The canal was re opened to navigation along its entire length in july 2002 and forms part of the south pennine ring. In 1804 the rochdale became the first of our three trans pennine canals to be fully opened perhaps due to the choice of a route over the top of the pennines avoiding the problems with tunnel construction that had bedevilled the other two waterways.
Further progress was not made until 1791 when john rennie was asked to make a new survey in june.
Rochdale canal route map. Waterway routes services are continuing as normal including downloading maps and posting out dvds and maps on disc. The canal is excellent for cycling with national cycle network route 66 running along the towpath for most of the way. The maximum dimensions for a boat to be able to travel on the waterway are 71 feet and 11 inches long and.
The canal was reopened in 2002 a wonderful journey for energetic boaters especially as part of a. Manchester city council download rochdale canal cycle route national cycle route 66 roads and transport cycling and walking. Restored and reopened by volunteers in 2002 the rochdale canal links manchester to sowerby bridge on a cross pennine route.
Downloadable rochdale canal cruising map in acrobat pdf format. The canal stretches 32 miles in total with a whopping 91 locks on the stretch but the steep climb of the canal is worth it for the views so we re told. The rochdale canal was conceived in 1776 when a group of 48 men from rochdale raised 237 and commissioned james brindley to conduct a survey of possible routes between sowerby bridge and manchester.
It s a great way of exploring the area around littleborough and includes a visit to hollingworth lake and the ealees valley. The site features photographs of the restoration work on the western half of the rochdale canal as well as a virtual cruise of the entire canal. The rochdale canal history.
Regular events are held on the canal including the annual rochdale canal festival in the summer check the events page for details. The towpath provides easy walking and most of it is being upgraded to a cycle path. The rochdale canal is a broad canal which pioneered the route up the valleys on each side of blackstone edge on to the magnificent rounded slopes of the pennine moors.
Brindley proposed a route similar to the one built and another more expensive route via bury. There is easy access at many points along the route. The rochdale canal also forms part of the circular south pennine water trail.
The rochdale canal is a broad canal and is part of the waterways of mainland britain it runs for 32 miles through 91 locks from castlefield junction where it joins the bridgewater canal main line to sowerby bridge junction where it joins the calder and hebble navigation main line. Rail and modern road followed on all packed tightly into the available space.
