Facilities

The Boathouse

Located 6 miles South-West of the Main University Campus in the quiet city suburb of Sale, the MUBC boathouse is the primary base for water training sessions for all squads. Featured are three boat storage bays: one dedicated to small boats, with the other two housing our various larger crew boats including eights, fours, and quads. Spare racking provides the opportuniuty for students to store their own boats if desired.

Seperate to rowing, the boathouse also offers changing rooms, WCs, showers, and food storage, providing the flexibilty for members to commute directly from university to training. The addition of free parking and bike locking facilities further allows for a wide range of commuting options.

Water Training

Adjacent to the boathouse is the Bridgewater Canal, an 8 mile stretch of rowable water which reaches from Altrincham to the Trafford Centre. Various straights along the canal make for ideal summer sprint training, while the winding nature of the whole stretch of water is perfect for coxes and bowmen to practise their steering in preperation for head season. Coaching along the length of canal is made easy and efficient with the lining of a continuous cycle path. The canal is also shared with Trafford RC which makes for some great training support and friendly competition throughout each year.

Rowers, coxes, and coaches always enjoy escaping the hectic city to Sale.

Boat Fleet

As of current, the club operates an extensive racing fleet of boats. For larger crew boats this includes 6 eights, 4 coxed fours, and 2 quads/coxless fours, which adequately facilitate the training and racing needs of the 4 men’s and women’s squads. A number of smaller boats including single sculls, double sculls, and sweep pairs facilitate the development of individual rowers both for off-season training and regatta racing.

Directions to the Boathouse and Canal

Boathouse address (NOT for post):

Manchester University Boat Club,
Dane Road,
Sale
M33 7BP

Cycling

The map below gives cycling directions between Owens Park Halls of residence and the boathouse. Cycling is by far the easiest way to get to the boathouse.

Public Transport

It is possible to travel by public transport, and there are several options, shown in the map below. The most common option is using the 41 bus towards sale, getting off at Sale, School Road/Sale Tram (Stop G). From the bus stops, there is a 10 min walk along the canal heading away from the Tram Station, past the King’s Ransom pub on the other side of the canal. You will get to another bridge and just past this is the boathouse. This bus route is not included in the unirider many students have. Consider buying a day ticket as this may be the cheaper than 2 single trips.

It is also possible to get to the boathouse via the Metrolink tram system using the Bury-Altrincham or Piccadilly-Altrincham line from Piccadilly Gardens and getting off at Dane Road. It is then a minute long walk to the boat house.

Driving

Finally, it is of course possible to drive to the boathouse and several members choose to do so. Don’t hesitate to ask if anyone is driving through the appropriate Facebook group. There is Parking space at the Boathouse.


Ergo Room and Fitness Suites

These are located at the Armitage Sports Centre, the home of UoM Sport, in the University of Manchester’s Fallowfield Campus.

The Ergo room features a number of Concept 2 rowing machines and is the base where the squads carry out their land fitness training.

As of September 2021, UoM Sport has upgraded its gym facilities at the Armitage Sports Centre, now providing the opportunity for coached strength and conditioning classes to our more competitive athletes. Additional whole club circuit training is also carried out in the Armitage facilities.

Bike locking, free car parking, and proximity to popular bus routes makes accessibilty to land training very convenient and simple for all of the club’s members.

Directions to the Erg Room

Erg room address (NOT for post):

Squash Court 4,
Armitage Sports Center,
Moseley Rd,
Manchester
M14 6HE