UK Canal Boating

Navigational Notes
Saltersford Tunnel
Tunnel entry is as follows:
Northbound (Saltersford Tunnel to Preston Brook) - Entry on the hour until 20 minutes past the hour.
Southbound (Saltersford Tunnel to Barnton) - Entry 30 minutes past the hour until 10 minutes to the hour.

Preston Brook Tunnel
Tunnel times are as follows:
Northbound: open on the hour, and remains open until 10 past the hour.
Southbound: open at half past the hour, and remain opens until 20 to the hour.
Plank Lane Swing Bridge
Opening times are as follows: mid Mar, Apr, May - 8am-6pm. Jun, Jul, Aug - 8am-8pm. Sep - mid Nov - 8am-6pm, Mid Nov - mid Mar Weekdays 8am-4.30pm. Weekends 10am-2pm. Closed for lunch daily 12pm-12.45pm. Closed 24 Dec 09 - 04 Jan.


Day 1

On the Trent & Mersey canal you pass the town of Barnton on your right, and you will then come to 2 small tunnels, both of which have room for only 1 boat at a time, so make sure they are clear before proceeding.
All around this area are relics of salt workings, some of which still go on today. Going through Barnton Tunnel you emerge onto a hillside overlooking the River Weaver, with a marvellous view straight down the huge Saltersford locks. There is a useful range of shops up the hill from the east end of the tunnel, including a launderette, chemist and butcher.
Moving on, you will now enter Saltersford Tunnel, again, two boats cannot pass in this tunnel, so do take care when entering and leaving it.
Passage is timed - northbound is on the hour to 20 past , southbound is half past the hour for 20 minutes.

There is a pub ¼ mile north of bridge 209, a listed timber framed building, being one of the oldest farmhouse pubs in the country- the Hollybush.

Day 2

The northernmost stretch of the Trent & Mersey is pleasant & rural, you can see the splendid River Weaver valley 60 feet below, and occasionally the large vessels that ply up and down it.
Entering woodland you soon reach Preston Brook tunnel, although you will have to negotiate your first lock before entering it. The tunnel is about 1239 yards long.
North of Preston brook the canal diverges, the left arm goes to Runcorn, it takes 1.5 hours to reach the end of the canal. The old town is to be found down by the docks, where the elegant curved 1092 single span of the steel road bridge with the railway beside it, leaps over the Ship canal and the Mersey.
There are pubs along the route & in the town, to the left by bridge 76, & just past bridge 82 (Grapes Inn), and to the north by bridge 84 and 89 at the end of the canal (Waterloo).
Norton priory Museum can be reached north east of Bridge 75. There is a supermarket & PO south of bridge 74.
It is 4.75 hours from Anderton marina to here, or 3 hours from Bridge 209 if you stopped there for the 1st night.

Day 3 & Day 4

Take a leisurely cruise back to Anderton marina , it is 4.75 hours back

 

NB: This route has been provided as a guide only. Information may become inaccurate or out of date. You should always check with the marina that the route is possible within your time frame, current weather conditions and canal stoppages etc.