Gathering of Boats at Top Lock [10 - 13 September]

[Water Rat]

... and a link to legging through Hyde Bank tunnel

[Water Rat]

This link will take you to the publisher's site if you cannot get a hard copy

http://www.mpldigital.com/mortons-media/towpath-talk

Click on Page Four of the current issue

[Water Rat]

There was a very nice illustrated article in Towpath Talk about the Horse Drawn Barge coming to Marple

[admin]

Today marks the start of the first Marple Festival with the passage of the Marple built 150 year old wooden narrowboat "Maria" up our magnificent lock flight piloted by Sue Day and drawn by her horse Bilbo. Look out for "Maria" and her crew this afternoon between 3.00pm and 6.00pm.

[admin]

As part of the national Heritage Open Days, the Horseboating Society plan a spectacular boat gathering over the weekend of 10-13 September.

See Britain's oldest surviving wooden narrowboat return to Marple where it was built in 1854.

Maria, the horse-drawn canal boat, will travel from Guidebridge to Marple, via the Ashton Canal & Lower Peak Forest Canal and arrive at Marple aqueduct and locks during the afternoon, then reach Top Lock at approx 5-6pm. Horseboating Maria is owned, restored and maintained by the Ashton Packet Boat Company based at Guidebridge and has been a regular visitor to Marple Locks Festivals since they began.

Maria will depart from Marple back to Guidebridge on Sunday or Monday.

For more information about the Horseboating Society visit www.horseboating.org.uk