Bank Newton to Inghey Bridge

Another wonderful day, apart from the rain showers. The scenery is unbeatable, our first lock flight of the day was Bank Newton locks, a flight of six, dropping down into the valley of the Aire. Then another flight of six through Gargrave. We stopped for lunch at Gargrave and had a quick walk into the very picturesque village. In the afternoon we completed the last three locks through Gargrave, two swing bridges, then moored in the middle of beautiful countryside.

Views for miles

Clough type ground paddles

Bank Newton locks

Mum and Dad, earning their keep

Looking down towards the last lock of the Bank Newton flight

Canal side cottage, dated 1791

Gargrave flight

Looking for moorings, spoilt for choice

Salterforth to Bank Newton

Left Salterforth this morning and the sun was shining, first stop being Greenberfield top lock to use the services. Also for the first time since starting the L&L we shared locks and surprisingly saw a few more boats moving around. The views are now absolutely stunning, full panoramic sights of the dales for miles. Stopped off at East Marton for lunch and had a stroll to the church, a lovely church with a Norman tower. The L&L canal was started in 1771 and the full length completed in 1816. During the construction of this section a number of navvies died of smallpox and are buried in the churchyard. Cruised a little further on to moor in the middle of nowhere between East Marton and Bank Newton.

Mum and Dad enjoying a stroll at the picturesque flight of Greenberfield locks

Paddle gears with brakes !!

Last of the flight of three locks, now ready for quite a few twists and turns

You can see the bridges in the distance

Moored for lunch at East Marton

St. Peter’s Church, East Marton. The first church was probably from the 10th century, there has been a wooden church on this site for over a thousand years and the present stone building between 1147 and 1186.

 

Bridge 161, East Marton. The upper road bridge was added later above the original canal bridge

Former horse line roller post, to assist the ropes around the tight bends

Views from our mooring

Barrowford to Salterforth

Having climbed out of the valley of the Colne and Pendle, we are now 487 feet above sea level. We then come to the Foulridge tunnel, which is controlled by traffic lights. After waiting over a hour with the lights on red, another boat joined us and said they had never seen the lights on green. In the end we just went for it, feeling okay as you could actually see the other end of the tunnel. It took 15 minutes to get through and the lights at the other end were also on red!

Foulridge Tunnel, 1640 yards

Nearly at the end, luckily without meeting anyone

Foulridge Wharf

The countryside is changing now as we leave Lancashire and enter Yorkshire

The first canalside pub, since Wigan and very nice it was too. It actually predates the canal with stalactites in the cellar.

Moored at Salterforth visitors moorings

Reedley – Nelson – Barrowford

Spent a lazy Sunday at Reedley and had some retail therapy at the Juntion 12 retail outlet. Set off towards Nelson Monday morning, mooring outside Morrisons to restock. Ian was still feeling unwell with chest pains, so we took a taxi to the UCC at Burnley to get him checked out, before we set off into countryside. Luckily all the tests came back positive and was put down to gastric problems. We finally got back to the boat about six o’clock, due to the traumatic day we ended up staying on the Morrison moorings. We headed off the next morning with the 7 Barrowford Locks in front of us, the weather had only improved slightly. Mum and Dad arrived safely today to join us until Leeds.

Juntion 12 retail outlet

 

The start of the Barrowford flight of seven

Moorings for the night, reached the summit, all locks now downhill to Leeds

Rose Grove to Reedley

Waited a little while for the rain to blow over before setting off this morning heading towards Burnley. We first had to go through Gannow tunnel before reaching what is known as the Weavers’ Triangle. There are many old textile mills with their towering chimneys and weaving sheds all lining the canal for miles. Some having been lovingly restored, but most were derelict. The Burnley Embankment gives a bird’s eye view of Burnley, being sixty feet high and three-quarters of a mile long, carrying the canal over the valleys of Calder and Brun.

Approaching Gannow Tunnel, 559 yards

It is wide enough for two way traffic !!!

The old and the new

Passing the many mills

Slater’s Terrace, under restoration. Ground floor workshops are topped by workers’ cottages.

Burnley Wharf

Back into the countryside, leaving Burnley behind

Moored for the night near Reedley nurseries, ideal opportunity to replace our flowers

Church to Rose Grove

Spent another night at Church as the weather was awful, especially the gusting winds. The forecast today was rain in the afternoon, so we had an early start and luckily we did not get wet, although the temperatures have dropped considerably. The L&L is a contour canal and after cruising for an hour we had just about gone around in a complete circle, being a stone’s throw away from where we were moored near Church. We were heading for what Pearson’s described as a secure mooring at Rose Grove, to enable us to go into Burnley to replace our mobile broadband. The moorings are not quite what we pictured, but will have to do for the night.

Mural

 

Church Wharf. Flyboats once unloaded cotton at this three storey canal warehouse.

Does this chimney look straight?

Just one of the three swing bridges we went through today

Drystone wall boundary and a horizon of moorlands

Fantastic views as we head towards Burnley

Rose Grove visitor’s moorings

Withnell Fold to Church

The landscape has started changing now and we were treated to a glimpse of what we have got to come, but then we hit Blackburn. It wasn’t quite as bad as we thought it would be, passing the old mills, some of which have now been demolished making way for new housing and retail. The flight of Blackburn locks were very urban, as we climbed up, now overlooking the cathedral and Thwaite’s brewery. A short section after the locks, we were having to dodge the shopping trolley’s, due to three nearby supermarkets, but we came out unscathed. We are now back in countryside, enjoying the views.

Health & Safety? Having to climb onto the stile, over the beam to stand on the wobbly wooden platform, suspended over gaping lock to wind the paddle up !!

Nova Scotia Wharf

Groundwork, Nova Scotia Wharf

Surprisingly we didn’t get wet

Eanam Wharf. A goods depot which opened in 1810

Daisyfield Mill. Built as a flour mill, now a business centre for Granada TV

Imperial Mill, built in 1900, now a Grade II listed building.

The view from our mooring, overlooking the village of Church

Enjoying the view, sat in the cratch. (with a glass of wine of course).