Viewing the canal.

The best ways to see the canal are undoubtedly the trips organised by Mersey Ferries but several other options exist. Trips past the Pomona docks and into Salford Quays can be taken on the Princess Katharine from the landing stages at Harry Ramsdens on Regent Road in Salford and from the Mark Addy public house further along the Irwell towards Manchester.

The canal can also be easily  inspected at several points along it's route, with   Eastham being a good starting place.  Lying just off the A41 with access via a   minor road towards Eastham ferry, a walk southwards along the high banks affords good views of the entrance locks and the entrance to the Queen Elizabeth dock.

Further along the canal  is the Ellesmere Port Boat Museum which also provides good views of the passing traffic.

At Warrington the road runs alongside the southern bank of the canal for three miles, affording good views of Latchford locks.

Several ferries across the canal still exist although they are not easy to  find without  either local knowledge or a good map. None of the ones above  Latchford are likely to provide  views of  passing ships however as the traffic levels on this part of the canal are not great.

Easy access to the locks at Irlam is possible from both the Irlam and Flixton sides, and the footbridge over the locks provides an extremely good vantage point from which to inspect the locks and sluices at close quarters. If a ship is coming through the locks here then the public right of way over the canal becomes via the lock gates and so provides extremely good close-up views of the operation of the locks.

Barton locks and the sludge berths at Davyhulme can be inspected at reasonably close quarters from the Millennium Park at Flixton (access behind the Fox and Hounds) and views of the Barton aqueduct are easily obtained from the surrounding roads,  paths, and the Bridgewater canal towpath.

Mode Wheel locks are probably the most difficult to inspect from close quarters but distant views are afforded from the Lowry bridge and Broadway in Salford.

Views of the old docks (Nos 6 - 9) can easily be obtained at Salford Quays.