Upper Mill to Dukinfield Junction

Fri 27^th May  Upper Mill to Roaches Lock

We set off at just after 9am and were soon negotiating the first lock of the day, no 21W.  This is right by the road, which crosses the canal immediately below the lock.  There is no room for a lock beam, and the gate mechanism is unusual

Upper Mill

Lock by the road

Lock gate mechanism

We found there was plenty of water rushing over the locks and down the bypass weirs, but still we were churning up sediment on the bottom.  We discovered a new marina, a supermarket and a pub, all built since 2007, just before bridge 80.

Plenty of water

 New Marina, pub, and Tesco

We stopped on visitor mooring bollards just below Roaches Lock, where there is a large area of water, a bit like the Cheshire flashes on the Trent and Mersey.  The canal may be wide here, but it is not deep, and there seemed to be a ledge or submerged object which prevented us getting the boat into the side.  We had to use the plank so Hugo could get off.  Other than that, it was a lovely place to moor.

Moorings at Roaches Lock

James went for a walk in the steep woods on the other side, where an old railway line has become a well used path.  He found a boundary marker dating from when the London and Northwest Railway Company took over the Huddersfield and Manchester Railway Company in 1847, who in turn had bought the navigation in 1845.

Boundary marker

It was a very peaceful mooring except for some loud talking and giggling lads walking home from the pub at around midnight.

7 locks, 2 miles

Sat 28th May  Roaches Lock to Grove Road Bridge

We didn’t have far to go today so we made a leisurely start.  We had discovered that the noisy lads last night had let off our bow rope, but the canal was so shallow that we hadn’t moved at all.  Our ropes float on the surface.

Early morning at Roaches Lock

Moored at Roaches Lock

There are a lot of mills on this canal, and we passed an extremely tall chimney by Woodend Lock 14W.  At 13W we had been warned about a bollard which was a trip hazard, but James had no problem, and couldn’t see which bollard could have caused the difficulty.  Soon after this there is a scenic section featuring the short Scout Tunnel.

Very tall chimney

Approaching Scout Tunnel

The last lock of the day was 9W, which we had marked in our guide with the word “beware”. Two boats have sunk in this lock, because the pound above has been too low, and the boats have stuck on the upper cill either leaving or entering. The bottom gates had leaked badly, draining the lock and tipping the other end of the boat down into the lock, which was deep.  There was no water shortage for us, and we had no problems.  We noticed that C&RT had put up a notice warning boats not to proceed if the levels were low.

Black Rock Lock 9W

9W deep

We moored just after Grove Road Bridge, where there are facilities and visitor moorings. We had to ask one boat to move along so that we could fit in.

Hazel put out the washing, but had to bring it all in again a bit later because of some pungent smoke.  James went to investigate and found a skip full of rubbish on fire, with some bushes nearby also alight.  He called the Fire Service, and was very impressed when the team arrived within about three minutes.

Fire Brigade

 Skip on fire

6 locks, 2 miles

Sun 29th May  Grove Road Bridge to Dukinfield Junction

It was a lovely sunny day, which was good as we were expecting visitors.  We spoke to a guy on Cavalier, moored behind us.  He is the drummer in a band called Lazlo Baby, who are playing at the Middlewich Folk Festival.  He went to fill the lock ready for his departure and then decided to fill his water tank.  While he was doing this, another boat came up and emptied the lock again.  When they came up in the lock, we found ourselves on the bottom as the pound was lower.

We discovered that the Elsan was out of order (another one!) so once again we emptied a cassette down the loo. 

Moored at Grove Road Bridge

Elsan out of order

Just before midday our visitors arrived: our daughter Amanda, her boyfriend Nigel plus his daughter Sophie.

Our first lock was 8W, only a few yards away, and another boat was coming up in the lock. Hazel pushed out from the side to avoid a further grounding.

The lock was followed by a narrow cutting with deep steel piling, taking the canal under an electricity pylon. An unusual experience.

 First lock 8W

Pylon across the canal

Under the pylon

Nigel Amanda Sophie

We finally saw a dipper, flying towards us, and going over our heads. We also saw our first yellow iris of the season.

 Flag

We were soon coming into Stalybridge, where we had planned to have lunch. We moored opposite Tesco, and went to Wetherspoons.  Setting off once more, we discovered lots of bridges and three more locks before leaving the town.  The canal was restored in 2000, having been officially abandoned in 1944, and culverted through the town in 1947.  The restoration was a major achievement.

 Stalybridge

Bridges in Stalybridge

Amanda at the helm

 Tame Aqueduct

We arrived at our final lock on the Huddersfield, no 1W, before going underneath an ASDA store in a new tunnel.  We moored on some rings just before Dukinfield Junction.

Lock 1W

ASDA Tunnel

Moored in Dukinfield

Our visitors left us here to find a taxi back to their car. Later we went for a stroll to look at the historic boats in Portland Basin, opposite Dukinfield Junction, where the Peak Forest Canal comes down from Marple.

Dukinfield Junction

Portland Basin

8 locks, 3 miles

Next time: Along the Ashton Canal and down the Rochdale Nine into Castlefield, Manchester.