Cruising the Macc

We are now on the Peak Forest Canal having come through Marple Junction today.  I would have brought the blog up to date sooner but we have been away from Leo for the weekend.  At the last posting we were just coming onto the Macclesfield Canal at Red Bull Junction on the north side of the Harecastle Tunnel.  That was last Tuesday (30 August).

This is one of several classic crossover bridges on the Macclesfield Canal.  They are designed so that the horse pulling a narrowboat does not have to be detached where the towpath crosses the canal.

At Congleton the station is as close to the canal as it can get, so we stopped to pick up our tickets for the weekend.  Here there are layers of bridges above the canal in a rather dark and gloomy cutting.  A railway bridge and two road bridges cross each other and the canal.

We're not sure where this cow came from but she makes a pleasant sight by the side of the canal.

On Wednesday evening we moored close to the aqueduct over the River Dane which ultimately joins the River Weaver miles away in Northwich.  From here we climbed the Cloud, an 1100 foot hill nearby.  From the top there are superb views.  This shows the Wrekin on the edge of Wales, closer to the Shropshire Union Canal.

And here we are on the top with the Pennines behind us.

As well as Manchester Airport and the centre of Manchester itself you can see the telescope at Jodrell Bank.

And way down below you can see the canal.  Leo is just to the right of the trees.

On the way back a baby pheasant flew inexpertly across in front of us and then froze in the long grass hoping we wouldn't see it.

It is difficult to get down below the Dane aqueduct but it is a splendid airy structure to carry a canal.












On Thursday we climbed the 12 Bosley Locks with fine views of the hills round about and moored near the top.  On Friday we carried on into Macclesfield.

Here is the view looking back about half way up.  You can see the Cloud in the distance.

From the top of the locks we cycled a few miles to Gawsworth.  The old part of this village to the West of the canal is lovely with a series of lakes and old buildings.  Here the church is seen across a lake.

We found this statue of Robert Peel and later tried to find his connection with the village.  It seems there is no connection beyond the fact that the local bigwig bought the statue!

This is the old rectory which is a fine half timbered building opposite to the church.

On Friday we crossed Gurnett aqueduct where a road passes beneath the canal.  The white house you can see bears a plaque recording the fact that the famous canal builder, James Brindley, was apprenticed there.

Here is another crossover bridge.  Sorry but we can't help taking pictures of these, they are so compelling.

And here is Leo moored for the weekend at Macclesfield Canal Centre,  The spot they gave us was very tricky to back into but we managed it.  Kev and Mel at this boatyard were very welcoming.









Friday afternoon we took trains to Bath to help our son David move house.  Although it rained quite heavily on Saturday the move was accomplished and we even managed to enjoy our weekend.  We were a bit hesitant to leave the boat with the fridge on, but the batteries were fine on our return on Monday afternoon thanks to our solar panel.  Monday afternoon we did a short cruise to charge the batteries and today we carried on to the end of the Macclesfield and beyond.

In a garden by the canal the Queen guards some runner beans.  Presumably this was for her 90th birthday!

Clarence Mill at Bollington is a fine building.  The huge mill buildings signal that we are now in the north of England.  Clarence Mill includes a cafe and a museum neither of which have we visited yet.  Perhaps next time we pass this way.

A  garden at High Lane boasts this fine homage to Stonehenge.

Marple Junction marks the northern end of the Macclesfield Canal.  The last few yards are through an old stop lock and are very narrow.  The Peak Forest Canal cross the end on the other side of the bridge.

Looking left having come through the bridge you can see the top lock of the Marple flight of 16 locks down.  That is a delight for tomorrow.  For today we turned right along the upper Peak Forest to New Mills.

In our experience canals tend to specialise in either lift or swing bridges.  The Peak Forest has some of each.  Today we came through 2 lift bridges like the one pictured (though one is now electric, not manual like this one) and one swing bridge.

There really should be some visitor moorings at New Mills - come on CRT!  We moored opposite the marina which was perfectly safe but was apparently not allowed.  New Mills is really worth a visit for the Torrs Gorge which runs through the town, about 100 feet below it.  This picture shows the Torr Vale Mill, one of 5 built in the gorge of the River Goyt.

The Heritage Centre in the town is interesting and they have built the Millenium Walkway through the Gorge for visitors and walkers passing through.

The Walkway is partly on piers above the fast flowing River Goyt and partly fixed to a supporting wall for the railway above.












We are moored tonight just outside New Mills as the village does not seem to welcome visiting boats and tomorrow we will tackle the deep and heavy Marple Locks.  We are now heading for the Huddersfield Narrow Canal and the Standedge Tunnel, the deepest, highest and longest tunnel on the system.  Keep watching!!