A winter short break
The Dane Valley and the Dukes Cut
Locks-4 Miles-27.5 Hours-11 (Plus return)
Day One.
Arrive at the boat yard in the afternoon and spend a little while organising and making yourself at home.
Boating is very easy and your instructor will teach you everything you need to know about the boat and how to work the locks.
You potter off slowly but you quickly feel your body slowing down to a relaxed state.
You are on the outskirts of town here so you can enjoy all of the amenities. The usual mix of take-aways of course but you can’t beat a meal in the White Bear, good seasonal menu with superb real ales and wines. www.thewhitebearmiddlewich.co.uk
You are probably moored outside The Big Lock Pub which offers good quality family fare for somewhere convenient www.thebiglockpub.com or you could go to Chimichangos Mexican restaurant, get everyone a large sombrero and party on Tequila! www.chimichangos.com
the opposite end of the spectrum, you could motor on for another few minutes to Bramble Cuttings, which is a little canal side picnic area in the middle of nowhere. Not accessible by road, you can enjoy a meal cooked aboard using the fully equipped kitchen in tranquil solitude. There’s always a huge choice when you’re boating our routes.
Day Two.
The next day set off up the Trent and Mersey Canal following the Dane Valley, whose beauty rivals any canal in the world. Keep an eye open for a streak of electric blue ahead of the boat there are many king fishers here.
By late morning you will make it to the outskirts of Northwich. Here it becomes more industrial and you pass through the centre of a chemical works that processes the locally important Salt. Similarly, you will soon come to the Lion salt works, which famously won a TV competition for a huge Heritage Lottery grant to be converted to a tourist attraction. www.lionsaltworks.org
As you follow in the wake of the old salt barges you will soon come to the Anderton Boat lift. One of the seven wonders of the waterways, it was once described as a Heath Robinson like contraption but in truth is a true feat of Victorian engineering and is well worth a stop for a closer look. There is a visitor centre with café here for lunch too. http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/anderton-boat-lift?gclid=CJTMyaKdh7sCFQTItAodYFQAoQ or the newly refurbished Stanley Arms http://www.stanleyarmsnorthwich.co.uk/
You set off lazily for the afternoon heading back into the countryside. No locks for a while but the kids will love the pair of tunnels.
Motor for an hour at the most and you come close to Bluebell Cottage Gardens with Tea Room and Nursery (Downhill from bridge 213). Run by a winner of BBC gardener of the year.
http://www.bluebellcottage.co.uk/index.shtml
You can moor here for the night or push on through the Preston Brook tunnel if the timing is right. (The tunnel is one way and changes direction every half hour)
As you set off for day three you come to Preston Brook junction. Take the right here for The Bridgewater Canal. This is the first canal in the country. Built in 1761 by the third Duke of Bridgewater to move coal from his mines at Worsley to fuel the early industrial revolution, this was the first canal and a model for those that followed. It marked the beginning of the often called ‘golden age of the canals’ 1760-1830 before the rise of the train took away the trade.
Potter on through the town areas and you will arrive at Lymm by the afternoon look out for the turning point. The image of Lymm is coloured by it’s association with the M6/M56 services but in truth it’s a lovely little village. There are shops handy here to re-stock, along with a few boutique types. For eating, there are a number of restaurants and a superb independent bakery with delicatessens and tea room. Perhaps you will time it to go to the Lymm Dickensian Festival on December the 14th? http://lymm.com/
Day Three
Well, it’s time to think about heading back. Though you’re on the same canals, they’ll look different in reverse and it may pass more quickly.
Head back for the tunnels, with about six hours motoring to do today you have time to call in on anything you missed on the way out or perhaps
visit anything again that you enjoyed. Aim to be at Acton Bridge this afternoon. Bridge 207-209 are good places to moor up for the night close to the Leigh Arms for good pub grub http://www.leigharms.co.uk/content/ If you’re early enough there is also Davenports Farm shop and tea rooms.
http://davenportsfarmshop.co.uk/
You could cook something special from the farm shop, if you have a boat with a multi fuel stove, get it lit and roaring for that bone penetrating heat you can’t get any other way
Day Four
Similar to day three, there’s plenty of time to revisit somewhere or pull over for an afternoon nap.
Aim to be back through the first Middlewich Lock tonight parked somewhere near the Big Lock Pub.
During the winter, boats are often not due straight back out. Why not give the yard a call and see what time you need to be back.
Day Five
Just an hour or so to motor today including the three locks, enjoy the final few minutes and bring the boat back as close as you can to the yard so it’s nice and easy for you to unload your bags.
Middlewich Narrowboats – The fastest way to slow down
Anderton Lift Cosy boat with central heating and multi fuel stove
Boatsman's Cabin and oven/stove
Ash multi-fuel stove
Reflection
Devonport's Farm Shop
