Moorings on the River Mersey

The River Mersey flows roughly 113 kilometres from its source in the Peak District west through Stockport, Warrington and Runcorn before broadening into its iconic estuary at Liverpool. The navigable section centres on the tidal estuary and the parallel Manchester Ship Canal, with the historic Albert Dock, Salthouse Dock, Canning Dock and Liverpool Marina forming the heart of the inland-mooring scene. For boat owners, the Mersey offers something rare on the UK network: a major sea port with full inland-cruising connections via the Bridgewater Canal, the Leeds & Liverpool, the Shropshire Union (via the Manchester Ship Canal at Ellesmere Port) and onward across the Pennines or south to the Severn. Long-stay moorings are available at Liverpool Marina (Brunswick Dock), Salthouse Dock (Albert Dock), the regenerated Salford Quays on the Manchester Ship Canal, and at marinas at Ellesmere Port, Runcorn and Eastham Lock. Liverpool itself needs little introduction — the Three Graces, the Beatles heritage, Tate Liverpool, the cathedrals, two football grounds and a vibrant restaurant scene all sit a short walk from the docks. Liveaboards enjoy direct rail to London (Lime Street, 2 hours), Manchester and across the North. The Mersey is a true sea-going river — the Bar, the bore and commercial traffic demand competent skippering — but it's one of the great urban waterways in Europe.