Peak Forest Canal

The Peak Forest Canal is one of Britain’s most scenic waterways, running through magnificent landscape to the edge of the Peak District.

The Peak Forest Canal boasts two Scheduled Ancient Monuments in its 15-mile length – the grand, three-arch Marple Aqueduct and the historic Bugsworth Basin. Bugsworth Basin is the end of the canal, where it once connected with a horse-drawn tramway that carried gritstone, limestone and burnt lime to be loaded at Bugsworth for onward carriage to Manchester, the North West and Midlands.

For much of its length, the canal runs alongside the pretty River Goyt. Both the canal and the river are havens for plants and wildlife. The nature reserve of Goytside Meadows is home to a stunning variety of wild flowers.

Narrowboat moored along canal lined with housing with a stone bridge behind

Boating the Peak Forest Canal

All you need to know about boating the Peak Forest Canal

Things to do along the Peak Forest Canal

You find several places to visit along the canal including the village of Marple with its Oldknow walks and heritage trail. Take a look at Oldknow's website for more about out Oldknow heritage project at Marple.

Peak Forest Cycle trail

You can explore much of the Peak Forest Canal by bike with this cycle trail

Boat entering lock on Peak Forest Canal with walkers on the towpath

Wellbeing walk to Bugsworth Basin

Enjoy this 1.7km wellbeing walk along the scenic Peak Forest Canal

Fishing along the Peak Forest Canal

Find out where you can fish and how to get started

Two people wearing Canal & River Trust branded clothing stand up paddle board along the canal

Go Paddling!

Find out where you can paddleboard

Narrowboat Silver Fox at Marple aqueduct with steam train on the nearby viaduct

History of the Peak Forest Canal

The canal opened in 1800, but it was not until 1804 that Marple locks were finally completed

Places to visit near the Peak Forest Canal

Green Flag award

In 2015 the Upper Peak Forest Canal & Marple Lock flight were awarded a prestigious Green Flag in Keep Britain Tidy's Award Scheme, the first canal in the country to achieve this.

As a place to visit, this puts the canal alongside the best parks and other public spaces in the country, and is a huge testament to all the hard work done by volunteers and our Canal & River Trust colleagues in keeping the canal in a great way.

See our Green Flag awarded canals.

Where does the water come from?
Four reservoirs provide the majority of supply of water to the Peak Forest and Macclesfield Canals. Toddbrook and Combs Reservoirs lie at the end of the Peak Forest Canal near Whaley Bridge. Sutton and Bosley Reservoirs lie further south on the Macclesfield Canal above Bosley Locks. Water from these reservoirs is also used to supply other canals further afield.
There are no locks on the Peak Forest Canal from Whaley Bridge to Marple, or on the Maccesfield Canal from Marple to Bosley. This means that the water long pound can come from any of the four reservoirs. Sutton is the smallest and closest to the canal. For this reason it is often used as a quick top up.
Water from the Peak Forest Canal passes down Marple Locks to the Ashton Canal and onwards to Manchester. Feeders also supply water to this canal. For example, Black Brooke feeder at Bugsworth.
Following damage to the auxiliary spillway in Summer 2019, the Trust have held Toddbrook Reservoir down to ensure safety whilst repairs are undertaken.
Water in the Macclesfield Canal passes down Bosley Locks, and is a significant water source for the Trent & Mersey and Caldon Canals.