Canal & River Trust

Ashton Canal

6.3 miles of navigable water, 20 locks, 2 named marinas and moorings. Passes Manchester, Ashton-under-Lyne, Audenshaw, Droylsden, Dukinfield.

Will your boat fit?

BoatSizeFits?
Narrowboat57ft × 6ft 10inFits
Long narrowboat70ft × 6ft 10inFits
Widebeam60ft × 10ftToo big
Widebeam60ft × 12ftToo big
Dutch barge70ft × 14ft 6inToo big

Length and beam against Canal & River Trust. “Some sections” means your boat is too big for at least one section or lock. Draught and headroom aren't checked here: see the table below.

ManchesterAshton-under-LyneAudenshawDroylsdenDukinfield

Published size limits

Maximum boat sizes in metres, from the Canal & River Trust's waterway dimensions (page last edited 26 Mar 2026). “–” means the Trust doesn't give a figure.

SectionLengthBeamDraughtHeadroom
Ashton Canal (narrow)21.792.130.91.82

Marinas and moorings

Each opens its Check a Mooring page: what's nearby on the water and ashore.

Services on the water

Mapped within 150 m of the Ashton Canal in OpenStreetMap. Volunteers map these, so there are gaps.

Water points 1

1 more without a name in OpenStreetMap.

Elsan disposal 0

None mapped.

Pump-out 0

None mapped.

Boat fuel 1

  • Portland Basin Marina Diesel Pump

Rubbish disposal 0

None mapped.

Winding holes 2

  • Fairfield Junction

1 more without a name in OpenStreetMap.

Questions

Can a widebeam go on the Ashton Canal?

No. A 10ft-wide boat is wider or longer than the Ashton Canal allows.

Will a 57ft narrowboat fit on the Ashton Canal?

Yes. A 57ft × 6ft 10in narrowboat is within every published limit on the Ashton Canal.

How long is the Ashton Canal, and how many locks does it have?

About 6.3 miles of navigable water on our map, with 20 locks mapped in OpenStreetMap.