4th October

Running From: - 9:30 AM

Little Leigh Steam Party  - Canning Dock Liverpool – Acton Bridge, Cheshire                                        4th October 2025    0930 – 1700 hrs 

Little Leigh Steam Party is a seven-and-a-half cruise that starts in the historic setting of the Royal Albert Dock in Liverpool, with its former steam-powered pumphouse (now a pub) and other famous landmarks.  We depart through Canning River Entrance into the River Mersey, where we will travel in steam-powered Art Deco splendour, taking in the sights along this often busy river before we sail south towards the entrance of the Manchester Ship Canal at Eastham.  We will enter through the Eastham lock system and spend a couple of hours on the Manchester Ship Canal before we turn off and joins the Weaver Navigation and sail through some of Cheshire’s most stunning countryside to our destination, above Dutton Locks – Acton Bridge.  You will receive complimentary tea or coffee on arrival and a bowl of our Danny Scouse for lunch – a vegetarian option is available so please advise at the time of booking.  There will also be real ale on draught available on the cruise from our friends at Hush Brewing Co

We will arrive amongst many historic vessels who, like us, have travelled to Acton Bridge and the “Leigh Arms” pub to attend the “Little Leigh end-of-season Steam Party” to give it its correct title. This event was started in the 1970’s by the late Peter Froud, and was a regular and popular venue for steam traction engine owners, including the late Fred Dibnah.  It was initially held at the “Holly Bush” pub up the road from the swing bridge. It was also, and still is at times, attended by the Steam Tug “Kerne” as well as smaller steam narrowboats. A collection of steam rollers and traction engines will be on the car park of the Leigh Arms pub when we arrive and your coach back to Liverpool will be planned to depart around an hour after our arrival. This will enable you to take in the sights and sounds and maybe get an excellent pint of Robinsons in the Leigh Arms before you head off.

5th October

Running From: - 13:00 PM

ACTON BRIDGE - SUTTON WEAVER SWING BRIDGE, 5TH OCTOBER 2025,  1300 - 1530 HRS

This is a two-and-a-half-hour cruise on the Weaver, taking in the beautiful scenery and history of this magnificent waterway from Acton Swing Bridge to our berth at the Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge.  Full details of the what you will see on this cruise can be found on our ‘view our routes’ page where you can download a fact sheet here.

We also sell guidebooks for £5 on all our cruises where all the details on the cruise route and its history can be found. 

As there is no public parking at Acton Bridge we operate a Park & Ride coach to take you to the Danny and return you to your car at the end of your cruise.  Please park in the Anderton Boat Lift car park (CW9 6FW) where our coach will collect you at 1215 hrs.  Our Stewards will be there to meet you and assist you with boarding the coach.  Details will be on your ticket.

Parking charges apply at Anderton Boat Lift.

Please be aware that if you make your own arrangements to be dropped off at Acton Bridge you will also need to make arrangements to be collected from Sutton Weaver at the end of the cruise, as our coach will only be returning passengers to their vehicles at Anderton Boat Lift.

5th October

Running From: - 16:30 PM

FAMILY CRUISE – SUTTON WEAVER SWING BRIDGE – SUTTON WEAVER SWING BRIDGE VIA TURN AT MARSH LOCK  

We are delighted to be running our popular family cruises again in 2025 so you can bring your little sailors to experience the wonder of our fantastic steamer.  There are single adult tickets, child tickets (age 3-16) and a limited number of free infant tickets for 0-2 years (12 per cruise) as well as a Family Ticket for two adults and two children.

The cruise will depart from our berth at Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge and sail towards Marsh Lock where we will turn before returning to Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge.  The cruise will last one hour.

Parking will be at our berth at Sutton Weaver where our Stewards will make sure we get everyone parked safely.  There is a Teddy Bear Trail onboard to help the little sailors explore The Danny.