Approaching Town End Swing Bridge in Tarleton. The visitor moorings are on the left, just beyond the bridge. Boaters heading for the Ribble Link will probably stay overnight here. The moorings do not look very promising, the canal being lined by industrial premises, but a short walk up the lane into Tarleton village leads to a choice of pubs, takeaways, supermarkets and other shops.

Town End Swing Bridge in Tarleton, from the visitor moorings.

Mayor's Boatyard, just above Tarleton Lock. There is nowhere for boats to moor up while waiting to go through the lock to travel to the Ribble Link. Boaters should wait at Tarleton visitor moorings until shortly before the time they have been given for using the lock. The lock cannot be used until the tidal River Douglas is high enough for boats to pass over the lower cill.

Tarleton Lock, the end of the Rufford Branch, looking back to Mayor's Boatyard. The boatyard proprietor is the lock keeper.

The double set of tail gates at Tarleton Lock. The gates with the lower beams are the normal gates used when lowering boats down into the river. The higher gates, together with the barriers in the foreground and where the dog is standing, are to keep back exceptionally high tides.

The tidal River Douglas, looking back to Tarleton Lock, the northern end of the Rufford Branch.

Click here to return to Lathom Junction and continue along the main line of the canal to Liverpool.

This virtual cruise will continue to the Ribble Link and Lancaster Canal at a future date.

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