Here’s the LCBA’s top 5 mooring spots along the Lancaster Canal, with a quick guide to help you plan a 5 day journey along the Canal.
Lancaster (Penny Street Basin & Aldcliffe Road)
- A very handy place to stop in the city centre with shops, cafés, pubs, and services close by.
- Canal & River Trust visitor moorings here make it a popular first overnight stop.
- Towpath surface and bollards/rings are available at Aldcliffe Road. Canal & River Trust+1
- Customer Service Facilities (CSF): A water point, Elsan, Refuse and Pump out is available opposite the Water Witch Pub.
Great for: city access, resupply, sightseeing.
Mooring: Lancaster Depot Footbridge area or Penny Street Basin
Nearby Bridges:
- Bridge 95 – Haverbreaks
- Bridge 96–97 – Aldcliffe Road bridges
- Bridge 98 – Basin Bridge (historic roving bridge)
Garstang
- Garstang offers extensive moorings with water, electric, showers & toilets — ideal for longer marina stays or a base.
- Customer Service Facilities (CSF): waterpoint, elsan, pump out, refuse and a toilet at the Moss Lane Services
- Close to a historic market town with shops and pubs.
- There are also waterside moorings which are Canal & River Trust sites near Garstang (e.g., Moss Lane, Dimples Bridge) which provide good towpath mooring near local services.
Great for: amenities, social stops, exploring the town.
Mooring:
- Moss Lane area – canal side rings, south of bridge 63: long stay in winter, short stay in summer, North of Bridge 63: Long stay, all seasons
Bridge markers:
- Bridge 43 – Head Nook Bridge
- Bridge 44+45 – sequence nearby
- Bridge 46–53 – (Garstang/Catterall area)
Services: Water point at Moss Lane, pubs/shops in Garstang
3. Ratcliffe Wharf & Other Garstang Area Sites
- Ratcliffe Wharf offers off-side moorings a few miles north of Garstang — quieter, with water available.
- Customer Service Facilities (CSF): Water Point. No refuge.
Great for: peaceful weekend stops, quiet cruising.
Ratcliffe Wharf – good peaceful stop
Bridge 75 – Ratcliffe Bridge and surrounding minor bridges
Services: Petrol station about 10 mins walk to the A6, with bus stops close by. pubs/shops in Garstang
4. Carnforth & Canal Turn
- A classic rural spot near Carnforth with moorings by mooring rings/bollards. Short stay in the summer, Long stay in the winter.
- Easy access to town services and pubs, and a good base for exploring northward towards Tewitfield.
- Customer Service Facilities (CSF): Water Point, Elsan and, for the m oment, Toilets and Showers avaiable in the basin. Refuge currently closed.
Great for: countryside stops, nearby stores and pubs.
5. Tewitfield
- At the northern limit of navigation on the Lancaster Canal main line.
- Marina moorings here are well regarded and make a good turn-around point for cruisers.
- You’ll find rings/bollards and a friendly atmosphere for longer stays.
- Customer Service Facilities (CSF): Water point, Elsan and Pump Out, Refuge. Toilets and showers currently still open.
Great for: northern turnaround, scenic countryside. Longlands pub two minutes away and bus stop to Kendal or carnforth in front of pub.
6. Bolton-le-Sands / Village Spots
- Smaller off-side mooring spots near Bolton-le-Sands offer rural charm with a short walk to the village.
- These are quieter and more basic but lovely in good weather. watersidemooring.com
Great for: low-key overnight stops.
Mooring: Bolton-le-Sands basic rings; limited mooring due to the sloped canal edge. Pontoons available beinhd The Royal and At Packet Bridge.
Bridge numbers:
- Bridge ~79 – Cockerham Road Bridge (limits beam)
- Bridges 80–90+ through rural north section
Services: Pubs & shops a short walk from ring moorings
Visitor Moorings & Rules
- Look for designated visitor moorings with red icons on Canal & River Trust maps — these often have time limits (typically 24–48 hours) and are free within limits.
- Always check local signs for stay limits, and use rings or bollards rather than tying to trees or private property.
Tips for Choosing Mooring Spots
- Arrive early in popular spots (Lancaster, Garstang) to secure a good pitch.
- Balance services/access vs peace & quiet — inner-town moorings are convenient, rural ones more tranquil.
- Local pubs and walks off the towpath add to the experience! (e.g., in Lancaster and Garstang)
Approximate Daily Legs
Here’s how you could break it into comfortable daily cruising segments:
🛶 Day 1: Preston → Galgate
- Distance: ~16 m 0 f
- Bridges: 10–36
- Why: A good first day’s cruise; marina services if you need them.
Day 2: Galgate → Garstang / Ratcliffe
- Distance: ~3–7 m
- Bridges: 36–75
- Why: Sets you up well for exploring Garstang.
Day 3: Ratcliffe → Lancaster
- Distance: ~10 m
- Bridges: 75–102
- Why: City visit with great restaurants, shops & pubs.
Day 4: Lancaster → Bolton-le-Sands
- Distance: ~7–8 m
- Bridges: 102–110ish
- Why: Rural stop before the final push north.
Day 5: Bolton-le-Sands → Tewitfield
- Distance: ~5–6 m
- Bridges: ~110–138
- Why: Easy final leg and time to enjoy the terminus