Canals
Berths available
Burscough Bridge L1 Leisure
Burscough, Lancashire · Leeds & Liverpool Canal
£2,191 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Walk-ashore berths in the North West
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.
81 sites · 6 with space now · 8 with a waiting list · typical £3,310 a year for a 57ft narrowboat (£545–£6,359 across 12 published tariffs)
At a glance
- 81 sites: 66 on canals, 1 on a river, 5 on the Broads, lakes and lochs, 7 on estuaries and tidal rivers and 2 on the open coast.
- 6 of the 81 told us in the last six weeks they have space: Burscough Bridge L1 Leisure, Hest Bank L1 Leisure, Saddleworth Marina (Frenches Wharf), Salwick Wharf, Skippool Creek Moorings and Venetian Marina.
- Keeping a waiting list: Barbridge (Site 1) L1 Leisure, Bilsborrow Wharf L1 Leisure, Calveley Offside - L1 Moorings (South) L1 Leisure, Ferry Nab Marina, Greenberfield Top Lock, Mersey Motor Boat Club Moorings at Lydiate and 2 more.
- For a 57ft narrowboat, published prices run from £545 a year (Skippool Creek Moorings) to £6,359 a year (Liverpool Marina); the middle of 12 is £3,310 a year.
- Longest boat taken: 65m (213ft) at Whitehaven Marina.
- Of the 81, 28 have electric hook-up, 23 a pump-out, 18 diesel, 5 a boat hoist and 12 visitor berths.
- 3 of the 81 allow liveaboards, outright or by arrangement.
- Groups running more than one: Aquavista (5) and Canal & River Trust (42).
Canals
Berths available
Hest Bank L1 Leisure
Morecombe, Lancashire · Lancaster Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Berths available
Saddleworth Marina (Frenches Wharf)
Greenfield, Greater Manchester · Huddersfield Narrow Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Berths available
Salwick Wharf
Preston, Lancashire · Lancaster Canal
Prices not published
Estuaries & tidal rivers
Berths available
Skippool Creek Moorings
Thornton Cleveleys, Lancashire · River Wyre
£545 a year for a 10m yacht
Canals
Berths available
Venetian Marina
Cholmondeston, Cheshire · Shropshire Union Canal (Middlewich Branch)
£3,254 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Waiting list
Barbridge (Site 1) L1 Leisure
Nantwich, Cheshire · Shropshire Union Canal
Prices on request
Canals
Waiting list
Bilsborrow Wharf L1 Leisure
Bilsborrow, Lancashire · Lancaster Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Waiting list
Calveley Offside - L1 Moorings (South) L1 Leisure
Calveley, Cheshire · Shropshire Union Canal
Prices not published
Broads, lakes & lochs
Waiting list
Ferry Nab Marina
Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria · Windermere
£1,770 a year for a 10m cruiser
Canals
Waiting list
Greenberfield Top Lock
Barnoldswick, Lancashire · Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Waiting list
Mersey Motor Boat Club Moorings at Lydiate
Lydiate, Merseyside · Leeds and Liverpool Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Waiting list
New Islington Marina
Manchester, Greater Manchester · Rochdale Canal
Prices not published
Estuaries & tidal rivers
Waiting list
Wardleys Marine Yacht Club
Hambleton, Lancashire · River Wyre
Prices on request
Estuaries & tidal rivers
Full
Albert Dock
Liverpool, Merseyside · River Mersey
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Audlem L1 Leisure
Nantwich, Cheshire · Shropshire Union Canal
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
Bosley Top Lock
Macclesfield, Cheshire · Macclesfield Canal
Prices on request
Canals
Full
Botany Bay L1 Leisure
Chorley, Lancashire · Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Cabus Nook L1 Leisure
Garstang, Lancashire · Lancaster Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Crabtree Lane L1 Leisure
Burscough, Lancashire · Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Prices on request
Canals
Full
Croxton Lane L1 Leisure
Middlewich, Cheshire · Trent & Mersey Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Dimples Bridge L1 Leisure
Garstang, 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
Henhull
Nantwich, Cheshire · Shropshire Union Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Higher Poynton L1 Leisure
Higher Poynton, Cheshire · Macclesfield Canal
Prices on request
Canals
Full
Lathom L1 Leisure
Burscough, Lancashire · Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Lodge Hill Galgate L1 Leisure
Lancaster, Lancashire · Lancaster Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Montgomeries Wharf
Garstang, Lancashire · Lancaster Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Moss Lane (North)
Garstang, Lancashire · Lancaster Canal
Prices on request
Canals
Full
Moss Lane L1 Leisure
Garstang, Lancashire · Lancaster Canal
Prices on request
Canals
Full
Nantwich L1 Leisure
Nantwich, Cheshire · Shropshire Union Canal
Prices on request
Canals
Full
Ollershaw Lane Towpath Mooring
Northwich, Cheshire · Trent & Mersey Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Parbold L1 Leisure
Parbold, Lancashire · Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Pendle L1 Leisure
Preston, Lancashire · Lancaster Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Preston Brook Wharf
Warrington, Cheshire · Bridgewater Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Ratcliffe Wharf L1 Leisure
Lancaster, Lancashire · Lancaster Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Rawlinson Lane L1 Leisure
Chorley, Lancashire · Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Red Lion Barnton L1 Leisure
Northwich, Cheshire · Trent & Mersey Canal
Prices on request
Canals
Full
Red Rock L1 Leisure
Wigan, Greater Manchester · Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Prices on request
Canals
Full
Ring O Bells L1 Leisure
Burscough, Lancashire · Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Prices on request
Canals
Full
Rufford Top Lock
Burscough, Lancashire · Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Salterforth L1 Leisure
Salterforth/Barnoldswick, Lancashire · Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Saracens Head L1 Leisure
Ormskirk, Lancashire · Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Sparks Bridge L1 Leisure
Rufford, Lancashire · Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Stoke Hall Lane L1 Leisure
Nantwich, Cheshire East · Shropshire Union Canal (Middlewich Branch)
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Stone Chimney Wharf L1 Leisure
Kirkham, Lancashire · Lancaster Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Tithe Barn L1 Leisure
Garstang, Lancashire · Lancaster Canal
Prices on request
Canals
Aqueduct Marina
Church Minshull, Cheshire · Shropshire Union Canal (Middlewich Branch)
£4,536 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
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
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
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
Canals
Worsley Dry Docks
Worsley, Greater Manchester · Bridgewater 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 |
| Hest Bank L1 Leisure | Morecombe, Lancaster Canal | – | linear moorings | Berths available |
| Saddleworth Marina (Frenches Wharf) | Greenfield, Huddersfield Narrow Canal | – | pontoon berths | Berths available |
| Salwick Wharf | Preston, Lancaster Canal | – | linear moorings | Berths available |
| Skippool Creek Moorings | Thornton Cleveleys, River Wyre | £545 | drying berths, quay and harbour wall berths | Berths available |
| Venetian Marina | Cholmondeston, Shropshire Union Canal (Middlewich Branch) | £3,254 | pontoon berths, linear moorings | Berths available |
| Barbridge (Site 1) L1 Leisure | Nantwich, Shropshire Union Canal | On request | linear moorings | Waiting list |
| Bilsborrow Wharf L1 Leisure | Bilsborrow, Lancaster Canal | – | linear moorings | Waiting list |
| Calveley Offside - L1 Moorings (South) L1 Leisure | Calveley, Shropshire Union Canal | – | linear moorings | Waiting list |
| Ferry Nab Marina | Bowness-on-Windermere, Windermere | – | pontoon berths, swinging moorings | Waiting list |
| Greenberfield Top Lock | Barnoldswick, Leeds & Liverpool Canal | – | linear moorings | Waiting list |
| Mersey Motor Boat Club Moorings at Lydiate | Lydiate, Leeds and Liverpool Canal | – | linear moorings | Waiting list |
| New Islington Marina | Manchester, Rochdale Canal | – | pontoon berths | Waiting list |
| Wardleys Marine Yacht Club | Hambleton, River Wyre | On request | linear moorings, drying berths, quay and harbour wall berths | Waiting list |
| Albert Dock | Liverpool, River Mersey | – | pontoon berths, linear moorings | Full |
| Audlem L1 Leisure | Nantwich, Shropshire Union Canal | – | 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 |
| Bosley Top Lock | Macclesfield, Macclesfield Canal | On request | linear moorings | Full |
| Botany Bay L1 Leisure | Chorley, Leeds & Liverpool Canal | – | linear moorings | Full |
| Cabus Nook L1 Leisure | Garstang, Lancaster Canal | – | linear moorings | Full |
| Crabtree Lane L1 Leisure | Burscough, Leeds & Liverpool Canal | On request | linear moorings | Full |
| Croxton Lane L1 Leisure | Middlewich, Trent & Mersey Canal | – | linear moorings | Full |
| Dimples Bridge L1 Leisure | Garstang, 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 |
| Henhull | Nantwich, Shropshire Union Canal | – | linear moorings | Full |
| Higher Poynton L1 Leisure | Higher Poynton, Macclesfield Canal | On request | linear moorings | Full |
| Lathom L1 Leisure | Burscough, Leeds & Liverpool Canal | – | linear moorings | Full |
| Lodge Hill Galgate L1 Leisure | Lancaster, Lancaster Canal | – | linear moorings | Full |
| Montgomeries Wharf | Garstang, Lancaster Canal | – | linear moorings, quay and harbour wall berths | Full |
| Moss Lane (North) | Garstang, Lancaster Canal | On request | linear moorings | Full |
| Moss Lane L1 Leisure | Garstang, Lancaster Canal | On request | linear moorings | Full |
| Nantwich L1 Leisure | Nantwich, Shropshire Union Canal | On request | linear moorings | Full |
| Ollershaw Lane Towpath Mooring | Northwich, Trent & Mersey Canal | – | linear moorings | Full |
| Parbold L1 Leisure | Parbold, Leeds & Liverpool Canal | – | linear moorings | Full |
| Pendle L1 Leisure | Preston, Lancaster Canal | – | linear moorings | Full |
| Preston Brook Wharf | Warrington, Bridgewater Canal | – | linear moorings | Full |
| Ratcliffe Wharf L1 Leisure | Lancaster, Lancaster Canal | – | linear moorings | Full |
| Rawlinson Lane L1 Leisure | Chorley, Leeds & Liverpool Canal | – | linear moorings | Full |
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 12 walk-ashore berths here that publish a price, a 57ft narrowboat costs from £545 a year at Skippool Creek Moorings to £6,359 a year at Liverpool Marina. The middle figure is £3,310 a year. Check what each includes: electricity, water and VAT vary.
What are the cheapest walk-ashore berths in the North West?
For a 57ft narrowboat, Skippool Creek Moorings is cheapest at £545 a year in Thornton Cleveleys.
Which walk-ashore berths in the North West have space now?
6 of the 81 told us in the last six weeks they have space: Burscough Bridge L1 Leisure, Hest Bank L1 Leisure, Saddleworth Marina (Frenches Wharf), Salwick Wharf, Skippool Creek Moorings and Venetian Marina. Each page shows the date they told us and what they have.
Can you live aboard at walk-ashore berths in the North West?
3 of the 81 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, 62 need a Canal & River Trust boat licence, 5 need lake registration where the lake authority requires it and 6 need the navigation's own licence. Coastal marinas usually need none.
Broader
Walk-ashore berths in the North West, by county
Walk-ashore berths in other areas
- East Midlands 86
- East of England 97
- North East 11
- South East 175
- South West 112
- West Midlands 106
- Yorkshire and The Humber 44
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