Whaley Bridge to Manchester
(Upper & Lower Peak forest, Ashton and Rochdale Canals)
£1140pp (£2280 per charter)
19th - 24th April 2026 (5 nights)

This trip will start at either Whaley Bridge Arm (train station close by) or in Bugsworth Basin if guests are travelling by car)  on the Upper Peak Forest Canal.

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Total distance is 22 miles and 43 locks . There are 7 moveable bridges of which 1 is usually left open; 14 small aqueducts or underbridges and 3 tunnels (Hyde Bank Tunnel (308 yards long), Woodley Tunnel (176 yards long) and Deansgate Tunnel)  and 1 major aqueduct (Marple Aqueduct -105 yards long)

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Guests will arrive approximately 1.30pm on day one and after an introductory blah blah (and most probably glass of something fizzy) we’ll chug off to begin our adventure.

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The aim will be to make it up as we go along but might have to put in a long day or 2  as when writing (Jan 25) Marple locks are on restricted working hours due to structure failure (or in my opinion, crt failure but lets not go there)... we’ll see how we get on.

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If there's space just at the bottom of Marple locks after the Aqueduct, we might moor for the night to allow a photo opportunity walk - it not, we'll continue to Romiley.  Ideally, it's best to avoid mooring near Portland basin overnight on the Ashton but if we have to, we'll brave it out - with luck, we'll be able to press on to Droylsden to overnight.

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Next morning, we've the Ashton flight to tackle - I'll not lie... it can be hard work but don't worry... if you want to put your feet up ... it's not a problem.

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Chances are we'll TRY Telford basin to moor over night (behind a security gate) but if we have to go alongside in Piccadilly it'll be fine... better here than at the top of the infamous ROCHDALE 9  - we'll tackle them on the penultimate morning before our journey ends on the Bridgewater Canal in Castlefield Basin/Junction.

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Pubs on route include; The Soldier Dick, The Crossings Inn, Ring o bells, Navigation, The Spread Eagle, The Kings Head and finally The Wharf in Castlefield Basin.

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NB – pub visits are NOT compulsory … just encouraged by Capt. Ellis.

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