Today I cycled to the Runcorn end of the Bridgewater canal and back.

When the canal was originally built rather than go through a wooded area the engineers decided to divert round it. Eventually they straightened out the canal at this point which created an island at this point. It was on this island that a boatyard was created complete with dry docks. Today this facility belongs to the Bridgewater Motor Boat Club. The tall house at the back was formerly the home of the canal's resident engineer.

On the way back I stopped and read all the information boards which give details of the history of the canal and the industries that grew and flourished alongside it.