Canals
Berths available
Burscough Bridge L1 Leisure
Burscough, Lancashire · Leeds & Liverpool Canal
£2,191 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Narrowboat moorings with walk-ashore berths in the North West
Places that take narrowboats. Up to 7ft (2.13m) beam. Berths you step off onto a pontoon, quay or bank: no tender, no rowing out to a buoy. Easier for loading, for a dog, and for getting aboard after dark.
35 sites · 2 with space now · 1 with a waiting list · typical £3,365 a year for a 57ft narrowboat (£2,191–£6,359 across 7 published tariffs)
At a glance
- 35 sites: 30 on canals, 1 on a river and 4 on estuaries and tidal rivers.
- 2 of the 35 told us in the last six weeks they have space: Burscough Bridge L1 Leisure and Venetian Marina.
- Keeping a waiting list: New Islington Marina.
- For a 57ft narrowboat, published prices run from £2,191 a year (Burscough Bridge L1 Leisure) to £6,359 a year (Liverpool Marina); the middle of 7 is £3,365 a year.
- Longest boat taken: 21.3m (70ft) at Venetian Marina.
- Of the 35, 19 have electric hook-up, 13 a pump-out, 12 diesel, 4 a boat hoist and 9 visitor berths.
- 2 of the 35 allow liveaboards, outright or by arrangement.
- Groups running more than one: Aquavista (4) and Canal & River Trust (11).
Canals
Berths available
Venetian Marina
Cholmondeston, Cheshire · Shropshire Union Canal (Middlewich Branch)
£3,254 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Waiting list
New Islington Marina
Manchester, Greater Manchester · Rochdale Canal
Prices not published
Estuaries & tidal rivers
Full
Albert Dock
Liverpool, Merseyside · River Mersey
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Audlem North Offside L1 Leisure
Nantwich, Cheshire · Shropshire Union Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Bolton Le Sands L1 Leisure
Carnforth, Lancashire · Lancaster Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Greenfield Lock L1 Leisure
Chester, Cheshire · Shropshire Union Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Heatons Bridge L1
Ormskirk, Lancashire · Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Rawlinson Lane L1 Leisure
Chorley, Lancashire · Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Ring O Bells L1 Leisure
Burscough, Lancashire · Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Prices on request
Canals
Full
Salterforth L1 Leisure
Salterforth/Barnoldswick, Lancashire · Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Sparks Bridge L1 Leisure
Rufford, Lancashire · Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Stone Chimney Wharf L1 Leisure
Kirkham, Lancashire · Lancaster Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Aqueduct Marina
Church Minshull, Cheshire · Shropshire Union Canal (Middlewich Branch)
£4,536 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Heritage Marina
Scholar Green, Cheshire · Macclesfield Canal
£3,221 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Estuaries & tidal rivers
Liverpool Marina
Liverpool, Merseyside · River Mersey
£3,661 a year for a 10m yacht
Canals
Overwater Marina
Audlem, Cheshire · Shropshire Union Canal
£3,998 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Estuaries & tidal rivers
Preston Marina
Preston, Lancashire · River Ribble
£2,400 a year for a 10m yacht
Canals
Swanley Bridge Marina
Nantwich, Cheshire · Llangollen Canal
£3,365 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
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
Future Ambitions Moorings at the Barn Owl
Lymm, Cheshire · Bridgewater Canal
Prices on request
Canals
Galgate Waterside & Marina
Galgate, Lancashire · Lancaster Canal
Prices on request
Estuaries & tidal rivers
Glasson Waterside & Marina
Glasson Dock, Lancashire · River Lune Estuary / 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
Nantwich & Border Counties Yacht Club
Nantwich, Cheshire · Shropshire Union Canal
Prices not published
Rivers
Northwich Drydock Company
Northwich, Cheshire · River Weaver
Prices on request
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
Compared: prices for a 57ft narrowboat
| Site | Where | A year, 57ft narrowboat | Berths | Space |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burscough Bridge L1 Leisure | Burscough, Leeds & Liverpool Canal | £2,191 | linear moorings | Berths available |
| Venetian Marina | Cholmondeston, Shropshire Union Canal (Middlewich Branch) | £3,254 | pontoon berths, linear moorings | Berths available |
| New Islington Marina | Manchester, Rochdale Canal | – | pontoon berths | Waiting list |
| Albert Dock | Liverpool, River Mersey | – | pontoon berths, linear moorings | Full |
| Audlem North Offside L1 Leisure | Nantwich, Shropshire Union Canal | – | linear moorings | Full |
| Bolton Le Sands L1 Leisure | Carnforth, Lancaster Canal | – | linear moorings | Full |
| Greenfield Lock L1 Leisure | Chester, Shropshire Union Canal | – | linear moorings | Full |
| Heatons Bridge L1 | Ormskirk, Leeds & Liverpool Canal | – | linear moorings | Full |
| Rawlinson Lane L1 Leisure | Chorley, Leeds & Liverpool Canal | – | linear moorings | Full |
| Ring O Bells L1 Leisure | Burscough, Leeds & Liverpool Canal | On request | linear moorings | Full |
| Salterforth L1 Leisure | Salterforth/Barnoldswick, Leeds & Liverpool Canal | – | linear moorings | Full |
| Sparks Bridge L1 Leisure | Rufford, Leeds & Liverpool Canal | – | linear moorings | Full |
| Stone Chimney Wharf L1 Leisure | Kirkham, Lancaster Canal | – | linear moorings | Full |
| Aqueduct Marina | Church Minshull, Shropshire Union Canal (Middlewich Branch) | £4,536 | linear moorings, hard standing | Not reported |
| Heritage Marina | Scholar Green, Macclesfield Canal | £3,221 | pontoon berths | Not reported |
| Liverpool Marina | Liverpool, River Mersey | £6,359 | pontoon berths | Not reported |
| Overwater Marina | Audlem, Shropshire Union Canal | £3,998 | pontoon berths | Not reported |
| Preston Marina | Preston, River Ribble | – | pontoon berths | Not reported |
| Swanley Bridge Marina | Nantwich, Llangollen Canal | £3,365 | 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 |
| Future Ambitions Moorings at the Barn Owl | Lymm, Bridgewater Canal | On request | linear moorings | Not reported |
| Galgate Waterside & Marina | Galgate, Lancaster Canal | On request | pontoon berths | Not reported |
| Glasson Waterside & Marina | Glasson Dock, River Lune Estuary / 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 |
| Nantwich & Border Counties Yacht Club | Nantwich, Shropshire Union Canal | – | linear moorings, quay and harbour wall berths | Not reported |
| Northwich Drydock Company | Northwich, River Weaver | On request | linear moorings | 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 |
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 7 narrowboat moorings with walk-ashore berths here that publish a price, a 57ft narrowboat costs from £2,191 a year at Burscough Bridge L1 Leisure to £6,359 a year at Liverpool Marina. The middle figure is £3,365 a year. Check what each includes: electricity, water and VAT vary.
What are the cheapest narrowboat moorings with walk-ashore berths in the North West?
For a 57ft narrowboat, Burscough Bridge L1 Leisure is cheapest at £2,191 a year.
Which narrowboat moorings with walk-ashore berths in the North West have space now?
2 of the 35 told us in the last six weeks they have space: Burscough Bridge L1 Leisure and Venetian Marina. Each page shows the date they told us and what they have.
Can you live aboard at narrowboat moorings with walk-ashore berths in the North West?
2 of the 35 say you can: Venetian Marina (liveaboard by arrangement) and Galgate 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, 28 need a Canal & River Trust boat licence and 3 need the navigation's own licence. Coastal marinas usually need none.
Broader
Narrowboat moorings with walk-ashore berths in the North West, by county
- Cheshire 13
- Lancashire 14
Narrowboat moorings with walk-ashore berths in other areas
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