Day 35 - 36 Marple to Bugsworth Basin

 

Onwards for the first time along the Peak Forest Canal and it's quite different to any other we've travelled.  It's shallower for one thing, particularly at the edges so not easy to moor up and pull the boat into the bank without the stern at least sticking out into the canal. It's picturesque, on the other hand, lined with woods and with fine views at times over the Goyt valley and to the hills beyond. There are no locks, since it follows the contours of the southern side of the valley.

Wood End lift bridge must be raised and lowered for passing boats; it's operated by a windlass on the offside, so once through Jan waited with the boat while Denis lowered the bridge, recrossed it and got back on board

At Higgins Clough swing bridge, a friendly CRT staffer operated the bridge for us, accompanying our passing with an aria

A little overcast, but it's great to see the moors

 Beautiful stone bridges here

Is that a finger pontoon?

 

Haven't seen this before - a sign warning of Giant Hogweed

 

...and here it is

Little video of the tree lined canal

Treated ourselves to a night at the friendly New Mills Marina.  We bought a bag of coal, anticipating cooler evenings

Overarching woods and a bridge

We passed this boat several times - the owner makes and sells traditional crocheted cabin lace 

 

Furness Vale Marina on the right, facing a row of old 'but and ben' (two roomed) cottages

A long term canalside mooring with neatly stacked wood store

 

Off the mainline Canal and onto the Bugsworth Arm - moored boats making turning a tad tight! 

 

 Cottages near Buxworth as it was renamed in the 1930s, apparently some locals disliked the original.  The basin is stubbornly still known as Bugsworth

Catnap reversed in and moored at Bugsworth Basin - a surprisingly dramatic setting, too

We made it - journey's end!

 

Exploring Bugsworth - the remains of huge limekilns

The third of the three 'fingers' of the basin

 

Absolutely wonderful blue sky

 

Replica tramway wagon - these were used to carry burnt lime, stone and wood

Evening light over Bugsworth

 

The nearby 18th century inn, once owned by Pat Phoenix of Coronation Street fame

Bookshare stall - the top labelled 'Books for Big People'

Wild scabious

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 22 to 34 Bosley to Marple

The remaining 15 or so miles of the Macclesfield Canal takes us north through Macclesfield itself then via various small towns and villages to Marple, where it meets the Peak Forest Canal at a T junction; Manchester (eventually) is to the left, but we'll be taking the right turn and heading south east for just over 5 miles to the Canal's terminus.  Bugsworth Basin is at the end of a short arm before that and everyone who we've talked to says we must see it - so we will.

Map showing the Macclesfield and Peak Forest Canals and the junction at Marple 

Mooring at Macclesfield to collect paint from the local boatyard - looking dull at the moment but it's due to be sunny and we need to catch up with some DIY

 A mile or two north is Bollington, where we stayed a few days to paint.  The canal runs alongside the village on an aquaduct reached up this steep flight...

 

...bit of a workout bringing in the supplies. We're moored just past the Adelphi Mill building, seen here on the right and now offices

Opposite our mooring is Bollington Wharf with hire boats, diesel pump and selling coal and other provisions

 

Painter pausing for tea

 

Fancy a cuppa? 

 

 

I'll just finish this bit

The council meeting at which this was decided must have gone on for ages! The Bollington wildflower meadow

Another view of the Adelphi Mill

 

To the Co-op for yet more provisions - all this painting is giving us a good appetite!

No. 74 is the deli in Bollington, where we bought cheese, chutney...

 

and a delicious sourdough loaf

Eventually on our way again, with Clarence Mill in view at the end of the aquaduct

A sunny day and lovely views over surrounding woods and hills

These two enormous cotton mills must have employed hundreds of people

Both now are home to local businesses, a cafe and community groups

A close shave!

One of several part sunken boats we passed on our travels

Canal and River Trust works to improve the bankside and towpath
 

Jacob's sheep and a cool spot on a warm day

A Dutch barge style - same dimensions as other narrowboats but a different look

More bank improvements, this time dredging and replacing Armco metal piling.  We always look for Armco, as it's so much easier to use our mooring chains to attach to it rather than drive in pins

Tightish squeeze to get past the workboats

The folly just visible in the distance was built as a ruin to improve the view

Beautiful dappled light under the trees here

Mooring for the night and it's obviously been a bad hair day
 

...but the peaceful scene more than compensates

...and this inquisitive drake makes our acquaintance

 

At Higher Poynton is Bailey's Trading Post with a chandlery and cafe...

...the adjacent Lord Vernon's Wharf is home to Braidbar Boats, who build top of the range narrowboats - we've seen many locally, not surprisingly

The marina opposite and ranks of colourful cabins

The name and pictured vessel must have a history

Nicely put

A private mooring overflowing with flowers

It's quite busy today, so attention needed approaching bridges and corners particularly

Passing an elegant old bridge, which once provided access to a local coal pit...

...but now is home to the North Cheshire Cruising Club one of the organisations which campaigned in the 1940s to keep the Canal open

It's ages since we went to a pub!  It would be so nice to sit in the garden in the sun...

Macclesfield Canal Society volunteers restoring and maintaining the towpath

Looks like a good show of pumpkins in this private garden

One for Kay and Kevin

The huge Goyt Mill just before Marple.  We're here for a laundry collection - when we're boating we use laundrettes if possible, but there haven't been any handy and we're running out of clean clothes so we're using a local company which collects and delivers

Mooring before Marple, we walk up to look at the junction with the Peak Forest Canal.  This is the view down the Marple locks (we'll be exiting the bridge and turning right, so going the other way)

The long and narrow exit to the junction

Not sure how this one got in - but it's a plume moth (we now know, having looked it up)

More canalside buildings at the junction

Views over hills - they're beginning to feel like proper hills, too

Pretty stone cottage at the start of the Peak Forest

Old working boats, some more than 100 years old and in various stages of repair and restoration

Jan walked a little way down Marple lock flight - and found this 'horse tunnel' allowing the horse pulling your boat to cross under the road

Below one of the locks

Warehouse built by Samuel Oldknow 'the man who made Marple' - now converted to offices