Canal & River Trust

Rochdale Canal

33 miles of navigable water, 91 locks, 2 named marinas and moorings. Passes Manchester, Failsworth, Hebden Bridge, Littleborough, Milnrow, Rochdale, Sowerby Bridge, Todmorden.

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.

ManchesterFailsworthHebden BridgeLittleboroughMilnrowSowerby BridgeTodmorden

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
Rochdale Canal21.952.911.191.83

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 Rochdale Canal in OpenStreetMap. Volunteers map these, so there are gaps.

Water points 3

  • Castlefield Water Point

1 more without a name in OpenStreetMap.

Elsan disposal 1

  • Castlefield Elsan Point

Pump-out 0

None mapped.

Boat fuel 0

None mapped.

Rubbish disposal 2

2 more without a name in OpenStreetMap.

Winding holes 11

11 more without a name in OpenStreetMap.

Questions

Can a widebeam go on the Rochdale Canal?

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

Will a 57ft narrowboat fit on the Rochdale Canal?

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

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

About 33 miles of navigable water on our map, with 91 locks mapped in OpenStreetMap.