The River Weaver From Anderton.php Canal Boating Cruising Route
With the re-opening of the Anderton boat lift in Spring 2002, a whole new navigation is open for exploration from the Anderton base. A stunning feat of 19th Century engineering, the lift carries two boats at a time hydraulically, one up and one down between the Trent & Mersey canal and the River Weaver 50 feet below.
Head south to the head of the navigation and the Winsford Flash lakes, one of the many wildlife havens on the river.
The River Weaver is a navigation that is tidal and occasionally carries commercial traffic, in small seagoing ships, and the locks are quite large.
The bridges are either very high or are big swing bridges operated by British Waterways staff.
The shortest bridge between the Anderton Boat lift and Winsford is 6 foot 4 inches high, so you should be able to duck under it, so you don't have to call the BW staff to open it.
If you arrive at the boat lift in season, you can just turn up & wait for a slot, as the glass topped trip boat goes up and down the lift all day, but you might have to wait in the high season, but it is no hardship, as it is fascinating to watch the amazing structure of the Boat lift.
The Lift connects the River Weaver with the Trent & Mersey Canal. There is a large Operations Centre housing an extensive interactive exhibition, and a shop and a cafe with a seating area offering good views out over the River. There is also a pub opposite the Boat lift- The Stanley Arms, where children are welcome & they have an outside seating and childrens play area.
The trip down the River Weaver towards Winsford takes just 3 and half hours, but is a nice diversion to take in the Boat Lift. The whole trip takes 7 hours and can be done in a day.
There are moorings near Northwich which is a rather attractive town on the junction of the Rivers Weaver & Dane.
As with every town in the area, salt has been responsible for the towns prosperity and there is a salt museum in Northwich which is open all year.
For 200 years Northwich was prominent also for building and repairing ships and barges, because if you go northwards along the River Weaver you reach the Manchester Ship Canal.
Navigation is not advisable in this direction, as you are not allowed onto the Manchester Ship Canal, and the River is tidal.
Nowadays the wharves by Town Bridge are empty and are an excellent mooring sire for visitors to the town. The town centre is very close, much of it has been completely rebuilt with an extensive shopping precinct.
There is a floating Hotel close to the Northwich marina- The Floatel.
You can cruise down to Winsford and turn here, do not go under the Bridge into Winsford Bottom Flash, as it is very shallow. There are a few pubs near Winsford Bridge, and shops.
