🚤 7-Day Cruise from Burscough: Where You Can Get To

12 September 2025

A Week-Long Canal Boat Holiday on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal

A 7-day canal boat holiday from Burscough gives you the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation. With a full week to explore, you’ll have time to cruise through scenic countryside, moor in welcoming villages, tackle a few locks, and maybe even reach the historic heart of Liverpool or Wigan.

So, where can you go in 7 days? Here are two popular and rewarding routes you can choose from — each with its own highlights and character.

🧭 Option 1: Burscough to Liverpool and Back

Approx. cruising time: 22–26 hours return
Locks: 6 (Stanley Lock Flight in Liverpool)

🚩 Route:

Burscough → Lydiate → Melling → Maghull → Bootle → Liverpool Docks (return)

🌟 Highlights:

Cruise through peaceful rural stretches toward the city
Enjoy the famously scenic Liverpool Canal Link
Pass under lift bridges and through historic Stanley Lock Flight
Moor right at Salthouse Dock near the Royal Albert Dock and waterfront attractions
Visit the Maritime Museum, The Beatles Story, or enjoy shopping and restaurants in the city

Pro tip:
Advance booking is required to access the Liverpool Canal Link — be sure to plan this part with your hire company.

Perfect for:
Boaters who want a mix of countryside cruising and big-city adventure, with a few locks and bridges to keep things interesting.

🧭 Option 2: Burscough to Wigan and Return

Approx. cruising time: 20–24 hours return
Locks: Around 12 (depending on how far you go)

🚩 Route:

Burscough → Parbold → Appley Bridge → Gathurst → Wigan (return)

🌟 Highlights:

Moor at charming canal villages like Parbold and Appley Bridge
Enjoy countryside cruising with views of Parbold Hill
Visit Wigan for shops, restaurants, and canal heritage
Option to explore Wigan Pier or walk part of the Douglas Valley

Want more challenge?
Ambitious crews can take on part of the Wigan Flight (21 locks in total), though doing the full flight and returning in a week is tight. Still, reaching Wigan Top Lock is a great achievement!

Perfect for:
Boaters who enjoy lock work and want to explore the rural side of Lancashire with a touch of urban history.

🛶 What You’ll Need

A comfortable narrowboat (with heating if travelling outside summer!)
Windlass and lock key (usually provided with hire)
Mooring ropes, pegs, and a good canal guide
Booking confirmation for Liverpool (if heading there)
An appetite for pub stops and towpath walks

🍻 Pub & Foodie Stops to Look Out For

The Farmers Arms, Burscough
The Windmill, Parbold
St. Mary’s Marina Café, Rufford
The Saracen’s Head, Halsall
The Scotch Piper Inn, Lydiate (one of England’s oldest pubs!)
Dockside eateries in Liverpool at Salthouse

🧳 Final Thoughts

A week on the water offers just enough time to fully unwind and embrace the slower pace of canal boat life. Whether you’re city-bound or country cruising, your 7-day canal holiday from Burscough promises peaceful days, charming moorings, and memorable moments — all at 4 mph.

Which route would you choose — Liverpool’s waterfront or Wigan’s heritage locks? Let us know in the comments or share your favourite stop!

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