Waterway Routes Blog

Map Updates – Issue 148 – March 2024

I am pleased to say the monthly map updates for my maps for March 2024 are now available.

All these monthly map updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you can keep them up to date too.

Map Updates – Issue 147 – February 2024

I am pleased to say the monthly map updates for my maps for February 2024 are now available.

All these monthly map updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you can keep them up to date too.

Map Updates – Issue 146 – January 2024

I am pleased to say the monthly map updates for my maps for January 2024 are now available.

All these monthly map updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you can keep them up to date too.

Map Updates – Issue 145 – December 2023

I am pleased to say the monthly map updates for my maps for December 2023 are now available.

All these monthly map updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you can keep them up to date too.

Map Updates – Issue 143 – November 2023

I am pleased to say the monthly map updates for my maps for November 2023 are now available.

All these monthly map updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you can keep them up to date too.

Map Updates – Issue 142 – October 2023

I am pleased to say the monthly map updates for my maps for October 2023 are now available.

All these monthly map updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you can keep them up to date too.

Map Updates – Issue 141 – September 2023

I am pleased to say the monthly map updates for my maps for September 2023 are now available.

All these monthly map updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you can keep them up to date too.

Map Updates – Issue 140 – August 2023

I am pleased to say the monthly map updates for my maps for August 2023 are now available.

All these monthly map updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you can keep them up to date too.

Map Updates – Issue 139 – July 2023

I am pleased to say the monthly map updates for my maps for July 2023 are now available.

All these monthly map updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you can keep them up to date too.

Map Updates – Issue 138 – June 2023

I am pleased to say the monthly map updates for my maps for June 2023 are now available.

All these monthly map updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you can keep them up to date too.

Map Updates – Issue 137 – May 2023

I am pleased to say the monthly map updates for my maps for May 2023 are now available.

All these monthly map updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you can keep them up to date too.

Extract from my Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN) Map in April 2023

Map Updates – Issue 136 – April 2023

I am pleased to say the monthly map updates for my maps for April 2023 are now available.

All these monthly map updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you can keep them up to date too.

Extract from my River Trent Map in March 2023

Map Updates – Issue 135 – March 2023

I am pleased to say the monthly map updates for my maps for March 2023 are now available.

All these monthly map updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you can keep them up to date too.

Extract from my River Trent Map in February 2023

Map Updates – Issue 134 – February 2023

I am pleased to say the monthly map updates for my maps for February 2023 are now available.

All these monthly map updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you can keep them up to date too.

Extract from my Macclesfield Canal Map in January 2023

Map Updates – Issue 133 – January 2023

I am pleased to say the monthly map updates for my maps for January 2023 are now available.

All these monthly map updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you can keep them up to date too.

Extract from my Ashby Canal Map in December 2022

Map Updates – Issue 132 – December 2022

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for December 2022 are now available.

All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you can keep them up to date too.

Those maps with changes include:-

Map Updates – Issue 131 – November 2022

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for November 2022 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you...

Map Updates – Issue 130 – October 2022

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for October 2022 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you...

Map Updates – Issue 129 – September 2022

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for September 2022 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you...

Map Updates – Issue 128 – August 2022

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for August 2022 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you...

Map Updates – Issue 127 – July 2022

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for July 2022 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you...

Map Updates – Issue 126 – June 2022

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for June 2022 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you...

Map Updates – Issue 125 – May 2022

Yes, it really is one hundred and twenty five updates for my maps. I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for May 2022 are now available. All these monthly updates...

Map Updates – Issue 124 – April 2022

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for April 2022 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you...

Extract from my Lancaster Canal Map in February 2022

Map Updates – Issue 122 – February 2022

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for February 2022 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you...

Map Updates – Issue 121 – January 2022

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for January 2022 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you...

Map Updates – Issue 120- December 2021

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for December 2021 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you...

Extract from my River Ouse Map in November 2021.

Map Updates – Issue 119 – November 2021

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for November 2021 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you...

Map Updates – Issue 118 – October 2021

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for October 2021 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you...

Map Updates – Issue 117 – September 2021

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for September 2021 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you...

Map Updates – Issue 116 – August 2021

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for August 2021 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you...

Map Updates – Issue 115 – July 2021

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for July 2021 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you...

Map Updates – Issue 114 – June 2021

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for June 2021 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you...

Map Updates – Issue 113 – May 2021

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for May 2021 are now available. Observant readers may notice the issue number has jumped from 111 to 113. Just after I had...

Map Updates – Issue 111 – April 2021

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for April 2021 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you...

Map Updates – Issue 110 – March 2021

All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you can keep them up to date too. I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my...

Map Updates – Issue 109 – February 2021

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for February 2021 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you...

Map Updates – Issue 108 – January 2021

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for january 2021 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but …

Postage Increases

Royal Mail are increasing their postage rates from 1st January 2021. I’ve absorbed their annual increases since 2017 but I can’t absord this fourth increase as well. The postage charges vary depending on where...

Map Updates – Issue 107 – December 2020

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for December 2020 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you...

Map Updates – Issue 106 – November 2020

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for November 2020 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you...

Christmas Ideas

As it’s now November, less than two months until Christmas , I hope you don’t mind me mentioning that word. DVDs make great presents and may be helpful for those planning next year’s holiday,...

Map Updates – Issue 105 – October 2020

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for October 2020 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you...

Map Updates – Issue 104 – September 2020

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for September 2020 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you...

Leeds & Liverpool Canal DVDs just released

I am pleased to say our Leeds & Liverpool Canal DVDs have just been released. The Leeds & Liverpool Canal DVDs are available in our usual three formats:- Popular – like a television programme...

Map Updates – Issue 103 – August 2020

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for August 2020 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you...

Map Updates – Issue 102 – July 2020

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for July 2020 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you...

Map Updates – Issue 101 – June 2020

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for June 2020 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you...

Map Updates – Issue 100 – May 2020

Yes, this is Issue 100 I have been producing monthly updates for a long time and, on rare occasions, when something important turned up, more than once a month. I am pleased to say...

Map Updates – Issue 99 – April 2020

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for April 2020 are now available. Yes, we have the 99th monthly issue. Keep watching this blog for news about next months’ update....

Map Updates – Issue 98 – March 2020

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for March 2020 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you...

Map Updates – Issue 97 – February 2020

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for February 2020 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you...

Map Updates – Issue 96 – January 2020

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for January 2020 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you...

Map Updates – Issue 95 – December 2019

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for December 2019 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you...

Map Updates – Issue 94 – November 2019

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for November 2019 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you...

Map Updates – Issue 93 – October 2019

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for October 2019 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you...

Map Updates – Issue 92 – September 2019

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for September 2019 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you...

Map Updates – Issue 91 – August 2019

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for August 2019 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you...

Map Updates – Issue 90 – July 2019

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for July 2019 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you...

Knowle Hall Wharf

We stopped at Knowle Hall Wharf last night so the engine and hot water tank could cool down overnight ready for Ian Taylor to fit a new immersion heater. The old one had stopped...

Interesting Journey to Knowle Hall Wharf

We left Birmingham today, heading for Knowle Hall Wharf. The descent of Farmers Bridge Locks went as planned and we turned right onto the Digbeth Branch of the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal. We went...

Ready to go

We’re on board our Waterway Routes narrowboat ready to go tomorrow. We are heading south, towards London, down the Grand Union Canal. We’ll be starting down Farmers Bridge Locks around 09:00 tomorrow (Monday) morning...

Map Updates – Issue 89 – June 2019

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for June 2019 are now available.

All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you can keep them up to date too.

There is an updated Ordnance Survey (OS) Background Map this time so every map has changed this month, even those without any specific changes to the waterway information. Those with changes to the waterway information are:-

1,000 Pages of Maps

Actually 1,006 different pages of A4 mapping make up my England & Wales maps in Acrobat (pdf) format. And the same 1,006 different pages joined into one large continuously scrollable and zoomable map for use...

Crick Boat Show 2019

For the first time ever, we’ve been setting up our stand for the Crick Boat Show on a Thursday. This year there is a “Trade and Preview” day on Friday so we’ve all set...

100 Maps

Actually 102 maps to choose from in my extensive range covering all the connected waterways, and a few more too. Over 1,000 pages of maps are available in different ways:-

50 Free Maps

Actually 54 free maps covering the restoration projects. These mostly have a large volunteer involvement and providing the maps free of charge for these projects helps them a little. Here’s the long list of...

Map Updates – Issue 88 – May 2019

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for May 2019 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you...

Sir Nigel Gresley’s Canal Maps

Yet another free map added to my website. This one covers Sir Nigel Gresley’s Canal. That’s just to the north of Newcastle-under-Lyme and it’s not connected to any other canals, although it comes within...

Newcastle-under-Lyme Canal Maps

I’ve recently added maps for another abandoned canal to the range of free maps for restoration projects and abandoned canals. The canal once linked to the Trent and Mersey Canal below Stoke Locks, near...

Walton Summit Branch Maps

Ths south end of the Lancaster Canal was once linked to what we now call the Leeds & Liverpool Canal at the foot of Johnson’s Hillock Locks. The link was by means of a...

Map Updates – Issue 87 – April 2019

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for April 2019 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you...

Blue Bridge Signs

Sarah, owner of historic narrowboat Chertsey (No 130), blogged last week about the curious numbering of the bridges along the Sheffield & Tinsley Canal with new blue signs. This canal was reaching the top of my list of waterways to be walked or cycled to re-check the map data so an exchange of emails resulted in us walking together from …

Map Updates – Issue 86 – March 2019

I am pleased to say the monthly updates for my maps for March 2019 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you...

Bridgwater & Taunton Canal and Grand Western Canal Maps

The latest maps in the Waterway Routes series of maps cover a group of waterways in the South West. The first two are canals, at least part navigable, with several more waterways included too:...

Map Updates – Issue 85 – February 2019

I am pleased to say monthly updates for my maps for February 2019 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you can...

North Walsham & Dilham Canal

The North Walsham & Dilham Canal was opened in 1826 and ran from Antingham to join the River Ant at Smallburgh. Restoration has started with proposals to restore the rest of the route. I...

Somersetshire Coal Canal

The Somersetshire Coal Canal was opened around 1800 and ran from Paulton to join the Kennet & Avon Canal near Bath. The Radstock Branch ran from Radstock but was only joined to the main...

Map Updates – Issue 84 – January 2019

I am pleased to say monthly updates for my maps for January 2019 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you can keep...

Map Updates – Issue 83 – December 2018

I am pleased to say monthly updates for my maps for December 2018 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you can keep...

Map Updates – Issue 82 – November 2018

I am pleased to say monthly updates for my maps for November 2018 are now available. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you can...

Two months to go

You may be trying to ignore the forthcoming event, but doing so won’t change the fact that Christmas is now just two months away. Maps (on disc in the orange boxes) and DVDs (in...

Map Updates – Issue 80 – October 2018

Yes, this really is the 80th monthly update for my maps. All these monthly updates mean you not only start with an up to date map but you can keep them up to date too....

Map Updates – Issue 79 – September 2018

I’m pleased to announce the September 2018 updates to my cruising maps are now available. There are many maps with updates, with these maps having the most significant changes:- England & Wales Waterway Map Avon...

Map Updates – Issue 78 – August 2018

I’m pleased to announce the August 2018 updates to my cruising maps are now available. Once again there are many maps with updates.  These maps have the most significant updates:- England & Wales Canal...

Leeds (and Liverpool?)

We’ve been cruising around the Yorkshire waterways to check the map data is up to date, especially those waterways without towpaths which I can’t cycle to check that way. Now we’re moored in the...

Map Updates – Issue 77 – July 2018

I’m pleased to announce the July 2018 updates to my cruising maps are now available. There are lots of updates this month, and those maps with the most significant updates are:- England & Wales...

Trading at Fradley Junction

We’ve completed the first leg of our cruise and we’re now moored on the visitor moorings just below Fradley Junction. We’ll be here for the rest of today (Friday) and all day Saturday so...

Leaving Sherborne Wharf

We’re leaving our home mooring at Sherborne Wharf for our summer cruise (not permanently). We’ll be back here around the end of August. Tomorrow (Tuesday) we’re heading for Wolverhampton, hopefully reaching the bottom of...

Map Updates – Issue 76 – June 2018

I’m pleased to announce the June 2018 updates to my cruising maps are now available. Having been busy with the Crick Boat Show there aren’t as many updates this month as normal.  There are...

Crick 2018

Once again it’s the late spring Bank Holiday and time for the Crick Boat Show.  All this came in one car and we’ve spent the day setting up our stand. We’re looking forward to...

Waiouru

Waiouru

Some blog readers will remember Tom and Jan, former owners of narrowboat Waiouru who have now returned to Australia. Tom blogged regularly about their travels around the waterways and their use of my Waterway...

Map Updates – Issue 75 – May 2018

I’m pleased to announce the May 2018 updates to my cruising maps are now available. As usual, many of the maps have changes this month – those with the most changes are:- England & Wales...

River Great Ouse and Tributaries DVDs

I am pleased to say our River Great Ouse and Tributaries DVDs have just been released. The River Great Ouse and Tributaries DVDs are available in our usual three formats:- Popular – like a...

Map Updates – Issue 74 – April 2018

I’m pleased to announce the April 2018 updates to my cruising maps are now available. As usual, many of the maps have changes this month – those with the most significant changes are:- England...

Level Access

The Canal & River Trust (CRT) issued an email this morning saying that the River Severn was now navigable after being in flood for several days. The water levels were very raised when cycled...

Map Updates – Issue 73 – March 2018

I’m pleased to announce the March 2018 updates to my cruising maps are now available. As usual, many of the maps have changes this month – those with the most significant changes are:- England...

New Crew Member

We are delighted to welcome our latest crew member, Evelyn Balmer, born Friday 16th February. A day trip to Stalybridge (Manchester) enabled two grandparents to take their turn holding Evelyn. How long will it...