Peak Forest And Ashton Canals

One end is in rural Derbyshire, the other in the heart of Manchester, but both canals form a vital link in the Cheshire Ring – and some attractive cruising, too.

- Martin Ludgate

There’s a sharp contrast between the two ends of the Peak Forest Canal. At the north end, Dukinfield Junction is set in formerly industrial surroundings on the edge of the Manchester conurbation, with the Ashton Canal beginning its descent into the city centre.

Meanwhile at the south end, the two branches of the Peak Forest both end at terminal basins on the fringes of the Peak District, with old horse-tramways leading off into the hills.

But we aren’t going to start at any of these points: instead, we’ll begin our journey near the mid-point of the 14-mile canal, at Marple Junction. Why? Firstly because that’s where we ended our guide to the Macclesfield Canal last month; secondly because it’s where many boaters will arrive on the Peak Forest, especially if they’re exploring the Cheshire Ring.

Although it’s possible to cruise the Ring’s 97 miles and 92 locks in a week, allowing yourself a little longer means that you can explore the neighbouring waterways – in which case the Upper Peak Forest heading south-eastwards from Marple is one not to be missed.

So we’ll begin our cruise by emerging from the last of the Macclesfield’s famous ‘snake’ towpath turnover bridges and turn sharp right.

Leaving Marple Top Lock the canal soon leaves Marple behind and heads out into the countryside, following a contour high on the side of the Goyt Valley, some 250ft above the river. It isn’t long before the canal passes the first of a series of opening bridges, something of a Peak Forest feature.