Starting at Burscough Wharf on the main line of the Leeds Liverpool Canal, travel West towards Liverpool. There are no locks on this cruise, but plenty of swing bridges to allow the opportunity for you and you crew to get some hands on boating experience. Cruise through the open Lancashire countryside, past several waterside pubs, eateries & WW2 pillar boxes. We would recommend the Saracen’s Head as a place to moor up and have your evening meal or to spend the night. If you keep going then the next location to stop is Maghull, this is full of pubs, eateries and supermarkets (all within a short walk of the canal) .

A great long weekend route taking you into the heart of Lancashire. Starting at Burscough Wharf on the main line of the Leeds Liverpool Canal, travel East towards Leeds. You’ll have a couple of swing bridges to open on route to your first lock at Parbold Village. In the village you will find a supermarket, eateries and canalside pubs. Appley Lock No 91 (locally know as Deep Lock) is one of the deepest locks in the UK at 12 ft deep. Once through the lock moor up and investigate the two disused lock that’s run parallel to the lock you ascended. This is a great place to moor up for the night if you want some peace and quiet. After a few more hours sailing you’ll approach Wigan when there will be five locks to begin your ascent up to the word famous Wigan Pier. Here you will depart the main line of the Leeds Liverpool canal joining the Leigh Branch with a further two locks up to your destination. Pennington Flash is a favourite with visitors from far and wide, with stunning natural views, bird hides, trails for walking and cycling, a visitor centre and café, and an exciting adventure playground for families. Turn around and retrace your steps back to Burscough Wharf.

This route gives plenty of lock experience and the chance to explore the quieter Rufford Branch of the Leeds Liverpool Canal. Situated 15 minutes sail from your departure point there is a sharp left turn into the top lock. Seasonal lock keepers are frequently on hand along the Rufford Branch to aid with descent if required. There are 7 locks as you head down to Tarleton, passing Fettlers Wharf Marina, numerous farmer’s bridges and the National Trust’s Rufford Old Hall. There’s ample places to moor up along the canal. At Tarleton you will be able to see the Sea lock that gives access to the Lancaster Canal via the Ribble Link. This journey is not for the faint hearted but well worth a watch as boaters are hit by the incoming tide of the River Douglas, its full power on the throttle to ensure they move forward instead of backwards across the estuary to the River Ribble.