A swiz at Swizzels

Bugsworth to Stalybridge

Nine week cruise - day 11 - Tuesday 12th July 2005

Another hot and sunny day. We left Bugsworth Basin at 1005 and turned left to go to the end of the canal at Whaley Bridge where we watered up. This is one of the places I used to go through on my way to Salford University back in the 1970s - and think, "Wouldn't it be amazing to explore the canal here one day?" And here I was! OK, so it's taken 30 years, but I made it. Left Whaley Bridge at 1120 after looking at the remains of the tramway.


We stopped at New Mills to look at the Swizzels Matlow sweet factory. David tried to blag his way in for a look round, and made it as far as the staff (sweet) shop, but there we were turned away.


Next were the wonderful Marple locks, where, at one point, you head straight for the road at car level, before diving underneath. Spectacular!


Such a lot of good stuff today - the Marple Aqueduct provided more spectacle ...


... and we legged through Woodley Tunnel for fun.

At Dukinfield Junction at 1955 we turned right, heading for the Huddersfield Narrow Canal - more excitement to come! We finally moored at 2215 in Stalybridge outside an old factory just above lock 7W. Isn't Tesco handy?

Today:
11.0 hours
17 miles 7 furlongs
22 locks

Cumulative:
95.5 h; 198 m 1 f; 97 l