Blackburn is not the most beautiful of canal areas. My recommendation would be to travel through quickly if that is possible.
The Beatles, in their day, referenced Blackburn in their song A Day in the Life when they sang "I read the news today, oh boy, 4000 holes in Blackburn, Lancashire." They were referring to the 4000 potholes throughout the city of Blackburn. The more things change, the more they remain the same, even 50 years later.
As mentioned before, this stretch often resembles a garbage tip more than a scenic canal. We moored here for two evenings so that we could travel to see friends and do some shopping. We were lucky enough to find a spot at Eanam Wharf that is now home to a pub and restaurant (and two homeless men who like to sleep under the Wharf's overhang). This was a little disconcerting to walk past at shortly after 8 Friday morning and again at about the same time on Saturday. But one can't blame them. The restaurant has two comfy couches under the overhang that just call out as a place for a comfortable kip. I just would never want to actually sit on those couches now that I know the use they are put to during the night.
The wharf is a great place to moore since there are gates at either end that are theoretically locked in the evening and reopened in early morning. If true, someone has a kind heart and is turning a blind eye to the couch sleepers.
Blackburn Locks is a series of 6 locks that take you almost 55 feet towards the valley below. As you go through the locks you have plenty of time to observe the countless mills that line the canal, leftover from when this was a great cotton cloth producing area spinning US cotton into cloth sold round the world.
Johnson's Hillock Locks, a series of 7 locks, are much much more scenic and tranquil. These locks are surrounded by cow and sheep filled pastures that do a lot to sooth the soul. The seven locks lower you 65 and a half feet towards the valley as you progress towards Liverpool.
The Beatles, in their day, referenced Blackburn in their song A Day in the Life when they sang "I read the news today, oh boy, 4000 holes in Blackburn, Lancashire." They were referring to the 4000 potholes throughout the city of Blackburn. The more things change, the more they remain the same, even 50 years later.
As mentioned before, this stretch often resembles a garbage tip more than a scenic canal. We moored here for two evenings so that we could travel to see friends and do some shopping. We were lucky enough to find a spot at Eanam Wharf that is now home to a pub and restaurant (and two homeless men who like to sleep under the Wharf's overhang). This was a little disconcerting to walk past at shortly after 8 Friday morning and again at about the same time on Saturday. But one can't blame them. The restaurant has two comfy couches under the overhang that just call out as a place for a comfortable kip. I just would never want to actually sit on those couches now that I know the use they are put to during the night.
The wharf is a great place to moore since there are gates at either end that are theoretically locked in the evening and reopened in early morning. If true, someone has a kind heart and is turning a blind eye to the couch sleepers.
Blackburn Locks is a series of 6 locks that take you almost 55 feet towards the valley below. As you go through the locks you have plenty of time to observe the countless mills that line the canal, leftover from when this was a great cotton cloth producing area spinning US cotton into cloth sold round the world.
Johnson's Hillock Locks, a series of 7 locks, are much much more scenic and tranquil. These locks are surrounded by cow and sheep filled pastures that do a lot to sooth the soul. The seven locks lower you 65 and a half feet towards the valley as you progress towards Liverpool.
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