That’s them done then…

Over the last two days we’ve dropped down to and through Wheelock, finishing the Cheshire Locks. It used to be known as Heartbreak Hill by the working boatmen, but of course it was only a part of one working day for them, we’ve taken four!

You’re never far away from the next lock on this stretch, and our first yesterday was just around the corner.

Lock 57, another that has lost it’s partner…
There used to be a Post Office and stores here, but it’s now a private house.

Another boat caught us up here, so, as we worked our way down the locks, I was setting up one for them. When there was one, of course...

Lock 58 takes the canal under the M6, then there’s a half-mile pound until the next two near Malkins Bank Golf Club.

Lock 60’s tail bridge shows the different philosophies of Brindley and Telford. Brindley used dressed stone to form the bridge arch, Telford used red brick on the later addition.

We pulled in alongside the driving range near the winding hole above Lock 61.

Later in the afternoon Richard on Pendle Warter went past and I went down to the next lock to chat while he dropped down.

This morning, with the sun trying to break through the early mist, we followed Pipedream to the next lock.


Two or three boats had already gone past, heading down. We’d left it till after ten in the hope that we’d meet boats coming up out of Wheelock, hope that was misplaced as it turned out.

Lock 62 is a single, the old disused chamber now filled with concrete and used as a bywash. The barrier across the entrance has been run into, I guess.

What goes around comes around, as they say, and from this point on the couple on Pipedream were setting up the locks for us as they went ahead.

The settlement of Malkins Bank, with the nearside Lock 63 set ready for us.

Last one today, Lock 66.

We had to queue for water at Wheelock Wharf services, but it gave me a chance to thank the Pipedream crew. Then, about an hour after the last lock, we were on the move again, following the winding canal as it runs above the River Wheelock. Very pleasant in the warm sunshine.

We stopped for the night at Paddy’s Wood, opposite the allotments of Yeowood Farm. There’re rings here and it’s nice and open.

Richard, this time with wife Linda and on foot went past, and stopped to say hi, having taken the dog for a long walk from where they’d moored a little further on.

Into Middlewich tomorrow.

Locks 10, miles 2½ (2 days)