We have had a great few days even though I got completely soaked on Wednesday as we made our way to Marple Junction where we turned right onto the Upper Peak Forest Canal into Whaley Bridge for Tesco and then round into Bugsworth Basin. Even on a wet and cold day it is something else as you approach the bridges leading to the basins, which are surrounded by the hills of the Peak District. It is amazing that all this Industrial Archaeology (it enjoys Ancient Monument Status) has survived and that you can clearly get an impression of how busy this site would have been.The leaflet produced by The Inland Waterways Protection Society and available at the service building is very informative and well worth a donation to their funds.
Our friends Jeff and Sylvia joined us again on Thursday to enjoy the atmosphere of the place and as we cruised around the various basins - Jeff and I pretended we had gone back 150 years to its heyday. The other icing on the cake during our visit on Thursday was the sighting of the RAF Lancaster flying around as it performed its flypast over Derwent Water-its such an iconic aircraft-unfortunately no camera to hand we just enjoyed the sight and sound of the Merlins. We then had lunch in The Navigation Inn which was very good. Its a 2 1/2 hour journey from Marple Junction
along the 518ft contour into the Derbyshire Hills and is well worth the effort and should not be missed.
I still cannot get the pictures to load in the correct order- my apologies as todays are first-sorryyyyy
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| The view from the side hatch today just past bridge 25 near Bollington |
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| There are some very impressive mills- this is Goyt Mill on the Macclesfield Canal |
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| The Sweet Factory- remember swizzles and Love Hearts-the smell was excellent |
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| This gave me an idea to change the name of BB to 7mmNG but Anne said a very quick definite NO |
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| A view from the Upper Peak Forest Canal of the hills and one of the many railway viaducts |
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| The entry into Bugsworth Basin- the one straight ahead is quieter as the A6 runs on the right hand side of the site |
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| A view of the left hand basin from the foot bridge we are 3rd boat on the right |
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| Going back in time as we cruise round the other basins |
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| Returning from the lower basin |
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| narrowboat gnomes on a boat moored in the basin |
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| An Elizabethan deer tower near Hawk Green on the Macclesfield Canal |
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| A view of the Macclesfield Canal Company's warehouse just before the junction with The Upper Peak Forest Canal |
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| Looking at Marple Junction- the Macclesfield comes in under the bridge on the left and the Marple locks are straight ahead. |
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| This is Oldknow's ware house which is above lock 9 of the Marple flight-now offices |
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| Marple lock 9 beams are nearly on the pavement |
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| As Marple locks descend from the junction they are in a lovely setting with a line of terrace houses following them down |
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| The Upper Peak Forest Canal entry into Whaley Bridge is a bit disappointing but the transfer warehouse with the Cromford & High Peak Railway is most impressive |
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| A boat that obviously somebody loves |
