Canals
Berths available
Saddleworth Marina (Frenches Wharf)
Greenfield, Greater Manchester · Huddersfield Narrow Canal
Prices not published
Pontoon berths with a pump-out in the North West
Walk-ashore berth alongside a floating pontoon, usually in a marina. Sites with a pump-out for holding tanks, so you can empty without cruising to a service point.
18 sites · 1 with space now · 1 with a waiting list · typical £4,409 a year for a 57ft narrowboat (£3,221–£6,359 across 6 published tariffs)
At a glance
- 18 sites: 11 on canals, 3 on the Broads, lakes and lochs, 2 on estuaries and tidal rivers and 2 on the open coast.
- 1 of the 18 told us in the last six weeks they have space: Saddleworth Marina (Frenches Wharf).
- Keeping a waiting list: Ferry Nab Marina.
- For a 57ft narrowboat, published prices run from £3,221 a year (Heritage Marina) to £6,359 a year (Liverpool Marina); the middle of 6 is £4,409 a year.
- Longest boat taken: 65m (213ft) at Whitehaven Marina.
- Of the 18, 15 have electric hook-up, 14 diesel, 4 a boat hoist and 9 visitor berths.
- 2 of the 18 allow liveaboards, outright or by arrangement.
- Groups running more than one: Aquavista (4).
Broads, lakes & lochs
Waiting list
Ferry Nab Marina
Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria · Windermere
£1,770 a year for a 10m cruiser
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
Canals
Swanley Bridge Marina
Nantwich, Cheshire · Llangollen Canal
£3,365 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Coast & harbours
Whitehaven Marina
Whitehaven, Cumbria · Solway Firth approaches (Irish Sea), Whitehaven Harbour
£3,010 a year for a 10m yacht
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
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
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 | Pump-out | Space |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saddleworth Marina (Frenches Wharf) | Greenfield, Huddersfield Narrow Canal | – | pontoon berths | Yes | Berths available |
| Ferry Nab Marina | Bowness-on-Windermere, Windermere | – | pontoon berths, swinging moorings | Yes | Waiting list |
| Heritage Marina | Scholar Green, Macclesfield Canal | £3,221 | pontoon berths | Yes | Not reported |
| Liverpool Marina | Liverpool, River Mersey | £6,359 | pontoon berths | Yes | Not reported |
| Low Wood Bay Marina | Windermere, Windermere | – | pontoon berths, hard standing | Yes | Not reported |
| Maryport Marina | Maryport, Solway Firth | £4,820 | pontoon berths, hard standing | Yes | Not reported |
| Overwater Marina | Audlem, Shropshire Union Canal | £3,998 | pontoon berths | Yes | Not reported |
| Preston Marina | Preston, River Ribble | – | pontoon berths | Yes | Not reported |
| Swanley Bridge Marina | Nantwich, Llangollen Canal | £3,365 | pontoon berths | Yes | Not reported |
| Whitehaven Marina | Whitehaven, Solway Firth approaches (Irish Sea), Whitehaven Harbour | £5,336 | pontoon berths, quay and harbour wall berths | Yes | Not reported |
| Fettlers Wharf Marina | Ormskirk, Leeds & Liverpool Canal (Rufford Branch) | On request | pontoon berths | Yes | Not reported |
| Galgate Waterside & Marina | Galgate, Lancaster Canal | On request | pontoon berths | Yes | Not reported |
| Pennington Waterside & Marina | Leigh, Leigh Branch of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal | – | pontoon berths | Yes | Not reported |
| Portland Basin Marina | Dukinfield, Peak Forest Canal | On request | pontoon berths | Yes | Not reported |
| Reedley Marina | Burnley, Leeds & Liverpool Canal | On request | pontoon berths | Yes | Not reported |
| Scarisbrick Marina | Ormskirk, Leeds & Liverpool Canal | On request | pontoon berths | Yes | Not reported |
| White Bear Waterside & Marina | Adlington, Leeds & Liverpool Canal | On request | pontoon berths | Yes | Not reported |
| Windermere Marina Village | Bowness-on-Windermere, Lake Windermere | On request | pontoon berths | Yes | 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 6 pontoon berths with a pump-out here that publish a price, a 57ft narrowboat costs from £3,221 a year at Heritage Marina to £6,359 a year at Liverpool Marina. The middle figure is £4,409 a year. Check what each includes: electricity, water and VAT vary.
What are the cheapest pontoon berths with a pump-out in the North West?
For a 57ft narrowboat, Heritage Marina is cheapest at £3,221 a year in Scholar Green.
Which pontoon berths with a pump-out in the North West have space now?
1 of the 18 told us in the last six weeks they have space: Saddleworth Marina (Frenches Wharf). Each page shows the date they told us and what they have.
Can you live aboard at pontoon berths with a pump-out in the North West?
2 of the 18 say you can: 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, 11 need a Canal & River Trust boat licence and 3 need lake registration where the lake authority requires it. Coastal marinas usually need none.
Broader
Pontoon berths with a pump-out in the North West, by county
Pontoon berths with a pump-out in other areas
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