Body

River Weaver & Weston Canal

(all locations are listed as though travelling from Winsford to Weston Point)

Pubs & Restaurants

Location What's there Comments Date

Northwich, Witton Street Penny Black Fairly dreadful Wetherspoons - don't bother unless you're desperate for a bad pint of cask beer. July 2005 (CA)

Sutton Weaver, next to Garden Centre Aston Arms Big time warp pub, which struggles to survive. Several rooms have coal fires lit in winter so creating a cracking atmosphere ... if there's anybody there. Serves a Camerons cask beer which despite apparent poor turnover is kept well. July 2005 (CA)

Shopping & Facilities

Northwich Marks & Spencers Just off Witton Street and handy enough for moorings to carry a fair amount of goods. Local grocers are a better bet for vegetables though. There's also a Sainsbury's at the far end of Witton Street. July 2005 (CA)

Good & Bad Moorings

Vale Royal moorings About ½ mile above lock. Delightful quiet moorings with wide expanse of water July 2005 (CA)

Northwich There are moorings either side of Town bridge but they are popular so may have to look for a friendly boat to breast up against. July 2005 (CA)

Saltersford lock Pleasant moorings immediately below lock. July 2005 (CA)

Devil's Garden Spent the night at deserted mooring - just as attractive as Vale Royal but less water birds. September 06 (CH)

Sutton Weaver The moorings "under" the swing bridge have water and rubbish disposal but the traffic noise may be a bit much overnight. There's a much quieter spot just to the east of the swing bridge. July 2005 (CA)

Navigation Notes

Anderton Lift Pre-booking a time by phone (01606 786777) costs £5 each way. Booking seems good sense if on a tight schedule as typically you might have to wait an hour or so if not pre booked.
18 Mar 2006 - 1 Oct 2006 Opening Times: Anderton Boat Lift
The Anderton Boat Lift will be open to boats at the following times: Up Passage: 8:45am; 9:30am; 10:15am; 11:45am; 12:30pm; 1pm; 2:30pm; 4pm; 4:45pm. Down Passage: 9:30am; 10:15am; 11am; 11:45am; 1pm; 1:45pm; 3:15pm; 4:45pm; 5:30pm. (Enquiries: 01606 723800)
April 2006
www.waterscape.co.uk

Vale Royal Lock Down times: 0830, 1030, 1245, 1445
Up times: 0900, 1100, 1315, 1515
These are Monday to Friday times, they are later at weekends. Must arrive 30 minutes before closing times.
The restrictions are apparently to save water as the usual barge lock is "temporarily" closed so boats use the big lock - don't know why the 2 other "big" locks on the river don't have a similar restriction though !
July 2005 (CA)

Other Weaver locks (Hunt's, Dutton, Saltersford) Open 0800 - 1615 (M-Th) or 1545 (Fri). Later start and finish at weekends. Closed for lunch 1200 - 1245. Must arrive 30 minutes before closing times. July 2005 (CA)

Winding It's easy to turn just about anywhere on the river. July 2005 (CA)

Location	What's there	Comments	Date
Northwich, Witton Street	Penny Black	Fairly dreadful Wetherspoons - don't bother unless you're desperate for a bad pint of cask beer.	July 2005 (CA)
Sutton Weaver, next to Garden Centre	Aston Arms	Big time warp pub, which struggles to survive. Several rooms have coal fires lit in winter so creating a cracking atmosphere ... if there's anybody there. Serves a Camerons cask beer which despite apparent poor turnover is kept well.	July 2005 (CA)
Shopping & Facilities
Northwich	Marks & Spencers	Just off Witton Street and handy enough for moorings to carry a fair amount of goods. Local grocers are a better bet for vegetables though. There's also a Sainsbury's at the far end of Witton Street.	July 2005 (CA)
Good & Bad Moorings
Vale Royal moorings		About ½ mile above lock. Delightful quiet moorings with wide expanse of water	July 2005 (CA)
Northwich		There are moorings either side of Town bridge but they are popular so may have to look for a friendly boat to breast up against.	July 2005 (CA)
Saltersford lock		Pleasant moorings immediately below lock.	July 2005 (CA)
Devil's Garden		Spent the night at deserted mooring - just as attractive as Vale Royal but less water birds.	September 06 (CH)
Sutton Weaver		The moorings "under" the swing bridge have water and rubbish disposal but the traffic noise may be a bit much overnight. There's a much quieter spot just to the east of the swing bridge.	July 2005 (CA)
Navigation Notes
Anderton Lift		Pre-booking a time by phone (01606 786777) costs £5 each way. Booking seems good sense if on a tight schedule as typically you might have to wait an hour or so if not pre booked. 18 Mar 2006 - 1 Oct 2006 Opening Times: Anderton Boat Lift The Anderton Boat Lift will be open to boats at the following times: Up Passage: 8:45am; 9:30am; 10:15am; 11:45am; 12:30pm; 1pm; 2:30pm; 4pm; 4:45pm. Down Passage: 9:30am; 10:15am; 11am; 11:45am; 1pm; 1:45pm; 3:15pm; 4:45pm; 5:30pm. (Enquiries: 01606 723800)	April 2006 www.waterscape.co.uk
Vale Royal Lock		Down times: 0830, 1030, 1245, 1445 Up times: 0900, 1100, 1315, 1515 These are Monday to Friday times, they are later at weekends. Must arrive 30 minutes before closing times. The restrictions are apparently to save water as the usual barge lock is "temporarily" closed so boats use the big lock - don't know why the 2 other "big" locks on the river don't have a similar restriction though !	July 2005 (CA)
Other Weaver locks (Hunt's, Dutton, Saltersford)		Open 0800 - 1615 (M-Th) or 1545 (Fri). Later start and finish at weekends. Closed for lunch 1200 - 1245. Must arrive 30 minutes before closing times.	July 2005 (CA)
Winding		It's easy to turn just about anywhere on the river.	July 2005 (CA)