Canals
Berths available
Saddleworth Marina (Frenches Wharf)
Greenfield, Greater Manchester · Huddersfield Narrow Canal
Prices not published
Pontoon berths in the North West
Walk-ashore berth alongside a floating pontoon, usually in a marina.
31 sites · 2 with space now · 2 with a waiting list · typical £3,365 a year for a 57ft narrowboat (£2,779–£6,359 across 9 published tariffs)
At a glance
- 31 sites: 19 on canals, 5 on the Broads, lakes and lochs, 5 on estuaries and tidal rivers and 2 on the open coast.
- 2 of the 31 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 £6,359 a year (Liverpool Marina); the middle of 9 is £3,365 a year.
- Longest boat taken: 65m (213ft) at Whitehaven Marina.
- Of the 31, 22 have electric hook-up, 18 a pump-out, 15 diesel, 5 a boat hoist and 11 visitor berths.
- 3 of the 31 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
Estuaries & tidal rivers
Full
Albert Dock
Liverpool, Merseyside · River Mersey
Prices not published
Estuaries & tidal rivers
Douglas Boatyard
Hesketh Bank, Lancashire · River Douglas
£1,800 a year for a 10m yacht
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
Broads, lakes & lochs
Low Wood Bay Marina
Windermere, Cumbria · Windermere
£7,750 a year for a 10m cruiser
Coast & harbours
Maryport Marina
Maryport, Cumbria · Solway Firth
£2,775 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
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
Coast & harbours
Whitehaven Marina
Whitehaven, Cumbria · Solway Firth approaches (Irish Sea), Whitehaven Harbour
£3,010 a year for a 10m yacht
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
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
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 |
| Albert Dock | Liverpool, River Mersey | – | pontoon berths, linear moorings | Full |
| Douglas Boatyard | Hesketh Bank, River Douglas | £3,127 | pontoon berths, linear moorings | 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 |
| Low Wood Bay Marina | Windermere, Windermere | – | pontoon berths, hard standing | Not reported |
| Maryport Marina | Maryport, Solway Firth | £4,820 | pontoon berths, hard standing | Not reported |
| Overwater Marina | Audlem, Shropshire Union Canal | £3,998 | pontoon berths | Not reported |
| Preston Marina | Preston, River Ribble | – | 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 |
| Whitehaven Marina | Whitehaven, Solway Firth approaches (Irish Sea), Whitehaven Harbour | £5,336 | pontoon berths, quay and harbour wall 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 9 pontoon berths here that publish a price, a 57ft narrowboat costs from £2,779 a year at Royal Windermere Yacht Club 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 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 pontoon berths in the North West have space now?
2 of the 31 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 pontoon berths in the North West?
3 of the 31 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, 18 need a Canal & River Trust boat licence, 5 need lake registration where the lake authority requires it and 3 need the navigation's own licence. Coastal marinas usually need none.
Broader
Pontoon berths in the North West, by county
Pontoon berths in other areas
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