tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-272080042012-01-27T13:53:43.986ZPhotographs and notes on walking along the canals of EnglandPeternoreply@blogger.comBlogger1541100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-23156817728789713702012-01-17T13:30:00.000Z2012-01-17T13:32:47.475Z

Last weekend I went from Liverpool to York by train. On the way I saw a lot of canals, the Sankey Brook, the Bridgewater, Rochdale, Calder and Hebble, Huddersfield Narrow and Broad and the Leeds and Liverpool Canals. Passing through Manchester city centre I decided it was about time to visit our neighbour's canals. So this weekend I took the train to Manchester Oxford Road. I dont know Manchester

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-8732394042494207422011-11-06T20:05:00.001Z2011-11-09T17:39:32.038Z

Today I stopped by the Ship Inn or Blood Tub at Lathom. The pub has been refurbed since my last visit and has had some good reviews of late. We came here because the Windmill was too busy and had no tables free. But I think fate did us a favour. The Ship was also busy but it's a bigger pub and we found a table. There were six ales on, I had a pint of Tribute, the others were Black Sheep, Nutty

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-76646840733733325552011-10-26T17:14:00.000+01:002011-10-26T17:14:20.162+01:00

As I stand here in the cold and damp I'm too weary to feel sickened by what I am about to do. I have wrestled with my guilt for sometime now but eventually self-pity and self-preservation have overcome it. I never asked for any of this, I could never have known what would happen to me and what I would have to do. My one consoling thought is that whoever I pass my burden onto will one day feel

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-22253950036371540672011-09-11T13:23:00.003+01:002011-09-11T13:46:25.977+01:00

Riding from Liverpool to Leeds along the canal seems to be increasingly popular. Most recently Adam Hope and the Burnley Boys have ridden from Liverpool to Burnley and then Leeds over two days. Here is their account of the ride: http://hop3y.com/2011/09/10/liverpool-to-leeds-on-the-canal-done/ They weren't very lucky with the weather or punctures but if the photos are anything to go by they

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-49909628185913087202011-07-21T16:44:00.000+01:002011-07-21T16:44:49.749+01:00

This week the Museum of Liverpool finally opened, just a year late. It is still not yet fully open but it is well worth a visit. There were lots of people there today, this being the first week it has been open to the public. We got badges and a little flag, something for eBay in 20 years time. It was nice to walk into a museum in Liverpool and not know which way to go or where anything was or

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-66076124948178352062011-07-10T13:25:00.000+01:002011-07-10T13:25:07.579+01:00

Living in Liverpool my nearest canal is obviously the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, and its my favourite. But there is another canal nearby and one I have never visited, the Sankey Brook or St Helens Canal. The Sankey Canal first opened in 1757 linking St Helens with the River Mersey along the valley of the Sankey Brook. It was built to serve the chemical industries in the area. The canal included

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-38850495622776418292011-07-04T16:25:00.001+01:002011-07-04T16:27:33.018+01:00

For a few years now the Leigh Branch page on www.towpathtreks.co.uk has been empty. This was because I had not been along it to take any photographs to put on there. It had always been my plan to cycle the 7 miles of this branch, and this weekend I did just that. The Leigh Branch links the mainline of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Wigan directly to the rest of the national canal network at

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-8542116229559966312011-07-04T00:09:00.000+01:002011-07-04T00:09:32.762+01:00

I like my phone, I like it so much on the rare occasions that I am actually using it as a telephone I often look around for my phone to play with while I am talking. I dont like being away from my phone. I worry about it and find life is not comprehensible without it passing through the prism of my phone.  While cycling I miss my phone, its hard to hold a £500 phone and use it while you ride a

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-86507846393770765122011-06-27T22:36:00.000+01:002011-06-27T22:36:36.944+01:00

I buy things on eBay. Mostly crap I don't need or even want that much. Most recently I had terrible trouble getting a hip flask I didnt really want from Royal Mail. I have it now, its fine. It has the crest of the Fleet Air Arm on it. I am not now nor have I ever been in the Fleet Air Arm. My Grandad was though. I also buy canal related things. If there was a Venn Diagram of the 'Crap I Buy' and

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-76330039266768066142011-06-26T17:20:00.003+01:002011-06-26T19:39:47.061+01:00

Today was the last day of the Burscough Canal Heritage Week. Kennet, the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Short Boat was visiting Burscough, the nearest it has been to Liverpool for a while. So I thought I had better make the effort to get up there and take some photographs. Kennet at Burscough Bridge The towpath was busy and there were lots of boats moored at Burscough. I was pleased to see Ribble had

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-76085996043238307012011-06-05T23:48:00.001+01:002011-06-07T00:00:37.703+01:00

Working in a university library is hardly stressful but it is always nice to have a day off work and go somewhere different. I feel nothing but contempt for most of my colleagues but there are some who I will willingly spend time with outside of work. So last week, my Louise-Brooks-bobbed colleague Clare and I went for a day trip to Chester.The original plan was to do a 6 miles walk in West

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-6676924181361840862011-05-02T12:02:00.002+01:002011-06-05T23:57:25.695+01:00

A few photos from the weekend: my friend Arabel and her drumming friends

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-78619854003855104732011-04-23T10:27:00.002+01:002011-06-06T10:45:24.035+01:00

Occasionally I will buy a postcard or two from ebay. It's a fairly cheap way to buy canal memorabilia and the photographs are an interesting view of the canals in the past. Most postcards are from around 1910 up to the 1950s, with the modern ones being popular in the 1970s.  The last two cards I bought were both from the early 20thC. The first is a French postcard showing French soldiers

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-40947473943740914292011-03-06T21:38:00.000Z2011-03-06T21:38:03.949Z

It was the model boat day at the boat museum today so my dad and I went down to look around. I went to see the big boats, he went to see the little ones. Here are a couple of photographs.

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-88329488537015716252011-03-05T18:51:00.002Z2011-06-07T15:09:11.070+01:00

March is my month of rebooting my New Year resolutions and doing lots of things that may not be enjoyable but are good for me. As part of my Big Plan to sort myself out I decided to start biking again. I haven't been out properly for ages. What better way to kick start the cycling habit than a 34.5 mile ride from Liverpool to Wigan? A statement of intent.  The Start of the Canal in Liverpool

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-64964071923642927152011-02-26T18:49:00.001Z2011-06-06T10:38:20.357+01:00

Myself and the towpathtreks official beer taster, Kate, had an afternoon out at the Liverpool Beer Festival today. We had queued in the snow last year for the tickets and now we were here in the crypt of the Metropolitan Cathedral to drink some beers. To give this day out some sort of canal theme I decided to drink my way along the canal. But before that I had to show my solidarity with fellow

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-22044595462198862002011-01-29T23:24:00.003Z2011-06-06T15:35:12.431+01:00

As part of towpathtreks on going mission to visit the pubs of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal  we headed off to Lancashire. The first pub was Crooke Hall Inn in Standish Lower Ground near Wigan. We parked in the large car park behind the pub. On the canal there were a couple of boats on the move. The canal was frozen and the ducks were walking along on the ice. The Crooke Hall Inn has its back to the

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-43766482389950284642011-01-24T00:37:00.002Z2011-01-25T22:12:45.044Z

After the walk along the towpath and having over done it on the thermals I was a bit warm and ready for a drink. We had parked at the Lock & Quay so planned to have lunch there. The pub building has been here a long time but only shows up on the 1920s OS map as a public house. It was once the Railway, a name that has gone along with the railway itself. If you stand on the canal bridge and look

Peternoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-53705865953213499562011-01-23T22:47:00.004Z2011-06-07T15:52:24.784+01:00

One of the nice things about having my website about the Leeds and Liverpool Canal (and other canals) is the emails I get from people with their own interests. I have had emails from people interested in tunnels, water towers, milestones and World War Two defences. Today I got an email from someone with probably the most specific interest: Skew arch bridges. His interest was in Bridge 74A, a

Peternoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-2632869834953038852011-01-15T23:54:00.001Z2011-06-06T10:51:36.508+01:00

I have slightly redesigned the pub pages on www.towpathtreks.co.uk so I thought I had better do some pub reviews and add some new pubs to the guide. I have a list of about 15 pubs to visit this year. Today with the weather being less than glorious I thought we would try just 3 or 4. We left Liverpool and headed off to the lands where Rugby preferred to Football, Leigh and Wigan. Driving to Leigh

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-86407529367832063592011-01-02T13:24:00.002Z2011-01-02T21:07:49.529Z

This is one of our family home movies of my Dad and Grandad and Rikki the dog taking Dunkirk veteran Albatross to the IWA Rally in Lymm on the Bridgewater Canal in 1972 (before I was born). It is nice to see the number of wooden and fibreglass boats on the canal in the days before the plague of narrowboats. The video shows Dean Locks and Pagefield Lock in Wigan and Barton Swing Aqueduct.

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-48632881432021434602010-10-27T21:26:00.002+01:002011-06-06T16:14:54.290+01:00

The Constitution is right next to the Regents Canal, a short walk along the towpath from Camden Lock. When we got there at Sunday lunchtime there were only a couple of people there. The beer was nice and the garden out the back over looking the canal would be lovely in the sunshine. The Oktoberfest beer was lovely.  I would like to go back to this pub when its busy and have a good night out.

Peternoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-74963817549392711012010-10-27T21:25:00.000+01:002011-06-07T15:56:36.787+01:00

On the Sunday morning we went for a walk. For a change Kate the official, but probably not chronic alcoholic, beer reviewer of towpathtreks.co.uk was coming for a walk rather than a pint. Admittedly we were walking to Camden and a pub but for now she was just walking.  We found the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union and did a lap of Browning's Basin at Little Venice. 

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-25688582847385751122010-10-27T21:24:00.002+01:002011-06-06T16:14:54.295+01:00

We took the tube to Angel, Islington and found our way to the top of the tunnel that takes the Regents Canal underneath Islington. Its a short walk from the tunnel to Wenlock Basin and the Narrow Boat pub. The Narrow Boat is a modern pub with access from the street above or the towpath below. There are windows over looking the Regents Canal and balconies to sit out on in good weather. The pub is

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-83136675925178680612010-10-27T21:23:00.000+01:002010-10-27T21:23:11.706+01:00

The best laid plans of mice and men and towpath trekkers often go tits up. The main purpose of this trip to London was to walk the streets of Whitechapel looking for Jack the Ripper. We picked a guided Ripper walk and decided what to wear weeks ago. It was all planned to the minute, we knew where to go, when to be there and who to meet. During the day we heard the Circle Line was closed. Not a

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-31327163839180810922010-10-25T10:52:00.000+01:002010-10-25T10:52:46.887+01:00

Towpath Treks went to London this weekend. We went to review canal pubs, hunt for Jack the Ripper, find Ophelia and watch the shadows. The trip trod the line between triumph and disaster at all times. We left Liverpool at lunchtime, at least one of the party was slightly hung-over I am ashamed to say. In just 2 hours 20minutes we were in the nations capital and soon after that we were in the

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-11169882677029625772010-09-19T23:12:00.001+01:002011-06-05T23:53:13.470+01:00

Time to add some new pubs to Towpath Treks Canal Pub Guide. You would think that going to a pub, taking a photo of it and having a pint would be top of my list of things to do but it seems to have taken years to get some new pubs on the guide. Too much time spent in other pubs probably. Anyway if we were going to do it we may as well head off to the wrong side of the border and look at the pubs

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-49071956354058352922010-09-11T16:21:00.002+01:002011-06-06T11:20:57.295+01:00

Today I visited the steam tug-tender Daniel Adamson.  From the website of the Daniel Adamson Preservation Society: The DANIEL ADAMSON was constructed as the “Ralph Brocklebank” for the Shropshire Union Canal and Railway Company in 1903 by the Tranmere Bay Development Company. She was one of three new tug-tenders built in the first decade of the 20th Century to operate the S.U.C. & R. Co.

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-9993393607608664242010-08-19T17:20:00.001+01:002011-06-06T10:57:15.902+01:00

Looking down the flight Looking up the flight Looking up the flight A boat waiting to go up in one of the famous side ponds.  Boats locking up the flight Concrete cylinders by the bridge, WW2 vintage. 

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-24130797020146610402010-08-19T14:38:00.002+01:002011-06-07T15:59:04.488+01:00

Bradford on Avon is quite a contrast to its northern namesake near the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. The busy road passing through it is the only drawback to this small Wiltshire town on the Kennet & Avon. What attracted my attention was the Canal Tavern, Lockside Cafe bar and Barge Inn all practically next to each other near to the lock and wharf area on the canal. We parked at the Barge Inn and

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-67819254258890628332010-07-11T11:40:00.006+01:002011-06-06T09:18:14.119+01:00

Walking to the station in Liverpool I couldn't help but notice the number of scousers in suits. Women in Liverpool may be infamous for going to The Asda in their pyjamas but today they were out in their full WAG-a-like outfits. At the station it became obvious that it was race day in Chester. Oh dear. This was a bad day to get the train to Chester to visit the pubs. The train was packed with

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-32211505143282348192010-06-27T00:01:00.001+01:002011-06-06T11:23:19.045+01:00

Today we went to the Windmill Hotel in Parbold for lunch. Sadly I was without the official beer taster so no beer reviews today. But I can say that the food was very good and reasonably priced too. My gammon was lovely, but the burgers looked pretty good too. Its just a shame we had to eat it in the back yard (our fault for bringing a spaniel with us). From what I saw of the inside it is lovely

Peternoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-72662338097787386562010-06-26T23:45:00.003+01:002011-06-06T10:45:24.052+01:00

Today along with www.towpathtreks.co.uk's official (and unpaid) beer reviewer, Kate, I visited 6 pubs on the western end of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal.  The first stop was the New Running Horses in Lydiate. The Running Horses had been a bit run down in recent years but not any more. The pub has had a major refurbishment inside and out. It has even changed colour, no longer white it is now what

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-54771782765004418362010-06-24T16:57:00.004+01:002011-06-07T15:09:11.072+01:00

It took me until the Thursday of my week off to actually get my bike out and get myself down to the canal here in Liverpool. By the time I had got to the canal at Eldonian Village the sun was out and it was nice and warm. The towpath at Eldonian was quiet, just a few dog walkers and some lads fishing.  The surface itself is good, loose gravel, a bit crunchy but good enough. It wasnt long before I

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-61437208440140242572010-06-20T21:20:00.000+01:002010-06-20T21:20:12.052+01:00

This weekend was spent in Cambridge. The first time I have been there and I enjoyed it a lot. There are some interesting boats on the river, some nice wooden cruisers, but not as many really expensive boats as I would have expected. Plenty of floating liveaboard sheds. Punting on the Cam is jolly fun they say, and it is still popular even in the rain. I was a bit unlucky with the weather and

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-91245810723704764532010-06-05T20:57:00.000+01:002011-06-06T10:45:24.056+01:00

Bank Hall Colliery Burnley Depot Unloading coal at Whitebirk Power Station the Lancaster Canal more old photographs of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal and the Lancaster Canal can be seen here: http://www.towpathtreks.co.uk/About/old_canal_photographs.html

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-27309578233191579182010-05-16T17:40:00.000+01:002011-06-07T15:53:36.376+01:00

Today was just a short stroll on the towpath in the sunshine.  Boats of the MMBC The New Marina at Scarisbrick Wooden Canal Boats Wooden boat Lilith My old boat the Pride of Sefton coming through the bridge.  Blue Bells in the Woods Arty shot of bark This graffiti must be almost 30 years old now, it did say TED NUGENT 

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-46577913007146007882010-04-03T14:44:00.002+01:002011-06-06T10:45:24.060+01:00

David Turner and  Paul Willan are about to embark on their toughest challenge yet.  Running the Leeds to Liverpool Canal.  They will be running the canal in blocks of at least 26 miles over a 5 day period, starting off in Liverpool and over 4 weeks, running a marathon a week (2 in the first week) we will run to Leeds.   Paul says "My charity is Derain House Childrens Hospice based in Chorley,

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-56445688685606109682010-03-09T22:54:00.000Z2011-06-06T11:00:48.990+01:00

Mile Posts The Ellesmere Port Boat Museum has some interesting displays. One is a collection of wooden patterns for metal items like lock gate hinges, and mile posts. The milepost pattern is adaptable, the places and numbers could be changed for each mile.  The patterns were made out of different woods, yellow pine, box wood, lime wood or jelutong. These woods were easy to carve and could be

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-84266670503976900802010-03-09T22:11:00.000Z2011-06-06T11:00:05.467+01:00

Scorpio L&L Wide/Short Boat A Raised Wreck L&L Barge

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-62462586506859708662010-03-07T18:00:00.001Z2011-06-05T23:55:26.312+01:00

Today there was a model boat meeting at Ellesmere Port Boat Museum. The good thing about this was the reduced admission price to the museum, £3.00. When the model boaters played with their little boats I walked around and had a look at the big boats.  Bigmere by the little boats Bacup looking very smart Mossdale looking a bit tatty the bones of a boat cabin door Ethel

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-13798321452258927992010-02-20T13:50:00.000Z2010-02-20T13:50:08.259Z

Royal Mail have moved our parcel collection office to Sandhills, so now we have to drive to collect our undelivered mail rather than walk. Its not too far though and gives me the chance to stop by the huge Chinese supermarket to buy MSG filled snacks. The Royal Mail building is on the site of an timber yard which was crossed over head by the goods railway line to the docks. Opposite is the

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-84199200319948437962010-02-14T16:28:00.002Z2011-06-06T10:45:24.064+01:00

Just a short walk from Parbold up to Dean Locks and back today. We managed to squeeze into the car park by Parbold Bridge. The towpath was muddy and slippy but popular with cyclists and walkers. There were few signs of Spring on the towpath, just some catkins and the odd pair of mallards.  We walked up to Dean Locks where a restaurant boat was waiting to lock up. Two boats were coming down. The

Peternoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-24864816681568039842010-02-13T20:05:00.003Z2011-06-07T18:24:05.809+01:00

Today we took the train from Liverpool to Chester. 100 years (and two days) ago LTC Rolt was born in Chester so a trip to Chester seemed fitting. Added to that was the chance to have a nice lunch and see a few of the city's public houses.  From the station its a short walk to the canal, straight ahead up City Road. We crossed the bridge over the canal and then went down to the towpath and

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-53224146195820587452010-01-16T13:05:00.006Z2011-06-06T15:43:18.482+01:00

Parbold Farmers Arms Great Score Martins Lane Heaton's Bridge Heaton's Bridge Heaton's Bridge

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-87266164251219978692010-01-03T20:37:00.004Z2011-06-06T00:00:53.521+01:00

I was very pleased to see the Scarisbrick Arms has re-opened. For over two years now it has been closed and looking very sorry for itself. Now it is open again and had a refurbishment. The bar and restaurant are now open. Work on the garden by the canal will be done in time for the summer season. It will eventually provide bed and breakfast. I haven't had chance to go and see how the refurb has

Peternoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-66717313784988447492009-12-31T18:18:00.004Z2011-06-06T10:57:15.906+01:00

The Shroppie Fly, we had lunch here and it was very nice. One of the original mileposts on the Shropshire Union Canal.Lock number 10 of the 15 locks at Audlem. St.James Church, late 13th century with additions in the 19th century. In front of the church is the Butter Market and the Bear Stone. The stone once had bears chained to it for baiting.

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-21298452260613690722009-12-31T13:47:00.002Z2011-06-06T11:00:48.994+01:00

Just had a very nice and filling chicken ham and leek pie and chips. We are sat next to the open fire and in no hurry to leave.

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-72893116031066798842009-11-28T23:18:00.004Z2011-06-06T11:01:24.085+01:00

I now have a new bike so I can cycle along the towpath of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal without too much fear of my bike falling to pieces. Its been a while since I last did any cycling so it might take me a few weeks to get back up to speed. All I need is the right weather... As well as cycling I am re-walking Liverpool to Leeds. So I can create a mile by mile guide to the towpath. It will tell

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-58441884723008374572009-10-31T20:00:00.006Z2011-06-07T15:58:26.085+01:00

After this mornings walk, this afternoons drive was a bit easier. We went to Parbold first to get a photograph of the newly refurbished Windmill pub, I didnt have time to go inside, but will be back. Next we headed to the former Walton Summit Branch to take a photo of the bridge next to the Duke of York pub. There is a photo of this bridge with the pub in the background, and a boat on the

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-59454047713646094682009-10-31T14:16:00.011Z2011-06-06T11:14:34.907+01:00

It is hard to believe that it is November tomorrow, the sky is blue and the sun is warm. Quite a lot of our summer days werent as nice as this. Altogether a perfect day for a walk on the canal. We got the train from Liverpool Central to Bootle New Strand and walked to the canal, joining the towpath by the 3 miles milepost. a complaint about poor education standards maybe. The towpath is in

Peternoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-56055473052915950622009-10-17T13:20:00.003+01:002011-06-06T10:45:24.080+01:00

Quite a bit has changed on the Leeds & Liverpool in the last year or so. Marinas have been dug out, new bridges built and canal side properties have been put up and torn down. So I am walking from Liverpool to Leeds again to see what has happened and to up-date www.towpathtreks.co.ukToday I woke up in the mood for a walk so with my new Lowepro camera rucksack on my back I headed through Liverpool

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-78794014756334229382009-08-15T21:49:00.006+01:002011-06-06T10:50:08.179+01:00

We parked in the big pay and display car park by the beach in Bude. It was a very hot and sunny day. The beach was busy with tourists, the sea full of swimmers and surfers, and the sea lock was surrounded by people fishing for crabs and enjoying one of our unpredictable days of sunshine. We walked up to Falcon Bridge and went to the Canal Information Centre. I bought a walking guide there for

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-30670960073696264322009-08-11T16:34:00.002+01:002011-06-07T15:54:19.730+01:00

Today looked like it had the potential to either be very nice and sunny or go back to rain and cloud. Luckily by the time we arrived at Tavistock it had decided to be a hot sunny day. The canal in the Meadows was full of ducks being fed bread. Although yesterday it had rained all day the towpath wasnt too bad. The water level in the canal was down, but that exposes the sides of the channel and

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-3771259603154859772009-08-07T21:39:00.005+01:002011-06-07T15:23:57.516+01:00

Today we met the Albatross at the Saracens Head. There is a new sign by the Nudey Navvy which tells you all about building a canal. At long last Halsall is getting its recognition as the starting place of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. The new sign at HalsallWhile we drove back to Southport Albatross carried on to the Farmers Arms. There were some electricians working on the bridge, there had been

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-82667402871805747132009-08-07T21:38:00.002+01:002011-06-06T15:51:54.477+01:00

Photos from our trip along the new canal in the docks.Along the channel, looking back to Salisbury DockOne of the new bridges Leaving the lock and entering the tunnelThe Tunnel under the new MuseumIn Salthouse DockA pair of ducks.

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-22826282980277423012009-08-04T20:43:00.012+01:002011-06-06T15:57:14.962+01:00

Today Albatross sailed from Eldonian Village to Salthouse Dock. I walked down in the morning to meet them at Eldonian Village. On the way I passed the Green Man, made famous by the Boys From the Black Stuff. Its about the only pub on this road that is still in business as a pub. The boat and crew had survived the night intact. Troy had put his life jacket on, it means he cant bend in the middle

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-38516633414085892832009-08-03T20:38:00.003+01:002011-06-07T15:59:33.207+01:00

Albatross returns to the end of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. Troy is more interested in playing ball than anything to do with canals. The local kids were pulling down a tree, they had been doing it since 10am and by 6pm they had just managed to get it horizontal across the car park. Some others were having fun in canoes. All kids are the same, knocking on a boats windows and running (or paddling)

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-54310162947430084902009-08-02T19:23:00.006+01:002011-06-07T15:23:57.519+01:00

As part of the on-going mission to take the Albatross to the Albert Dock today we were going from Heatons bridge at Scarisbrick to Hancocks bridge near Aintree. My role today was opening the swingbridges. This end of the Leeds & Liverpool is infamous for its swingbridges. Today there were six to get through.I dropped the captain of the boat off at Heatons Bridge and while the crew sailed on

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-14302418245529957892009-07-18T19:27:00.005+01:002011-06-07T15:23:57.521+01:00

Today I was press-ganged into the crew of the Albatross to help with the swing bridges. We were moving the boat from Parbold to Scarisbrick. In a couple of weeks the Albatross will be going to Liverpool and down to Albert Dock via the new canal. There were plenty of boats on the move, the new canal linking the docks in Liverpool seems to be bringing boats to this quiet stretch of canal.The swing

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-48712593661673639042009-06-30T22:33:00.004+01:002011-06-07T15:54:39.199+01:00

It was a sunny Sunday when we went to Llangollen. We paid a cheap £1 for 3 hours and had a walk around town, visiting the huge second hand book shop. We then went up to the canal for lunch before walking towards Horseshoe Falls. We didnt quite have time to get to the end of the canal before we had to turn around and head back to the car.The Llangollen Canal near its terminus is similar to the

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-36709198559311257522009-05-25T17:42:00.005+01:002011-06-06T11:19:49.380+01:00

Bank Holiday Monday and todays mission was to find what remains of the Walton Summit Branch of the Leeds Liverpool Canal. The branch ran from the main line at Johnsons Hillock to a transhippment basin at Walton Summit where cargoes were swapped over to wagons which crossed the River Ribble on a tramway.  The tramway was a cheaper alternative to a large aqueduct. The branch was last used in the

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-46027723485559670522009-05-24T19:14:00.008+01:002011-06-06T10:53:34.843+01:00

Bank Holiday weekend, the weather forecast was good so where else is there to be other than the towpath. The crew of the Albatross spent the night by the Shady Oak at Bate's Mill, bridge 109 on their way to Ellesmere Port. The plan for today was to get the train to Chester and walk along the towpath to meet the boat coming along the canal the other way. This being a bank holiday there were even

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-4615375336393332672009-04-06T20:13:00.006+01:002011-06-06T16:14:54.299+01:00

This weekend I was down in London to see some friends and while there finish off the Regents Canal. I got up early Sunday morning and had a full English breakfast to fuel my trek. From Euston Station it is fairly simple to get to the canal at Camden Lock. I walked up Eversholt Street, along side the station, which turns into Camden High Street. The weather was perfect, it wasn't yet nine am but

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-39762083323846196702009-03-15T18:08:00.007Z2011-06-06T15:40:28.974+01:00

Today's plan was for me and Troy to be dropped off at Ellesmere Port at the Boat Museum and then walk to Chester to be picked up again. Ellesmere Port was a transhipment centre, here the canal network meets the Manchester Ship Canal and the River Mersey. Unfortunately the milepost at the museum is just inside the fence so Troy couldn't pose for a photo in front of it. As usual my camera batteries

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-18370174468997024082009-02-23T21:38:00.003Z2009-02-23T21:42:39.023Z

New pontoons have been put into the south docks to provide moorings for the boats visiting Liverpool via the new dock link.

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-67761368719950670552009-01-06T08:49:00.003Z2011-06-06T11:19:49.386+01:00

What better way to spend a winters Sunday than on the towpath. We parked at Botany Bay and walked up to the Top Lock to have a drink. Its a very nice pub and well recommmended. We had a quick look at the footpath along the former Walton Summit Branch for future reference then back to the car. The canal was frozen and the ducks were waddling along in single file looking most put out.

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-64694300094391564412009-01-06T08:43:00.008Z2011-06-06T09:18:44.721+01:00

On Saturday we went to look at the dock link which is very nearly finished now. Above is the new bridge linking Princes Dock with Princes Half Tide Dock. Before it was completely blocked off, now there is a new concrete bridge to allow boats through. This is the new lock in the dock. This is where boats will enter the lock in Princes Dock and then the tunnel under St Nicholas Place. This is

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-8757887050010379832008-12-02T13:03:00.005Z2011-06-07T18:26:24.325+01:00

The lock in the dock is looking almost finished. The wooden decking looks very nice but I wonder what it will be like to walk on in the wet or frost. The south basin is now complete and open for people to look around. It looks very nice but the varnish from the wooden seats has already stained the stonework. It cant be long before the whole pier head is open. The museum is nearing completion but

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-81330905567697683032008-09-21T18:40:00.001+01:002011-06-06T10:34:44.569+01:00

Today Troy went for a walk along the canal from the Saracens Head up to the Halsall Cutting.

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-91109594769970613062008-09-21T18:37:00.002+01:002011-06-06T10:34:44.572+01:00

Today I went to Chester to have a look at the postcard fair with the hope of finding some showing the Leeds & Liverpool canal or any interesting scenes of Southport and Liverpool. At the moment we are having some overdue summer days. It was warm and sunny in Chester. I only managed to find one canal postcard at the fair. It shows one of the locks on the Rufford Branch. After the postcard fair I

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-38730473186529030942008-09-06T17:38:00.001+01:002008-10-11T10:19:28.445+01:00

Today we were sailing on the Shropshire Union Canal, joining the return trip of the Albatross on its way back from Chester to its home marina in Nantwich. We met the Albatross at Bates Mill Bridge #109. The bridge is typical of the brick bridges on this canal. Next to the bridge is the Shady Oak pub. The pub has a large car park and a caravan site next door. The pub does food and has

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-85557574032129057062008-08-23T16:42:00.002+01:002008-08-23T16:44:23.611+01:00

In 2002 Ajmail and Sudarghara Dusanj saved Liverpool’s Cains brewery from closure when they acquired it from the Danish Brewery Group. The brewery had previously been owned by Whitbread and the site was once owned by Higsons whose name appears in the Victorian terracotta on the building.In May 2007 Cains Beer Company was created when Robert Cain & Co Brewery acquired Honeycombe Leisure in a

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-60583590150710617862008-08-09T19:03:00.007+01:002011-06-06T10:50:28.021+01:00

The weather forecast for today was bad but we decided to drive to Bude anyway. We parked near the beach in a pay and display car park. The rain never stopped but did ease off enough to tempt us out of the car. There are what look like WW2 concrete defences around the edge of the carpark along the sand dunes. We walked over the sandy beach to the River Neet and the canal's Sea Lock. There were

Peternoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-86035399959623994082008-08-09T19:02:00.009+01:002011-06-06T15:40:04.467+01:00

7th August 2008 We planned to do two walks in one day, one either side of the tunnel through Morewellham Down on the Tavistock Canal. The first part of the day was a walk from the canal wharf in Tavistock along the canal to the junction with the long disused Mill Hill branch, then up to Mill Hill following the route of the canal as much as possible. At Mill Hill Quarry we would then walk back

Peternoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-77569368864633485502008-08-09T19:02:00.007+01:002011-06-06T10:34:44.580+01:00

7th AugustA Visit to the Morewellham Quay and the Tavistock Canal tunnel.We drove to Morwellham Quay and parked in their large car park. Their leaflets say the car parking is £2.00 but we weren’t asked for money and didn’t offer any. You can walk around the site and nature trails for free or pay £8.50 to go on the guided trips of the mines, boats and school house. We chose to go for free and just

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-54530684084730120472008-08-02T19:06:00.004+01:002011-06-06T11:21:41.346+01:00

Today we had a quick pub lunch and walk at the Ship Haskayne. The pub was quiet when we got there at lunchtime, the staff outnumbered the customers. We had a ham sandwich and bacon/chicken/brie panini both with chips and salad. The sandwiches were okay, the chips were nice. I didnt get chance to try the beer but the bar had a good selection of Southport beers.The food came quickly and the staff

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-53171867194344069822008-07-30T09:28:00.004+01:002011-06-06T10:45:24.092+01:00

Liverpool brewers Cains are in financial trouble, there last figures showed a loss of £4.6m and they are waiting to hear from their bank. With their future in doubt it is a concern for the pubs they recently took onboard. The Ship or Blood Tub at Burscough is a Cains pub I believe.Added to the Cains problems is the news that the Running Horses has recently shut and is up for sale.The rise in

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-78996697286791175602008-07-19T17:40:00.004+01:002008-07-19T18:21:31.920+01:00

My sometimes fellow towpath trekker Honey is no longer with us. She holidayed on board the Albatross and found it hard getting on and off but enjoyed the towpaths. She preferred the Ainsdale sand dunes to the canals. We had some nice walks and some slow toddles in the last few years. I will miss her lots.

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-87777429718522638792008-07-07T10:35:00.002+01:002011-06-06T10:45:24.096+01:00

Yesterday we had hoped to go to the canal for a walk but the weather was so changable we couldnt tell whether it was going to pour down or have a heat wave. We headed towards some blue sky and away from the huge black cloud with mini tornados under it. We parked at Halsall by the Halsall Navvy. It was raining a bit and on the horizon towards Ormskirk the sky was black and it must have been

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-25852052002898525372008-06-21T09:39:00.004+01:002011-06-06T10:45:24.100+01:00

Monday 16th JuneAfter waking up far too early and then dozing for too long afterwards we went to the Riveresque Cafe by Leeds Bridge for breakfast. We had the small breakfast which was 2 eggs, 2 bacon, 2 sausage, 2 toast and beans, for £3.95 a bargin compared tot he large breakfast for £5.95 which just had mushrooms and tomatoes.After breakfast we checked out of the hotel and left our luggage at

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-50171217954012617692008-06-19T11:04:00.006+01:002011-06-07T15:57:29.863+01:00

Sunday 15th June After a quick breakfast at the hotel we headed off to the station. There was some confusion about which one of the two trains on platform was the one we wanted but at 8:40 we got on the Morecambe train and set off to Shipley. The trains route follows the canals and from the train I managed to spot a half milepost on the towpath. The railway cheats and goes through a tunnel where

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-68293790071947976972008-06-17T16:46:00.002+01:002011-06-06T10:45:24.109+01:00

This weekend I completed my walk from Liverpool to Leeds, from Old Hall Street and Pall Mall to River Lock and the Aire and Calder Navigation. Strolling, walking and trekking 127.25 miles along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, albeit in different stages over a couple of years.Saturday 14th JuneWe left Liverpool at 9:22 am on Saturday from Lime Street Station. From the train I saw the canals at

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-33679903299757011792008-05-18T19:33:00.003+01:002011-06-06T10:45:24.113+01:00

After lunch we parked by Burscough Bridge. I took some photos of the new street furniture in Burscough and of the Waterfront pub. We walked up to the Farmers Arms, taking photos of the Slipway on the way. As we walked we had a look at the wild flowers on the towpath. Most were known to us but there were plenty we needed to look up.I was surprised to see that the half mile and 22 mile post have

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-47401056802531830432008-05-18T19:06:00.002+01:002011-06-06T11:22:08.129+01:00

Although I have walked passed the Ring O' Bells pub many times I have never set foot inside it until today. We parked in the pubs car park. Rather surprisingly for a Sunday lunchtime the pub was almost empty. There was plenty of choice of where to sit in the large dining area. We sat by the window over looking the fied with the sheep. The sheep have very impressive horns and look prehistoric.

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-60254587204053822922008-05-12T11:15:00.001+01:002008-05-12T11:15:35.351+01:00

I have recently started collection canal memorabilia. Today I got a couple of pre-war postcards of the canal in Maghull. I also got an invoice and letter from the Leeds Liverpool Canal Company regarding transportation of olive oil from Liverpool to Bradford in 1919. Hopefully I will put some of these items on www.towpathtreks.co.uk when it is relaunched.

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-86831753333797881862008-05-12T11:05:00.000+01:002011-06-06T10:45:24.121+01:00

It was a sunny Sunday today, well at least until the barbeque was lit this afternoon. I wanted to walk the route of the third of my walks I have written for people to download from www.towpathtreks.co.uk. I wanted to check the walk was easy to follow and see how long it took. And if there was anything interesting along the way I could add it in.The walk starts at Old Hall Street but we parked at

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-3665885322401477622008-05-09T11:15:00.003+01:002011-06-06T15:41:41.902+01:00

As it was a sunny summer evening and with a birthday to celebrate it seemed a good opportunity to go to the newly refurbished Sarcacens Head at Halsall.From the outside not too much has changed. The pub now has a modern sign and some nice new wooden seating. The pub is lucky to have a large car park at the back so there was no problem finding somewhere to park. The pub re-opened 8 weeks ago and

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-56614763027833025852008-05-05T15:35:00.003+01:002011-06-06T11:24:02.638+01:00

Bank Holiday Monday and it isn't raining so it was off to the canal for towpath trek. Its been a while since I have had a walk on the canal and it was nice to be back.We parked on the small car park next to Halsall Warehouse Bridge over the canal from the Saracens Head pub. We walked towards Scarisbrick to see how the new marina was progressing. The sky was grey and it was warm and a bit humid.

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-90249232226387569482008-03-29T08:26:00.002Z2011-06-06T11:12:06.393+01:00

In the archives at work we found boxes of papes and photographs belonging to the late Dr Dennis Chapman. There are hundreds of photographs of Scandinavian fishing boats and various ports and harbour around the world. Some of the prints are from photos taken a 100 years ago. Among the photos there are some of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal taken in the 1960's. The photos are of the canal in Shipley,

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-65158450228018974482008-03-01T10:53:00.002Z2011-06-06T10:34:44.606+01:00

I have just found this site: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/ that allows you to map your walks so here is the walk we did in London: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1664074 It lets you use maps, google earth or the hybrid of the two.

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-18695140005254472592008-02-28T09:53:00.000Z2011-06-06T16:14:54.304+01:00

Last time I was in London we walked from the western entrance of Islington tunnel on the Regent’s Canal to Camden Lock and then back to the Canal Museum. This time I planned to walk from Limehouse Basin, formerly Regents Canal Dock, to eastern side of the Islington Tunnel and then over the top to the other side.To get to Limehouse I had planned to take the DLR from Bank underground station to

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-54988557922386369492008-02-18T17:09:00.000Z2011-06-06T11:19:49.391+01:00

A cold and frosty February morning is perfect for a towpath trek. It has been a while since I had a decent walk by the canal so this sunny Sunday it was off to Johnson’s Hillock locks to stretch the legs and refresh the lungs. The area around Johnsons Hillock and Withnell Fold is the George Birtill country. In the 1960s George Birtill wrote lots of books about walking around Lancashire and the

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-23842928235528422412008-01-09T16:22:00.000Z2011-06-06T10:45:24.141+01:00

With the engineering work on the Airedale line completed it was time to return to Saltaire and do the walk we had hoped to do last year. The weather reports for today had changed from “sunny intervals” to “sunny” and back again for the last few days so we were hoping for good weather. As we left Liverpool the sky was blue and the sun shining, perfect for walking on the canal. Along the motorway

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-51324682293498969562007-12-04T18:01:00.001Z2007-12-04T18:02:06.635Z

My website hosts are having problems so I cannot update my website this week, normal service will be resumed asap.

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-10034839477999739642007-11-29T15:18:00.000Z2011-06-07T15:23:57.523+01:00

Off work today and away from my evil line manager, so it was off to the towpath to look for more World War Two defences. After seeing the very informative website http://www.worldwar2defences.co.uk/ I wanted to get photos of a couple of pill boxes I have missed in the past. I parked on the road by the MMBC clubhouse and walked Liverpool-wards. Along the way I noticed the wall with bricked up

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-79931169264086569102007-11-17T12:48:00.000Z2011-06-06T16:14:54.309+01:00

This week I have been down to London to visit my friend Katie and do some towpath trekking on The Regents Canal. After visiting the newly refurbished and very impressive St Pancras Station and platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross Station we walked to the canal near the London Canal Museum. The museum doesn’t open till 10am so being early we headed to the towpath. The Museum is off Wharfdale Road, we

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-24742965801154589162007-11-05T09:59:00.000Z2011-06-06T10:45:24.145+01:00

Today’s plan was to drive to Saltaire and park at Salts Mill. Then take the train from Saltaire to Keighley and walk the 6 or 7 miles back to the car via the famous Bingley Five Rise. As we drove out of Liverpool there was no avoiding the fog, by the time we were on the M62 all the traffic had their fog lights on. So much for the landscape photos from the top of the Five Rise I had planned. But

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-34273525537915243602007-10-28T16:59:00.000Z2011-06-07T15:23:57.525+01:00

Just a short walk at Haskayne today, we parked by the Pride of Sefton's moorings and walked up to the cutting. The pill box by the cutting is being slowly revealed by the falling leaves. It looks to be circular brick built with loop holes all the way around. A few more weeks and hopefully it will be photogenic.Under Halsall hill bridge there are numbers and letters carved into the stones, the

Peternoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27208004.post-24108162982156095942007-10-21T15:19:00.000+01:002011-06-06T15:51:54.483+01:00

Just a brief visit to the dock link today. It's a shame my back has put me out of action, no trekking this weekend despite the sunshine. I got to go behind the barricades and saw the foundations and water tower of the new museum and the canal channel which will link the south basin and mann island basin.Stopped off to photo the bridge on Chisenhale Street. Looking from the side you can still see

Peternoreply@blogger.com0