🚤 Canal Villages Worth Mooring At in Lancashire

8 September 2025

Discover the charm of Lancashire’s waterside communities

One of the greatest joys of a canal boat holiday is mooring up in peaceful villages that you might otherwise never find. Lancashire is packed with beautiful canal-side stops that offer history, good food, and warm welcomes — all just steps from your mooring.

Here are some of the best canal villages in Lancashire worth planning a stop for:

🏡 1. Burscough

A favourite starting point for many canal adventures, Burscough sits along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal and offers a lively mix of local pubs, cafes, and the popular Burscough Wharf development — perfect for food, drinks, and browsing independent shops.

Don’t miss:

The Farmers Arms (moor right outside!)
Burscough Wharf’s eateries and events
Walking or biking to Martin Mere Wetland Centre

🏰 2. Parbold

A pretty village nestled in rolling countryside, Parbold is a peaceful place to stop and stretch your legs. The towpath here is well-kept and scenic, and the village is home to a few lovely pubs and a small art gallery.

Top picks:

The Windmill pub for canal-side dining
Viewpoint walks up Parbold Hill
Parbold Bottle for wine and artisan goodies

🛤️ 3. Rufford

A short cruise off the main Leeds & Liverpool Canal via the Rufford Branch, this charming spot is worth the detour. Rufford Old Hall (National Trust) is just a stroll from the moorings and makes a brilliant day out.

Highlights:

Rufford Old Hall’s historic gardens
St. Mary’s Marina Café
Peaceful overnight moorings with countryside views

🎣 4. Appley Bridge

Tucked between Wigan and Parbold, this lesser-known mooring spot has a friendly feel, quiet surroundings, and some lovely spots for fishing or walking.

Why stop here?

Tranquil, tree-lined moorings
Easy access to footpaths and canal walks
A great place for an unhurried picnic stop

🍺 5. Croston (via Rufford Branch)

Not directly on the main canal, but reachable by bike or a short taxi ride from Rufford, Croston is a beautifully preserved village known for cobbled streets, cosy pubs, and riverside charm.

Worth visiting for:

Traditional Lancashire architecture
Lovely pubs like The Wheatsheaf
Artisan shops and a relaxing pace

💡 Bonus Tip: Plan Your Stops

On a 3–7 day cruise in Lancashire, you can easily include two or three of these villages in your route. Moor up in the late afternoon and give yourself time to explore — many are even better in the early evening when the towpaths are quiet and the pub gardens are lively.

⚓ Final Thoughts

Lancashire’s canals don’t just connect places — they connect you to moments: a sunset mooring in Parbold, a pint in a village pub, or a morning coffee with ducks for company.

So next time you’re cruising the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, don’t just pass through — moor up and explore.

Which canal village in Lancashire is your favourite stop? Let us know in the comments!

11 of us had a wonderful cruise on Alfie Bhouy. Plentiful afternoon tea. Lots of interesting facts learned. And so much laughter as the "captain" and our 7 year old granddaughter shared jokes. Such a bonus to be given the opportunity to steer. Thank you for happy memories.

Heather B

Always five stars from us for this lovely company! Another great trip; this time a Sunday Lunch cruise for a friend’s big birthday! Piping hot, top quality lunch and rose wine included. We added a bottle of very reasonable Merlot too. All while experiencing a lovely sail along the canal. Once again the very knowledgeable, interesting and capable Marc was our captain. Great experience - and always a great company to deal with. We will be back (yet again)!

Jan H

We had a lovely afternoon tea cruise! Mark was a great host, including letting our 5 year old skipper for some of the journey - a memory he will treasure. Would highly recommend!

Darren S

SUPERB FRIENDLY EXPERIENCE

We were not disappointed the Service was 5 stars. Guests were interacted with and we were allowed to join in with activities. The host was all you could ask for. Ourselves and others had requests for some changes on the menu and theses were adhered to very well. I shall be booking for the whole family. Thank you for such a lovely day me and my friend both needed it.

Dee D

A thoroughly enjoyable and memorable experience. Mark (our skipper) was extremely knowledgeable of the area and canals, and also other canals. He was very interesting and hospitable to us. He invited our grandson to steer the boat and was very welcoming.
On a separate note, we were late arriving for the cruise and Mark did not rush us, and was very friendly.
Highly recommended!

Carol E

Just had our first canal cruise with a Xmas dinner hot from the pub and I have to say the whole experience was brilliant. The captain was excellent and very knowledgeable throughout the trip and as a bonus I was able to drive with the captain which was a lovely touch. I would highly recommend this trip.

Stephen S

It helped that it was a beautiful sunny day. The skipper, Mark was very insightful giving us a talk on the local history of the canal as we made our way to Burscough Wharf and back again.

Tony Houston

Nice way too spend a few hours took my mother for a mothers day treat great food fantastic host wish it hadn't been raining thanks very much

Gary Chadbond

Just got back from an amazing cruise with afternoon tea with this company. The food was lovely and fresh!
The skipper, Mark was lovely and professional! He was so naturally friendly and explained everything about the history of barges and the area. He was so knowledgeable. The cruise itself was beautiful and relaxing.

Leah Johnson

What a wonderful experience! Mark was such a great host, very kind and helpful. We miss our trip because of car crash on the road, he not only accommodate us on the next trip but he make us fresh afternoon tea and he place us in the best part of the boat! I can’t explain what a wonderful people and what a experience we had ! Truly amazing! Definitely try for yourself !!! Thank you Mark! See you soon!

Plamena Dimitrova