Bugsworth Canal Basin, the head of navigation of the Peak Forest Canal, was the largest and busiest inland port on Britain’s narrow canal system and the only one to survive intact. Famous canal and tramway engineer, Benjamin Outram, built the 14 mile long Peak Forest Canal from Dukinfield to Bugsworth, although plans to extend to Chapel Milton via Whitehough were never realised. Construction of the six mile Peak Forest Tramway in 1795 linked Bugsworth Basin to the limestone and gritstone quarries in Derbyshire, and the canal linked Bugsworth to Manchester and the trans-Pennine canal network.

Zena

February 18, 2025

Bugsworth Basin is a remarkable example of canal restoration. Once a bustling inland port for the Peak Forest Canal, it fell into disrepair but has been lovingly restored by volunteers.
Take time to walk along the towpaths and admire the restored wharves, warehouses, and locks. You'll get a real sense of what life was like during the canal's heyday.
Look for the remnants of the horse gin, which was used to haul wagons up inclines.
The basin was essential for transporting limestone from the quarries in the Peak District. The intricate network of canals and tramways highlights the ingenuity of 18th and 19th-century engineers.

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Elevation 160 m

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Sunday 16 November

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Location: Chinley, Buxworth And Brownside, High Peak, Derbyshire, East Midlands, England, United Kingdom

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