Cruise into Manchester by boat

On a canal boat holiday with Drifters you can cruise into Manchester city centre

Mark Nicholls recently cruised into Manchester by boat, setting off from Drifters base at Anderton in Cheshire.

The journey to Manchester’s Castle Quay and back travels 62 miles, passes through two locks (one each way) and takes around 21 hours.

It takes in sections of the Trent & Mersey Canal and the Bridgewater Canal.

Mark says the route offers “that unique blend of open countryside and urban sprawl, plus an insight into the engineering masterpieces from the heyday of the industrial revoluntion”.

Highlights of Mark’s cruise into Manchester by boat include:

• the Anderton Boat Lift, also known as ‘The Cathedral of the Canals’;
• the Leigh Arms pub at Acton Bridge;
• Preston Brook Tunnel;
• the village of Lymm with a choice of pubs, restaurants and cafes;
• passing Old Trafford, home of Manchester United; and
• Castle Quay moorings, a short walk from Manchester city centre.

To read Mark’s holiday review in full at Trip Reporter.

You can also reach Castle Quay on a four-night break from our base at Acton Bridge. The return route travels 54 miles, two locks (one each way) and takes around 18 hours.

There’s more information about other Drifters canal boat holidays in the north west of England here https://www.drifters.co.uk/canals-of-north-west-england/