Entrance from Lancaster Canal
figurative map,RIBBLE LINK
Old Picture,Lancaster Canal near Ribble Link Entrance
OS map of Ribble Link Area
Ribble Link Entrance
Upper holding Basin
Holding Basin,staircase locks(That dodgy statue!)
Entrance towpath bridge from across basin
Upper Holding basin
Staircase locks 1
staircase locks ,1
staircase locks being de-silted and serviced
art? or P ing about?
artistic statue?
locks under maintainence
locks being serviced
lower turning pool
Pontoon moorings near golf course at Lea
One of the lower locks(7) with Salwick Works on the horizon
The canal has been very well built with good sturdy bridges and locks
from lower lock 8 bridge
Looking opstream from lower lock 8
careful steering required on some parts of this canalization of Savick Brook
cattle and pedestrian bridge,lower Lea fields
Good fishing spot here at lock below playing fields.River very natural,precarious for navigation on stretch above here !
Savick Brook canalization has really settled down now - the fish and wildlife are thriving,the work has benefitted their habitats
Lock 7 looking upstream
This section,behind playing fields is narrow and winding,with high natural banks;quite a slow careful squeeze with a widebeam! (Bow thruster essential!)
Lock 6.The washways have been made sensibly wide and ecologically friendly,not to cause too much silting in spate conditions either.
lock 6 ,emerging from rural surroundings approaching Leyland bridge and Larches estate on right.
from lock 6 bridge looking towards Lea Road housing on left over washway
downstream from lock 6 bridge is the Golf Course entrance bridge,where narrow rural natural section begins.
Lock 5 above Leyland Bridge.The pedestrian path is proper tarmac from here on and Larches estate close by,so it is a much frequented area for dog walkers and youths
This meandering section upstream of lock 5 is a nice natural park area abundant with wildlife - but tricky to negotiate in long/wide canal craft
The bad bends above lock 5 great for ducks but tricky for boaters !
Savick Way Bridge:De-silting in progress;always a problem with river navigations....
Channel being dredged above Savick way bridge.
Dredging operations
Lock 4 approaching main railway line Preston-Fylde above Savick Way Bridge.
swans in lock 4 quite used to humans...
Aerial view of upper half of Ribble Link
swans in lock 4 used to humans !
Aerial view of lower half of Ribble link
swan at lock 4
Lower section of Ribble Link where the tidal Savick Brook estuary meets the River Ribble Navigation(at high tide)
from railway bridge walkway looking down towards lock 4
Under the original arched bridge carrying the main Fylde line over the Savick on the newly constructed walkway.Fortunately the bridge was built big enough to enable canalization because of streams meeting just above....it was built large to prevent flooding.
Road tunnel of Tom Benson Way,between railway bridge and staircase locks lower turning pool - BEWARE low HEADROOM
The last holding pool above the rotary lock down to the tidal Savick section.
The rotary lock to the tidal Savick(tide low here).Not easy to negotiate,particularly with a long/wide boat
The rotary lock,low tide
below the rotary lock the Savick looks barely navigable,but at operating tide there's plenty of draught,but a bit meandering through the markers further downstream....
Some have said the rotary lock is a bit Heath Robinson,but apart from no silting problem as it is mostly unattended it can cope with any flood or tide extreme without risking damage to surrounding land or property
Over simplified?Simple but effective.Might look murderous up but open it will not harm your boat.
Don't get your hull re-blacked until after passing through though! The football perpetually bouncing in the current gives an idea of scale.A widebeam will go through,quoted max is 10' 6"
Yes it should go through if 10' 6" or less.Quoted draught is 2ft - If you grind to a halt,no it wo'nt fit through!
There is ample room to manouevre into straight position as can be seen here
Do not attempt to go over here in a fabric canoe though!
The Savick Slalom - bit of a meander here,but the Ribble entrance is in sight so out soon
Ribble Navigation:left see River Douglas and upwards River Naze.Yop right the Savick,entrance to Ribble Link
Ribble Link(Savick Navigation)entrance into Ribble Navigation channel
RIBBLE NAVIGATION:Aerial showing proximity of Savick link on left,Preston Dock Marina top right.
WALKERS(unofficial!):although the canalside path ends at lock 8,through a gate(not locked)on the left by the cattle bridge this track does lead up to the houses at the top,pedestrian access(I went on my bike)to main Blackpool Rd near slip road
A view from Blackpool Rd bend to the Ribble access.The tide is just below the level required to enter or exit rotary lock.
Blackpool Rd bend:At the lower pool the water level is quite high due to rainy conditions in Savick catchment,plus tide is just on the flow.
a good view of the tidal Savick at 80% water on flow;see marker sign at Ribble end...
Savick below rotary lock at about 80% water on the flow,neap tide
Savick boaters' Slalom:WALKERS: Only attempt to cross this field a)if you are an idiot(like me)and wearing proper footwear and are used to marsh-hopping. b)AT LOW TIDE! c)read the field carefully as lots of rivers and quick-mud,there is a track running ESE away to Eastern boundary side,which is safer. d)Do not go alone or unanounced - you might just disappear!
nearer the Ribble,looking back to Blackpool Rd.The tide has gone down more and the channel markers are logical.It took over an hour to get here from previous photo - a very precarious field indeed!
A gaggle of geese take their Sunday leisure on the West Savick bank.
The Savick Slalom markers look more logical cose up.That's the Ribble Banking just ahead,with a motorcycle racing track disturbing the peace just beyond.It was a tip behind the geese,now grassed over.
The final bit to the Ribble( in sight)at last - but much deviation round rivers and mud for me yet.WALKERS:don't do it.Get your kit off and swim - easier,Less dangerous and much cleaner!
Looking back towards Blackpool Rd,the Savick slalom tide well down now.I am high up on the secondary Ribble Tidal defence banking.
Savick Navigation near Ribble,from East bank
West point of the Savick estuary into the Ribble at about half tide on flow,from east bank
This marks the entrance to the Millenium Ribble Link to boats on the Ribble
West point of Savick estuary,East bank by Ribble
Looking up Ribble navigation from East point of Savick Estuary
looking across Ribble navigation Southwards from East Point of Savick Estuary
looking west down the Ribble Navigation from East point of Savick Estuary
