The charity making life better by water
Making life better by water
Accessibility for visitor moorings at Cadley, Lancaster, Carnforth, Upper Mill, Chester, Wigan, Anderton
Rings or Bollards: Bollards
Towpath surface: Paved area, access track is of hardcore matter
Accessibility to Preston: Offside access through services main gate, gradient to access track at services is approximately 27%. Towpath access is at Bridge 10, various shopping outlets to local vicinity.
Car Parking: Cadley services
Toilets: Cadley services
Rings or Bollards: Bollards/rings
Towpath surface: Paved area
Accessibility to Lancaster: Towpath access to main road, various shopping outlets to local vicinity.
Car Parking: None on Trust land. 30 minutes at Aldcliffe, 2 hours in Aldi, various NCP's in town centre
Toilets: Lancaster Services
Rings or Bollards: Rings
Towpath surface: Tarmac/Hardcore surfaced area
Accessibility to Carnforth: Towpath access to main road, various shopping outlets to local vicinity.
Car Parking: Canal Turn carpark
Toilets: Carnforth Services
Rings or Bollards: Bollards
Towpath surface: Fine stone
Accessibility: Flat towards Lock 21W, steep ramp in direction of 22W
Car Parking: Saddleworth Museum
Toilets: Saddleworth Museum
Rings or Bollards: Rings
Towpath surface: Concrete path, flat and even surface
Accessibility: The city centre is a 10 minute walk. Waterpoint at the northern end of the mooring.
Car Parking: The nearest car park is a five minute walk and is pay and display.
Toilets: Toilets are on the opposite side of the canal at Chester Services and are accessed via a turnover footbridge, which has a rough and uneven brick and stone surface. There is a separate mooring outside the services.
Rings or Bollards: Rings
Towpath surface: Paved
Accessibility to hinterland: Towpath access to Trencherfield Mill, very flat. Slope up to Chapel Lane
Car Parking: Trencherfield Mill
Toilets: Trust facilities by lock 86, just past Chapel Lane, 180m away
Rings or Bollards: Bollards at the waiting mooring, rings at official moorings on either side
Towpath surface: Tarmac around the visitor's centre. Compacted gravel towards Marbury, but uneven and muddy towards Barnton tunnel
Accessibility to hinterland: Bridge over basin, then uphill with paved/tarmac surfaces towards Anderton
Car Parking: Adjacent council pay & display car park, with drop-off area outside centre
Toilets: Within visitor's centre.
Rings or Bollards: Bollards
Towpath surface: Gravel
Accessibility to hinterland: Easy access by car and foot, shops, pubs, cafes. Trip boats
Car Parking: Car parking right by the water point, free to boaters
Toilets: No separate disabled toilet, not good access for a wheelchair, as there are steps
Services: Water, elsan.
More information: Nearby, there is a Tesco which is accessible via a zigzag path down to the shop just after bridge 37A. Bugsworth basin is a major historical site . Carry on to the far end of the car park and pass under the Bridgemont Tunnel and then turn left to go up a path (14 degrees) this is quite steep but its wide. At the top turn left onto the towpath and follow this to Bugsworth Basin going under bridge 56.
Rings or Bollards: Rings
Towpath surface: Stone edge, Gravel
Accessibility to hinterland: Flat walk up to Navigation pub
Car Parking: Pay & Display at pub, parking on road
Toilets: Disabled toilet good access flat with setts, operated by the Bugsworth Basin Trust
Services: Water, elsan, operated by the Bugsworth Basin Trust
More information: Bugsworth Basin is close to the Whaley Bridge area on the Upper Peak Forest Canal and is a boating destination point and hence a very popular spot for boaters in the season. The basin is well maintained and has several models of the site as it was when it was a working site shipping limestone and lime from this site into Manchester and beyond.
Footpath follows the tram lines where horses pulled the carts transporting the limestone from Dovedale to Bugsworth Basin. There is a 1.5 mile walk into Whaley Bridge and local Tesco. Go past bridge 56 then under the canal using a setts path (14 degrees steep but reasonably wide). Go under the tunnel to Tesco car park. For Whaley Bridge, go to the right hand side of Tesco, then use the zig zag path up to the towpath and re-join the towpath at bridge 37A. Turn left, go under this bridge and follow the towpath into Whaley Bridge. Please note that the towpath from bridge 37A to bridge 56 is not easy as there is a steep gradient from the towpath down to the Bridgemont Tunnel (15-17 degrees) and its very rough and not that wide. Access across bridge 56 is not practical for wheelchair users.
Rings or Bollards: Bollards on towpath opposite services
Towpath surface: Stone edge, grass margin, gravel path opposite services
Accessibility to hinterland: flat surface to road, through gate.
Car Parking: Bullgate Lane on road parking
Toilets: Disabled toilets
Services: Water, elsan, washing, drying machine, rubbish facility
More information: Bosley is about the midpoint of the Macclesfield Canal and about 6 miles south of Macclesfield. It's pretty remote and its 15+ mins walk to the main road which does have bus services to Leek, Macclesfield and Congleton. No shops, but a pub nearby 25+ mins walk from Top Lock called the Harrington Arms (Bosley). There is mooring near the locks. disabled access from the lock is via a stone edge and then grass before you get to a limestone surface. From the towpath side go over the road/canal bridge 54 which is right next to the Service Block. The Bosley Flight is manned most of the season. if you need help on the flight please contact the Trust on 03030 404040 and they will arrange for lock keepers to help you.
Last Edited: 11 March 2022
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