Vlog 196: Macc the Nice
Having explored the furthest, murkiest depths of the Caldon canal, I turned around, came back the way I’d come and continued up the Trent & Mersey canal, through Harecastle tunnel and then took a sharp left onto the Macclesfield canal. Spoiler alert: it’s utterly lovely.
Start location: https://goo.gl/maps/HkDG1sPTUucfCnVo9
End location: https://goo.gl/maps/VX31MJHz5GPXvsEa8
Hybrid narrowboat vlog: cruisingthecut.co.uk/2016/12/01/vlog-69-silent-running/
Harecastle tunnel vlog: cruisingthecut.co.uk/2017/06/20/vlog-96-scarecastle/
Harecastle tunnel info: www.gracesguide.co.uk/Harecastle_Tunnel
Macclesfield Canal Society: www.macclesfieldcanal.org.uk
I don’t know, noisy ventilation fans, fluorescent paint on the roof of the Harecastle, signs warning of bends ahead on the canal, nanny really has taken charge, hasn’t she? The last time that I did the Harecastle in the 1980s there was a notice at each end of the tunnel giving times when boats could enter the tunnel to go northbound or southbound and that was that; no paint,no leaflets, no boat checks – thank goodness. There’s just too much bureaucratic interference and overprotection nowadays. And as for the sign on the towpath (I forget which vlog it was on) that warned ‘Road ahead’ – well, words fail me.
A major factor in making the Macclesfield such a scenic canal is that it is one of the later canals (like the Shroppie) which cuts in more of a straight line through the terrain rather than following the contours, so there are embankments and cuttings, and the embankments give particularly good views over the (admittedly very pretty) countryside.
I’m hoping to do the Macc next year, so I have noted the location of the Lovely Moorings on my guidebook – though I doubt that we will visit Little Moreton Hall.
To be fair, someone did die in Harecastle tunnel relatively recently so it’s no surprise they’re hot on safety now. The Macc is glorious!
LMH – Little Moreton Hall, but you knew that didn’t you.
Enjoyed the vlog as usual.
I hate to admit it – but I did not know that (seriously!). I had no idea what LMH stood for so I did indeed just make something up for it!