The place we are moored was the site of a collapse of the canal into the River Goyt below in 1833. As a result big buttresses were built but they are hidden by the trees and bushes that have overgrown them. Just down the way is a narrow section with retaining walls that were actually a tunnel but now has the 'roof' taken off.
The Narrows that used to be a tunnel on the Peak Forest Canal.
Our overnight mooring between Marple Aqueduct and the Hyde Bank Tunnel.
It was a great mooring to be underway and the scenery was pretty good too as we moved along the Goyt Valley. We quickly came to the Hyde Bank Tunnel that has Ivy growing down over the entrance. It is supposed to be two way but it would be very tight though.
East Portal of Hyde Bank Tunnel.
We only went a little further on before we pulled over and moored whilst I went to get the Sunday Paper from Romiley. 30 mins. late we were off again. The canal was largely in a cutting with bridges over. There were glimpses of houses but largely it was very green.
Railway Bridge 13A north of Romiley.
The canal comes out of the cuttings and starts to lead a curved route. This was even more rural and was where previously there had been mills and mines. Just before Hyde we passed a fox laying in he sun just watching us go by.
Railway Bridge No.6 just by Hyde on the Peak Forest Canal.
The canal goes past the Houghton Dale Nature Reserve and remains nice and green but getting more and more littered. Just before the last bridge on the Peak Forest Canal, a lift bridge, we watched a mink slither along a wall top. It looked gorgeously slinky and I was a little surprised to see it's fur was black just like the coats! Not sure why really. We got to through the bridge and arrived at Dunkenfield Junction. There is a railway bridge, then the arm where we will be going to dry dock 'Holderness', followed by the aqueduct over the river Goyt, a stone bridge dated 1835 and then Portland basin with the Ashton Canal Co. Warehouse that was built in 1834. It burnt down in 1972 and was resurrected from 1988 when it was rebuilt similarly to the original to house a museum, offices and flats. We turned and backed up the arm towards Huddersfieled a little way before mooring. After lunch we went for a walk round Ashton to get the lie of the land. Once back at the boat we had beans on toast, a rare treat as we are sworn off bread mostly, unless Helen has baked it and we had a new loaf to cut into. It was great, simple pleasures are the best. Up a bit earlier in the morning to get in the dry dock as soon as possible.
Portland Basin from Bridge 29 on the Ashton Canal. The Chimney is the 210 foot Junction Mills Chimney that was built in 1867. It is octagonal in shape and has a distinctive tulip shaped crown. It was bought for a pound bt Tameside Council to prevent it being demolished.
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