A Walk Along The Peak Forest Canal

[stephenholmes]

Good afternoon everyone
Yesterday I decided to catch the train to Marple and then take a gentle stroll along the Peak Forest Canal to Woodley
Here are some photographs I took along the route
Arrival at Marple Station ....I caught the 11:07 train from Manchester Piccadilly formed by a Class 142 unit


Arriving on the tow path at Marple

At Marple there are a flight of 16 locks these carry the canal down 214 feet towards Manchester


Looking towards Romiley

Looking back towards Marple and New Mills

Walking down the flight of locks towards Romiley and Woodley

[stephenholmes]

Continuing on with my journey
Looking back towards Marple

Heading towards Romiley I discovered a section of canal had been drained

Some of the lock gates along the Marple flight are due to be replaced



This is an interesting shot revealing the paddles on the lock gate

Now you can see why the lock gates need replacing?

Continuing on my journey this boat seems the worse for wear

In contrast a well kept narrow boat



This looks like a work horse


An interesting view of the railway line between New Mills and Manchester


Looking back towards Marple

Marple Aqueduct

[stephenholmes]

Continuing on my journey to Woodley
This is Marple Aqueduct which carries the Canal across the River Goyt

The arched viaduct carries the railway across the valley and the River




Continuing along the tow path heading towards Romiley

There were a few boats heading towards Marple
I mentioned to the crew that the canal had been drained ahead just in case they were unaware?




To be continued.......

[stephenholmes]

Continuing on my journey to Woodley
Approaching Hyde Bank Tunnel where the tow path leaves the canal


A narrow boat carrying a party of school children emerges from the gloom

Looking back towards Marple

Here is a narrow boat named Alice





To be continued

[martinhodgson]

Nice photos - I took a walk along that stretch a couple of months ago; and in fact did that stretch as part of a holiday a couple of years ago.

I'd say the lock pound drainage is probably either a mistake or vandalism - I can't see them doing it during peak season with lots of hire boats around, and if the gates were being replaced you'd see a lot more equipment (I saw some being replaced between Congleton and Nantwich a few weeks ago; it is a significant task!).

[msdejesus]

Some really pretty pictures, thanks for sharing.

Manuel

[stephenholmes]

Thank you Martin and Manuel for your kind comments ref the photographs
Perhaps you are correct Martin about possible vandalism....I don't know?
There was a considerable length of canal drained of water with boats stuck on either side of the locks

Continuing and nearing journeys end
Approaching Woodley Tunnel which is 176 Yards long
Notice due to the amount of rain the tow path is muddy and was quite slippery in places
I'm glad I didn't fall in the canal as I can't swim

Torch at the ready for Woodley Tunnel


Safely through the tunnel

Waiting for the train home at Woodley Station

Kind regards Stephen

[dorlan]

The drained pound is probably the result of an inexperienced crew leaving a paddle open at both ends of the lock! (Been there, done that, although, luckily, I noticed something was wrong as the lock wasn't filling! )
I've also seen someone else drain the pound above the lock they were descending!

The gates at that lock look to me to be in quite good condition. The gap between the two lower gates is normal. As the lock fills, the pressure of the water presses the gates together, forming an, almost, watertight seal.

I'm glad I didn't fall in the canal as I can't swim

If you ever fall in, try standing up! Most canals, in most places, except full locks, aren't very deep!
I fell in the Avon once and started swimming for my life. I later discovered that the water was only waist-deep!

[stephenholmes]

Good evening Ian
Your comments about the drainage would tie in with my guide
Which says no mooring is allowed at Marple Flight because the water can become shallow and boats stuck
Thanks for approving my photos and your advice about standing up if accidently falling in
Kind regards Stephen
Ps Another time I will try the walk towards Whaley Bridge

[partyspiritz]

Just Magic Stephen well done love the photos. I do miss the days of living on my boat.

Thanks for adding the train shots



Regards


John

[martinhodgson]

It is considered unwise to moor between locks; though there are some places where it occurs (the Audlem flight, we discovered has a few official mooring locations in pounds). On my trip last month we encountered a few queues on lock flights (the four counties ring has quite a few); in these places it was noticeable how much the water levels varied as boats went up and down the locks around us

[rufuskins]

Stephen

A very good set of photos illustrating walks that perhaps we don't always think of. Prior to MSTS I did a fair amount of walking, and Rufus and I managed to complete the South Pennine Ring. This comprises the Rochdale Canal to Sowerby Bridge, then the Aire and Calder Navigation, the Huddersfield Narrow, the Huddersfield Broad and finally the Ashton Canal that takes us back into the Castlefield area from where the Rochdale Cannal started. Mind you we effectively walked it twice, as we would drive to a spot where we could park and then walk the towpath for 3-4 miles and then walk back. This occupied a lengthy number of weekends as the ring is about 80 miles in length.

The whole walk comprised a bit of history, splended scenery and a whole array of characters - some of whom were not the most savoury!

Now I have to own up and say that we didn't fully complete the ring via towpath/canal as we never travelled through Standedge Tunnel. This is possible by electric boat from the Marsden end - all canal boats are towed through the tunnel for obvious reasons. We did walk over the top though.

Just imagine the effort put in by the early boatmen when lying on their back on top of the boat and "walking" the boat through!

Alec

[rufuskins]

Errata:-

Aire and Calder should have read Calder and Hebble

and

Huddersfield Broad comes before Huddersfield Narrow when heading towards Manchester.

Memory not quite what it was.

Alec

[stephenholmes]

Good afternoon Alec and all following this thread
I'm glad you've enjoyed viewing or adding to this topic
I hope to go on another stroll in the coming week and of course I'll take my camera with me
Kind regards Stephen
By the way the journey from Manchester Piccadilly to Marple was just 20 minutes

[markh5682]

Great pictures Look forward to seeing some more from your next stroll.

I have got quite a few pics taken along our local stretch of the Leeds Liverpool canal which I may post at some time in the future (if anyone want's to see them)