Restoration Update - September 2009
The new winding-hole is now open at Snarestone. Despite rumours to the contrary there is plenty of water depth, and much more room to manoeuvre. A visitor mooring for ACA members is available in front of Lynda and Terry's boat, adjacent to the sales shop. This is for short term mooring only, please. A temporary slipway has been constructed by the contractors, which means that trail-boating members once more have access to the canal. The towpath-side BW visitor moorings are fewer in number due to the position of the new winding-hole, and we remind all members that much of the stretch is designated for 48hr mooring only - please keep to this limit and allow space for visitors to moor. We are assured that BW will keep patrolling and monitoring the use of visitor moorings.

Parking at Snarestone is now somewhat restricted, and we remind all members that parking is only intended for short term stays, not long term use. As the land now belongs to Leicestershire County Council, not ACA, they may place future conditions on its use. There are also LCC regulations in place concerning the use of their water space beyond the narrows.

Restoration
In 1944 the stretch of the canal between Donisthorpe and Moira was officially closed, following unsucessful attempts by the canal company to overcome the effects of mining subsidence. Later, in 1957, a further length was closed, down as far as Illott Wharf, south of Measham. In 1966 local residents and anglers and waterway enthusiasts unsuccessfully protested against the closure of a further stretch, north of Snarestone. It was out of these protests that the Ashby Canal Association was born.

In recent years much progress has been made in getting the canal restored north of its present terminus by the Quarry Lane Pumping station, near Snarestone.

The length between Donisthorpe and what is now known as Conkers Waterside basin, at Moira was restored (complete with a new lock at Moira) and opened for use in 2001. This stretch is already very popular with canoeists, and a trip boat operates from Moira Furnace. Each year, in early summer, a trail-boat festival is held, when visiting craft make a colourful sight and attract lots of visitors. The Association has a work-boat “Firefly” which is based on this part of the canal. Volunteers use the work-boat, in conjunction with the Ashby Canal Trust, to maintain this restored length. The restored stretch has won many awards. The whole area has been transformed, and is now a tourist destination popular with walkers, picnickers, and historians exploring the adjacent Moira Furnace