Heart of Manchester
This is an easy trip with no locks and, despite the final destination, for much of the route in open countryside. It takes 7 hours to reach the center of Manchester at Castlefield Basin where there are good moorings right in the centre of the city.
From our base traveling north we join the original route of the canal just past the motorway. There are fine views of Halton Hill and the Mersey estuary across the intervening farmland.
At the village of Moore there is a post office and shop. At Walton Gardens a large pub serves carvery meals whilst at Stockton Heath there is a pub, chandlery and shop, with further shops down the hill.
On the outskirts of Stockton Heath is Grappenhall with two pubs near the canal and from there we are in countryside again until reaching the M6 which we pass under just before it crosses the Manchester Ship Canal at Thelwall. We now enter the picturesque town of Lymm where there are popular visitor moorings with shops and pubs close by.
Beyond Lymm the canal becomes rural again with several pubs by the canal at Agden Wharf, the Old No3 and Little Bollington. Continuing north, the canal passes through Dunham Massey before reaching Sale. Here the canal runs in a straight line with boats moored on the offside. Trees line the straight so the canal is in its own green corridor. At Stretford, industry and housing now enclose the canal. There are two pubs with visitor moorings. A short way further is Waters Meeting where we turn right for Manchester. The left leg taking the canal to Leigh and eventually Wigan.
From Waters Meeting it is about a mile to Castlefield Basin with views over the Manchester Ship Canal.
At Castlefield there are moorings close to the Museum of Science & Industry and you are on the edge of the city centre with metro trams and buses linking the main shopping areas.
0 LOCKS, 14 HOURS APPROX
Moore Hall goes to Manchester
In March 2010 I booked a late deal on Moore Hall for a weekend break. We picked our home for the weekend Moore Hall, We headed North along the lovely Bridgewater Canal towards Manchester. Passing through Daresbury Moore and the lovely village of Stokton Heath. We travelling up to Lymm for our first over night stop. Which is a large village just outside of Warrington. Were Local pubs are plentyful. with a local Coop to get your suppliers and banks etc. Also a lovely bakers called Sextons were the freshly baked loafs goes great with the locally sourced bacon from the village butchers.. After a meal and a few drinks we settled in for the night. After a great Nights sleep aboard Moore hall we headed through lIttle Bollington, Duham Massey. As we approached Sale the Canal got more industrial. shortly afterwards you come to Waters meeting. were you can bare left if time allows and visit The trafford Centre and the village of Worsley. but we steered to the right passing Old Trafford and headed for castlefield the heart of Manchester. Once here we moored at Castlefield Quay and headed into Manchester for a meal in the City centre. Next morning WE retraced our steps to Stockton Heath. moored here for the night as The Boat had to be back at 9am and it was an hour cruisng back to base. had a great Trip and was our first time on the Bridgewater Canal. And since owning our own boat this last 6 months it has became our most favourite route as there isnt any Locks at all. Locks can be great fun but timely if you only had a couple of days aboard!
Contact Us
Claymoore Canal Holidays
The Wharf
Preston Brook
Warrington
Cheshire WA4 4BA
01928 717273 (UK)
00 44 1928 717273 (INT)
