🚤 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 – The Boat House
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!

Myself and my nanna had the best time on the canal boat, the food was absolutely delicious and we couldn’t have asked for a better day the weather was perfect. The gentleman doing the tour (didn’t catch his name sorry) was so knowledgeable and was very funny. He was really accommodating for my nanna as well as she isn’t the most steady on her feet, he helped her on and off the boat and helped her up and down the stairs which I can’t thank him enough for. Would highly recommend doing this tour and it’s in such a beautiful area. Will definitely be doing it again!

Li L

Experienced a wonderful autumn cruise along the canal here with Skipper Mark who shared all his amazing experiences and knowledge of the area and canal along the way. Highly recommend this if you’re in the area.

Steven H

Our family of four hired a 6-berth boat and cruised from Burscough to Wigan and back. The boat was great, the route was lovely, and the service from Lancashire Canal Cruises was superb—special thanks to Marc, who was incredibly helpful. Five stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ben M

Amazing experience!
As first-time canal boaters, we were a bit nervous, but Richard made the whole process easy and enjoyable. He spent a couple of hours with us on the water, guiding us through everything until we felt completely comfortable handling the boat, mooring, and using all the onboard features. We spent two nights aboard and had an absolutely brilliant time—cruising between pubs for meals, spotting a kingfisher, and taking in the beautiful Lancashire countryside. The boat was spotless and had everything we needed.
10/10 – highly recommend! Thanks again to Lancashire Canal Cruises!

Matthew S

What a fantastic afternoon with the fabulous Marc as our skipper. This trip is worth every penny so if you've not done it or are considering booking on one of the experiences then do it! you will have a great time. Marc is brilliant sharing all the history and stories of canal life and the surrounding areas. Thank you Marc for making our trip truly special! 🤗

Pamela W

Really Enjoyed today's canal ride. Was made to feel at ease when I was nervous on the water. Amazing views & a lovely Afternoon tea. Got to steer the boat and wear the captains hat 😁. And the guy even made time to rescue someone's Memorial bench after it had been blown into the water 💙

Debbie H

We chartered a private hire cruise for 3hrs for my Mums 80th birthday and it was just perfect. Our Skipper Tori was fantastic, she really played along with the kids and kept them involved. The weather was rubbish but we didn't let it ruin the experience, all having a go at steering the boat and helping with the swing bridge.
We took our own food, drink and decorations and nothing was any bother. Would definitely recommend this trip.

Amy K

Everything was perfect from booking to the trip. Great communication.
Lovely afternoon tea.
The gentleman was friendly & had a great knowledge of the canal & surroundings.
Perfect start to my friends 40th Birthday celebrations.

Annmaria S

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 J

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 D