Densie goes over the top

Derelict mill in Nelson

Today we reached the summit pound on the Leeds & Liverpool, the highest point on the canal, having worked 7 locks and and a mile (nearly) long tunnel. For non-boaters a pound is the water between two locks.

We started early and travelled into Nelson where we stopped at a mooring kindly provided by Mr Morrison for customers of his emporium which is next to the canal. We bought the groceries for the next 4 days and carried on to the Barrowford locks where we met up with Lynne and Martin on Mulberry with whom we had travelled previously on the Wigan and Blackburn flights.

Densie and Mulberry in the Barrowford locks

There is a shortage of water in the reservoirs that feed the top of the canal and so BW restrict the hours in which the locks can be used. We stopped for lunch and water above the top lock and then moved forward to the Foulridge tunnel. This tunnel is too narrow for boats to pass and so passage on alternate half hours is controlled by traffic lights.

Beyond Foulridge the scenery shows we are at the top of the Pennines. The land is relatively flat with moorland hills rising above small farms. We have clearly left the Lancashire mills behind - it all looks very rural.