Canals
Berths available
Saddleworth Marina (Frenches Wharf)
Greenfield, Greater Manchester · Huddersfield Narrow Canal
Prices not published
Inland moorings with pontoon berths in the North West
Canals, rivers, the Broads and lakes: fresh water, no tides, and a navigation licence from the authority that runs the water. Walk-ashore berth alongside a floating pontoon, usually in a marina.
24 sites · 2 with space now · 2 with a waiting list · typical £3,254 a year for a 57ft narrowboat (£2,779–£3,998 across 5 published tariffs)
At a glance
- 24 sites: 19 on canals and 5 on the Broads, lakes and lochs.
- 2 of the 24 told us in the last six weeks they have space: Saddleworth Marina (Frenches Wharf) and Venetian Marina.
- Keeping a waiting list: Ferry Nab Marina and New Islington Marina.
- For a 57ft narrowboat, published prices run from £2,779 a year (Royal Windermere Yacht Club) to £3,998 a year (Overwater Marina); the middle of 5 is £3,254 a year.
- Longest boat taken: 21.3m (70ft) at Venetian Marina.
- Of the 24, 17 have electric hook-up, 14 a pump-out, 10 diesel, 2 a boat hoist and 7 visitor berths.
- 3 of the 24 allow liveaboards, outright or by arrangement.
- Groups running more than one: Aquavista (5).
Canals
Berths available
Venetian Marina
Cholmondeston, Cheshire · Shropshire Union Canal (Middlewich Branch)
£3,254 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Broads, lakes & lochs
Waiting list
Ferry Nab Marina
Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria · Windermere
£1,770 a year for a 10m cruiser
Canals
Waiting list
New Islington Marina
Manchester, Greater Manchester · Rochdale Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Heritage Marina
Scholar Green, Cheshire · Macclesfield Canal
£3,221 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Broads, lakes & lochs
Low Wood Bay Marina
Windermere, Cumbria · Windermere
£7,750 a year for a 10m cruiser
Canals
Overwater Marina
Audlem, Cheshire · Shropshire Union Canal
£3,998 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Broads, lakes & lochs
Royal Windermere Yacht Club
Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria · Windermere
£2,779 a year for a 10m cruiser
Canals
Swanley Bridge Marina
Nantwich, Cheshire · Llangollen Canal
£3,365 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Broads, lakes & lochs
The Quays, Windermere
Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria · Windermere
£1,167 a year for a 10m cruiser
Canals
Boothstown Marina
Boothstown, Greater Manchester · Bridgewater Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Droylsden Marina
Droylsden, Greater Manchester · Hollinwood Branch Canal
Prices on request
Canals
Fettlers Wharf Marina
Ormskirk, Lancashire · Leeds & Liverpool Canal (Rufford Branch)
Prices on request
Canals
Galgate Waterside & Marina
Galgate, Lancashire · Lancaster Canal
Prices on request
Canals
Lymm Marina
Lymm, Cheshire · Bridgewater Canal
Prices on request
Canals
Marple Waterside & Marina
Marple, Greater Manchester · Peak Forest Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Park Farm Marina
Northwich, Cheshire · Trent and Mersey Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Pennington Waterside & Marina
Leigh, Greater Manchester · Leigh Branch of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Portland Basin Marina
Dukinfield, Greater Manchester · Peak Forest Canal
Prices on request
Canals
Reedley Marina
Burnley, Lancashire · Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Prices on request
Canals
Scarisbrick Marina
Ormskirk, Lancashire · Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Prices on request
Canals
Tattenhall Marina
Tattenhall, Cheshire · Shropshire Union Canal
Prices on request
Canals
White Bear Waterside & Marina
Adlington, Lancashire · Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Prices on request
Broads, lakes & lochs
Windermere Marina Village
Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria · Lake Windermere
Prices on request
Compared: prices for a 57ft narrowboat
| Site | Where | A year, 57ft narrowboat | Berths | Space |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saddleworth Marina (Frenches Wharf) | Greenfield, Huddersfield Narrow Canal | – | pontoon berths | Berths available |
| Venetian Marina | Cholmondeston, Shropshire Union Canal (Middlewich Branch) | £3,254 | pontoon berths, linear moorings | Berths available |
| Ferry Nab Marina | Bowness-on-Windermere, Windermere | – | pontoon berths, swinging moorings | Waiting list |
| New Islington Marina | Manchester, Rochdale Canal | – | pontoon berths | Waiting list |
| Heritage Marina | Scholar Green, Macclesfield Canal | £3,221 | pontoon berths | Not reported |
| Low Wood Bay Marina | Windermere, Windermere | – | pontoon berths, hard standing | Not reported |
| Overwater Marina | Audlem, Shropshire Union Canal | £3,998 | pontoon berths | Not reported |
| Royal Windermere Yacht Club | Bowness-on-Windermere, Windermere | £2,779 | pontoon berths | Not reported |
| Swanley Bridge Marina | Nantwich, Llangollen Canal | £3,365 | pontoon berths | Not reported |
| The Quays, Windermere | Bowness-on-Windermere, Windermere | – | pontoon berths | Not reported |
| Boothstown Marina | Boothstown, Bridgewater Canal | – | pontoon berths | Not reported |
| Droylsden Marina | Droylsden, Hollinwood Branch Canal | On request | pontoon berths | Not reported |
| Fettlers Wharf Marina | Ormskirk, Leeds & Liverpool Canal (Rufford Branch) | On request | pontoon berths | Not reported |
| Galgate Waterside & Marina | Galgate, Lancaster Canal | On request | pontoon berths | Not reported |
| Lymm Marina | Lymm, Bridgewater Canal | On request | pontoon berths | Not reported |
| Marple Waterside & Marina | Marple, Peak Forest Canal | – | pontoon berths | Not reported |
| Park Farm Marina | Northwich, Trent and Mersey Canal | – | pontoon berths | Not reported |
| Pennington Waterside & Marina | Leigh, Leigh Branch of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal | – | pontoon berths | Not reported |
| Portland Basin Marina | Dukinfield, Peak Forest Canal | On request | pontoon berths | Not reported |
| Reedley Marina | Burnley, Leeds & Liverpool Canal | On request | pontoon berths | Not reported |
| Scarisbrick Marina | Ormskirk, Leeds & Liverpool Canal | On request | pontoon berths | Not reported |
| Tattenhall Marina | Tattenhall, Shropshire Union Canal | On request | pontoon berths | Not reported |
| White Bear Waterside & Marina | Adlington, Leeds & Liverpool Canal | On request | pontoon berths | Not reported |
| Windermere Marina Village | Bowness-on-Windermere, Lake Windermere | On request | pontoon berths | Not reported |
From each site's published tariff. "–" means the site doesn't say. Prices change; confirm with the site.
Questions
How much does a mooring for a 57ft narrowboat cost in the North West?
Across the 5 inland moorings with pontoon berths here that publish a price, a 57ft narrowboat costs from £2,779 a year at Royal Windermere Yacht Club to £3,998 a year at Overwater Marina. The middle figure is £3,254 a year. Check what each includes: electricity, water and VAT vary.
What are the cheapest inland moorings with pontoon berths in the North West?
For a 57ft narrowboat, Royal Windermere Yacht Club is cheapest at £2,779 a year in Bowness-on-Windermere.
Which inland moorings with pontoon berths in the North West have space now?
2 of the 24 told us in the last six weeks they have space: Saddleworth Marina (Frenches Wharf) and Venetian Marina. Each page shows the date they told us and what they have.
Can you live aboard at inland moorings with pontoon berths in the North West?
3 of the 24 say you can: Venetian Marina (liveaboard by arrangement), Galgate Waterside & Marina (liveaboards allowed) and White Bear Waterside & Marina (liveaboards allowed). Living aboard can need planning consent and council tax; ask each site about its terms.
Do I need a licence as well as a mooring?
On top of the mooring fee: of these, 17 need a Canal & River Trust boat licence, 5 need lake registration where the lake authority requires it and 2 need the navigation's own licence. Coastal marinas usually need none.
Broader
Inland moorings with pontoon berths in the North West, by county
Inland moorings with pontoon berths in other areas
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