Narrowboat Bacchus: Still on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal

Still in Gargrave and as it was still warm and sunny we decided to walk one last time on the Pennine Way before heading on down the cut. A short route of about 5 or 6 mile up onto Eshton Moor, then dropping down into the valley near Bell Busk and following the River Aire for a short distance before returning to Bacchus via the Moor. A welcome shower and glass of wine was the order of the day.

On the Pennine Way

Trig point 206 - Eshton Moor.

River Aire

The Foulridge Tunnel soon followed, being 1500mtrs long and famous for the tale of Buttercup, a cow who in 1912 fell into the canal at the southern end and ‘swam’ through to the other end where she was revived with brandy from the local pub. Due to its width passage through the tunnel is one direction at a time and is controlled by traffic lights.

Foulridge Tunnel showing traffic lights

After the tunnel our journey took us through the Lancashire towns of Nelson, Burnley, Accrington and Blackburn. These towns grew up on the back of King Cotton; for example Blackburn, during the 19th century had 200 chimneys and a landscape of factories and mills. In 1910 there were 87,377 looms in the town employing 42,000 workers, many of them were children as young as 12. Though most of this industry has now disappeared much of the Victorian and Edwardian architecture is still evident from the canal.

Burnley Wharf

Burnley Wharf is a fine collection of 19th century stone and grey slate canal side warehouses and workshops. The Inn occupies the former Toll and Wharf Manager's House built in 1878.

Daiseyfield Mill Blackburn

Eanam Wharf

Eanam Wharf, Blackburn was one of Leeds & Liverpool's most significant depots. Twenty-five thousand locals gathered to see its opening in 1810.

This picture was taken from the bow of Bacchus at our mooring at Riley Green.

It was nice to leave the industrial towns and return to the countryside and we moored at Riley Green, not a village that you would be expected to know, but a good mooring and ideal for a circular walk we had planned that took in a visit to Hoghton Tower.

Our circular walk from Riley Green took us along the canal towards Feniscowles where we turned northwards and followed the River Darwen for some miles.

River Darwen

Waiting for Flo to catch up - again!

River Darwen

Hoghton Tower.

Hoghton Tower is the ancestral home of the de Hoghton family. 650ft above sea level this ancient fortified manor house has remained unchanged since its restoration in 1565.