these bottom paddles so John had to take over.

Dartmouth Lock

Below the lock, 600 metres of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal has been restored along the original line. Three new bridges were constructed, lock 22E restored and a new lock 21E built west of the original.

The first bridge (44A) caused us a bit of a problem - we had to take the lid of the roof box off! Britannia Bridge (44) was very low too

A narrow straight cut beside Carr Lane leads to Pickle Lock 22E. There is a small landing stage before the lock which was well populated with wildfowl!

Once down the lock, a winding hole and Slaithwaite visitor moorings are before Waterside Lock 21E. We moored here, it is handy for the shops and water and elsan are right by the lock.

Slaithwaite winding hole

Later we were joined by two more narrowboats who came up the lock and the third moored in the winding hole - surprisingly there is room - just!

Huddersfield Narrow Canal, Tunnel End to Slaithwaite

6 hours 21 minutes, 3.26 miles, 21 locks