Peak Forest Canal Towing Blog

Our good friend George Boyle has recently established a new canal enterprise with his new tug Sandbach. To follow Georges progress just click on the link (in the right hand column) to his new blog. We were Georges first towing job with Sandbach towing our butty from Walsall to Macclesfield last autumn. Good Luck with the new venture George!

February Schedule

The Grimshaw Lane Aqueduct at Bollington stoppage dates has been altered again and is now due to start on Monday 15 February and complete on 26 March 10. The constant changing of the stoppage dates continues to frustrate us and makes it difficult to plan our own schedule.

Sat 13 Feb - Furness Vale to Bollington
Sun 14 Feb - Bollington to Macc then back to Marple
Mon 15 Feb - Marple to Furness Vale

Fri 26 Feb - Furness Vale to Whaley/Bugsworth
Sat 27 Feb - Furness Vale to Whitely Green nr Bollington
Sun 28 Feb - Whitely Green to Furness Vale

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I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass, as it Tinkles Under My Counter ....

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I Love the sound of Breaking Ice

Well looks like its another day of ice breaking, at least it is only about an inch thick at the moment. Our plan is to boat from Fools Nook (Macc) to Whaley Bridge over the next few days.

We are still waiting for confirmation of the rescheduled stoppage at Grimshaw Lane Aqueduct, Bollington, but once this commence we will be operating Alton from Furness Vale to Whitely Green winding Hole. Any Customers within or past the stoppage, please just let us know your orders & we will deliver by road.
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The Last of The Ice - Today at Bugswoth

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Back Boating!

Well with so many customers still needing pumpouts we have decide to an extra run this weekend. Today we boated from High Lane to Poyton, back to Marple and through to our mooring at Furness Vale. There were a lot of people very pleased to see us and so many people were appreciative of our efforts over the past few weeks.

Tomorrow we will head into Whaley & Bugsworth, then Back to Marple. On Monday we will head towards Macclesfield & Fools Nook

Our next run on the Macc & Peak Forest will be on 30 th Jan to 1st Feb running 1-way from Fools Nook to Whaley Bridge. We will then operate fortnightly from Whaley Bridge to Whitley Green (Bollington) until mid March (due to stoppage)

On Wed 27th March we will be delivering by road to Sandbach & Anderton areas.
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Delivering by Van, Wheelbarrow & On Foot

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Canal Delivery on Foot - Ice Over 5" Thick

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Alton Ice Breaking on the Macc 02/01/10

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The Big Chill - January 2010

Wow what a start to the New Year. We returned to Alton on Sat 2nd Jan and managed to break ice from High Lane to Marple, then returned to High Lane, but after 12 hours the ice beat us. We then commenced deliveries by road, (which was not without its problems). But using our van, a friend Landrover and out trusty wheelbarrow & sack truck we have managed to deliver many hundreds of bags of coal and thousands of litres of diesel to keep all our customers warm and cosy.

A big thank you to all those people who have mucked in to help us out over the past couple of weeks, from keeping an eye on our boats to driving us to isoloted places as well of course the numerous cuppas that have kept us going.

Hopefully the thaw that is well underway will continue and we can be boating again in the next few days.

Merry Christmas 2009 in the Snow & Ice

A Merry Christmas and a Happy & a Prosperous New Year to all our friends and customers. It has been a tough few days for us in the lead up to Christmas. We managed to get as far as Adlington at 10pm on Saturday 19th, then set off before 7am on Sunday morning. The ice was even thicker at over 2" and we really struggled to make headway. By 10.30pm Sunday we tied up for the night exhausted, but determined to be ready for another early start. Monday 21st December we began icebreaking at 6.30am, but after 3 hours we had only completed 220 yards. We decided that finally we would be sensible and admit defeat, so we resorted to delivery by road (which wasn't without it's problems). A big "thank you !" to all our customers and friends for all your help in getting the job done, our deliveries would have been very difficult without your help. Have a great Christmas.

Alton Ice Breaking on the Macc

Fender Course - Audlem Mill

We ran a fender making course weekend 31 October 09 - 1st November. Three people attended and completed 2 side fenders (some three) and a standard button. An enjoyable weekend. Our next course will be 6/7 March 2009 at Audlem, cost £95.00 (includes a kit with all materials and instructions to make 2 side fenders, standard button, a buffet lunch and refreshments). Contact Brian on 07791 345004 if you are interested.


Chris (NB Riverdance) completing his standard button

Graham (NB Star), Paul (NB Just the job) constructing a standard button

Altons Winter Schedule 2009

Sat 7th - Sun 8 November: Gurnett, Macc, Marple, to Whaley Bridge

Mon 9th - Tues 10th November: Whaley Bridge, Marple to Macclesfield

Sat 21st - Sun 22nd November : Gurnett, Macc, Marple, to Whaley Bridge

Mon 23rd - Tues 24th November: Whaley Bridge, Marple to Macclesfield

Sat 5th - Sun 6th December: Gurnett, Macc, Marple, to Whaley Bridge

Mon 7th - Tues 8th December: Whaley Bridge, Marple to Macclesfield

Fri 18th - Sat 19th December: Gurnett, Macc, Marple, to Whaley Bridge

Sun 20th - Mon 21st December: Whaley Bridge to Furness Vale

Sat 2nd January 2010 - Sun 3rd January: Furness Vale to Bollington

Mon 4th - Tues 5th January: Bollington to Fools Nook

How we shall miss these times!

Ploughing through the weed on the Wryley and Essington Canal.



George down the weed hatch again on the Wryley and Essington Canal.

Tug & Butty Trip

Well, we have had a brilliant few days boating with George Boyles new tug Sandbach towing our butty St Austell from Sneyd on the Curley Wryley up to the Macc. Thanks for the snatch George & thanks for your help Craig & Graham.

Ann Marie, at the tiller enjoying a rare glimps of our "Barbecue Summer"

Alton passing under the new footbridge at Clarence Mill, Bollington

Altons Autumn Schedule 2009

Thursday 3rd September: Furness Vale, Whaley Bridge & Bugsworth

Sat 5th - Sun 6th September: Furness Vale, Marple, Maccelsfield to Br45 Return

Thurs 17th September: Furness Vale, Whaley Bridge & Bugsworth

Sat 19th - Sun 20th September: Furness Vale, Marple, Maccelsfield to Marple

Mon 21st - Tues 22nd September: Marple to Ashton-under-Lyne to Furness Vale

Thurs 24th September: Furness Vale, Whaley Bridge & Bugsworth

Sat 26th - Sun 27th September:Furness Vale, Marple, Maccelsfield to Congelton

Mon 28th - Wed 30th September: Congelton, Red Bull, Wheelock, Middlewich to Nantwich

Thur 1st - Fri 2nd October: Nantwich, Middlewich, Anderton to Acton Bridge (River Weaver)

Sat 3rd - Sun 4th October: Acton Bridge Steam Weekend on River Weaver (Leigh Arms)

Mon 5th - Fri 9th October: Anderton, Middlewich, Red Bull, Congelton to Gurnett

Sat 10th - Sun 11th October: Gurnett, Maccelsfield, Marple, Bugsworth to Whaley Bridge

Mon 12th - Fri 16th October: Whaley Bridge, Stoke, Great Heywood to Wolverhampton

Sat 17th - Fri 23rd October: Wolverhampton, Great Heywood, Stoke to Gurnett

Sat 24th - Sun 25th October: Gurnett, Macc, Marple, to Whaley Bridge

Mon 26th - Tues 27th October: Whaley Bridge, Marple to Maccelsfield

Altons Movements August 2009

Friday 7th August: Furness Vale, Whaley Bridge, Bugsworth to Marple

Sat 8th - Sunday 9th August: Marple to Etruria

Mon 10th - Friday 14th August: Etruria, Red Bull, Wheelock, Middlewich, Natwich to Anderton

Sat 15th - Sunday 16th August: River Weaver

Monday 17th - Friday 21st August: Anderton, Middlewich, Wheelock, Red Bull, to Maccelsfield

Sat 22nd - Sunday 23rd August: Maccelsfield, Marple, Bugsworth to Whaley Bridge