Macclesfield PS

Just remembered that our recent two-week trip along the Trent & Mersey, Macclesfield and Peak Forest was memorable for the absence of one of those annoying events - a trip down the weed hatch to clear the propeller. These events can sometimes happen on canals that appear quite clean but they are perhaps more common where water is shallow and of course are common in urban areas.

Given the environs of Stoke and the renown shallow nature of the Macclesfield & Upper Peak Forest canals, I was waiting most days for the dreaded signs of "stuff" around the prop - lack of progress and black smoke from our Ruston. I did on a couple of occasions experience what must have been some build up of vegetation around the prop at the notoriously tight bridge holes on the Macclesfield, but this was easily cleared by a short burst of reverse.

We must of either been lucky or perhaps the steady stream of boats using the route had cleared the way - summer boating.

I expect that now I have posted about it the next time we leave the marina we will probably pick up something very nasty! Am I chancing my arm mentioning it?

Whaley Bridge and Poynton

Some days the weather is just glorious for cruising and today was one. We reversed out from our mooring in Bugsworth Lower Basin and found the water point occupied. With another boat queuing, it appeared pointless to wait, so we left for the end of the Peak Forest Canal - Whaley Bridge. This involved just a short journey (less than an hour). The section of canal from Bugsworth junction to Whaley Bridge is lined with permanent moorings, which doesn't add much to its charm, but the basin at the end of the arm, and the town of Whaley Bridge, are delightful.. We took on water in the basin from a gold painted water point!

Whaley Bridge Basin

Gold water point - shades of Olympic Post Boxes?

Whaley Bridge with the Mechanics Institute flying the flag

The basin at Whaley Bridge used to be an important transhipment base for burnt lime, just like Bugsworth. In this case it connected to the Cromford and High Peak Railway. The town still has a rail link, but unfortunately not to Cromford, just north towards Manchester.

Transhipment wharehouse with the dock in the centre

We can recommend Whaley Bridge as a place to visit, but mooring up there doesn't appear to be an option, which is a shame. Our trip back to Marple was delightful. With less boats on the move it was straightforward boating. Maggie took to the towpath near Newtown.

Operating a Peak Forest Swing Bridge

Operating a  Peak Forest Lift Bridge

Railway signal box

At Newtown the Swizzels factory is alongside the canal and the air has a sweet aroma. Around the corner the canal runs through woodland and there is suddenly a heady aroma of wild garlic. A bit of a olfactory clash!

The work on Lift Bridge 24 was paused for lunch as we passed through and there were few boats on the move. At Marple we turned back on to the Macclesfield Canal and moored up for the night at Higher Poynton by the "wide" just by Mount Vernon Wharf. We visited the Trading Post for an ice cream. 

Mooring at Higher Poynton

Before our evening meal we took a stroll around the area. Alongside the canal runs the Middlewood Way trail which near here is on the bed of an old railway line in a cutting. As we reached Nelson Pit we heard a lot of noise coming from the cutting. It was a scout cycling group that had stopped at the former Higher Poynton station, where there is still a platform. They were having great fun.

Former Higher Poynton Station being used by scouts

As the sun started to set we watched a heron fishing in the "wide".

Heron fishing

Bugsworth Basin

Albert at Bugsworth

Bugsworth is a delightful place to moor. It is a "golden nugget" in the canal system. Its historic significance is great because, unlike many other former industrial sites, it is basically entire and has been well preserved. It has an extensive labyrinth of basins which makes mooring a pleasure. All around the site there are boards and artifacts explaining the significance of the basin and there is also The Navigation, a free-house which is part of Bugsworth's history.

Passing a delightful cottage on the Upper Peak Forest Canal

We left Marple on Monday morning, scheduling our trip to arrive after the popular weekend Gardner Rally had finished. This made sure that we could get a mooring but it did mean that there was a steady stream of boats passing us leaving the rally. The other navigational problem was that contractors were working on a lift bridge which officially was open only from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. As a result of these problems we had a slow and challenging trip along the Upper Peak Forest Canal towards Whaley Bridge.

Views towards Kinder Scout

As might be imagined, many of the boats coming the other way were Gardner-engined and smartly turned out. An unusual boat was a small classic wooden cruiser. She was immaculately turned out. 

Classic Wooden Cruiser 

The butty Gosport passed us towed on short straps by a modern tug. Since we crossed by moored boats and a corner this was challenging steering.

Butty Gosport

We arrived at Bugsworth around lunchtime and sought a suitable mooring. We firstly attempted to moor up in the area between the upper and lower basins called The Wide where there was plenty of space, but found it too shallow. After some winding and maneuvering we ended up mooring in the Lower Basin near where we moored last time we visited. It turned out to be a good decision because we found a mooring alongside the site of the former Stone Crusher. This gave us a lovely "patio" to enjoy lunch in the afternoon sunshine.

Albert at Bugsworth Lower Basin

("Patio" to the left)

After lunch we explored the site, walked up the tramway and visited the Navigation Inn for a "quick drink". It was busy with dog walkers. 

Tug deck with miniature garden 

Today we invited four of our oldest friends to join us at Bugsworth and lunch at The Navigation. It was great meeting them and having a good natter.

Edward & Anne, Maggie (with kettle), David & Lesley 

This evening we have the best weather of the day with warm sunshine.

Marple

Today the wind was not so strong but it was still strong enough to make it chilly out of the sun. We left Bollington around 10:30 and had a very pleasant cruise to Marple. Being Sunday, walkers, cyclists and joggers were enjoying the towpath.

Sunday at Higher Poynton

Goyt Mill, Marple

We reached Marple around lunchtime and moored up close to the Ring O'Bells. Their trip boat, The Bell, was on the point of arriving with 18 people for three-course Sunday lunches so our plan for a midday meal had to be changed. In the end we booked for roast dinners in the evening. They were sizable and tasty. Needless to say we didn't manage to finish them.

Sunday roasts at the Ring O'Bells, Marple

Following the meal, a walk along the locks at Marple was called for. The historic boat Elizabeth had moored up at junction with the Peak Forest. Powered by a Gardner engine, she was on her way back from a rally at Bugsworth.

Historic narrowboat Elizabeth

We looked at the top half-dozen locks and remembered our trip up the locks three years ago when we got firmly stuck. This time I noticed a roller by the bottom gates of Lock 9 where Stockport Road crosses the canal.

Bridge Roller, Marple Flight

Gurnett, Macclesfield

On Wednesday the weather was still warm and sunny and we retraced our steps back to Marple before turning down the Macclesfield Canal towards Kidsgrove.

Goyt Mill, Marple

Rope marks on a bridge near Marple

The journey through Higher Poyton, and Bollington was delightful. We paused for lunch near Poyton but we would have liked to spend more time exploring the area.

Hovis mill, Macclesfield

We moored up just outside Macclesfield at Gurnett Aqueduct. The visitor moorings were busy but we got a prime spot. We walked around the village and found residents putting up bunting for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

Plaque dedicated to James Brindley who was an apprentice stone mason at Gurnett, Macclesfield in the early part of the eighteenth century

Bugsworth Basin

On Tuesday we set off in bright sun down the Upper Peak Forest Canal to the famous Bugsworth Basin.  The Peak Forest clings to the side of the Goyt Valley and there are great views of the peaks including Kinder Scout.

Swing Bridge, Upper Peak Forest Canal

We moored up in the lower basin and explored the site for the afternoon. The literature available at the site is marvellous and describes the transhipment of lime, the boats, and the important tramways that brought material down from the peaks to the canal. There is plenty of evidence of the tramlines since they used stone sleepers. A small section of rail, on one of the bridges, remains.

We found some seasoned visitors moored up in some of the backwaters of the site, but quite honestly it is such a wonderful site that any of the mooring locations are great. Although the site has a 48hr limit it appears from the signage that they are not particularly strict about the limit when there is not much pressure on moorings.

  

Bugsworth Upper Basin

Mooring in the lower basin at Bugsworth

Plaque commemorating the Engineers and the first Wharfinger

Excellent model of the site when working - made out of cast iron 

That evening we had a great meal in the Navigation Inn alongside the basins with Stephen & Gail Cannon, Maggie's brother and sister-in-law. We can recommend both the ale, cider and the food. That night we went to sleep to the sound of the a stream rushing over a nearby weir - quite soporific.

Marple, Stuck in Lock Pound

Turnover Bridge, Peak Forest Canal

On Monday we started our journey towards Bugsworth by cruising along the Lower Peak Forest Canal to Marple. The Peak Forest is a picturesque canal and even the first section leaving Ashton-under-Lyne is pretty, although there was still plenty of rubbish in the canal.

Working Boat Alton passes Albert by Woodley Tunnel

The Peak Forest has several aqueducts and some short tunnels along this section all making for an interesting cruise. The tunnels, including the opened out tunnel near Marple, all require one-way working. We had to wait at Woodley Tunnel for two boats, one was NB Alton delivering coal and diesel around the area.

Leaving Woodley Tunnel

Impressive Railway Bridge near Marple

Hyde Bank Tunnel

Hyde Bank tunnel looks wide enough to take two narrow boats but it states clearly on the signs that it is not. The tunnel profile is also not very helpful. You have to position your boat in the centre to get good headroom.

Leaving the opened out Rose Hill Tunnel

Marple Aqueduct and train on the adjacent Viaduct

Maggie managed to get some good photos as we crossed the Marple Aqueduct, particularly since a train passed conveniently along the viaduct as Albert crossed the aqueduct.

Marple Locks

Vegetation on the lock gates, Marple Flight

Our trip up the Marple Flight was epic. The eighteen narrow locks are not that difficult and the surroundings are very pleasant. The problem was water distribution. We made our way quickly up the first few locks passing other crews on their way down. Most of the crews complained that they had serious problems towards the top of the flight with very little water in the pounds. The pound above Lock 12 was mentioned more than once.

True to form as we got closer to the top we began to struggle. We started letting down water from pounds above but at Lock 12 we were confronted with a wide and long pound with very little water. Some locals stated that they had never seen it looking so low. A mud bank extended over part of the pound and some ducks had settled down on it. We tried to leave the lock and find a way through but quickly ran aground in the centre. Maggie stayed ashore and tried letting water down but to no avail. We rang BW. They agreed to send someone to sort out the problem but recommended that we try sending down water from  higher pounds. After waiting for about 40 minutes for water levels above to recover and letting down as much water as we dared, Albert finally got moving again and struggled into Lock 13. We then let down water from Locks 14 and 15 and finally got up the flight just as the BW staff arrived. It turned out that the top of the flight was suffering water shortages because a feeder pipe from the top of the locks is blocked.

Marple Junction

We were lucky enough to find a good mooring at Marple Junction where the Macclesfield Canal begins. We found that were moored just below the Ring O' Bells pub which is a great local. They serve a good selection of real ales and ciders and were very helpful. We had a quick drink, to help us recover from our exertions, and then went shopping at the Co-op. We arranged a meal order for our return. Our meals were delicious and we sat outside in the evening sun. A great end to a very hard day.