Short Break Route Suggestions (3 & 4 nights):
Relaxed route: Stafford and Return - 8 locks, 26 miles, 12 hours total
A good option for either an active weekend or relaxed midweek break. Head south from Aston Marina to the junction at Great Haywood. A good place to stop off if you need anything as it’s only a 5 minute walk to local shops and a couple of pubs. From the junction, go right under the bridge onto the Staffordshire and Worcester Canal. A little further on you will come through the Tixall Wide, where the canal widens, almost resembling a lake. Follow the contour of the canal until you reach Radford Bridge for visitor moorings and the Radford Bank Inn. From here it is roughly a 20-30 minute walk, or a short bus journey into Stafford. Turn around here and start your return journey back to Aston Marina.
Intermediate route: Stoke on Trent and Return - 30 locks, 22miles, 14 hours total
Cruise north on the Trent & Mersey Canal from the marina, heading up through Aston Lock and 2 more towards the centre of Stone. You may wish to stop here to pick up some provisions in the town. Continue up the Stone flight and head to Barlaston, where you'll find Neil Morrisey’s pub - Plume of Feathers which is situated next to the canal. Slightly further up the canal, just before Trentham Lock are the best moorings to stop at if you would like to visit the Wedgewood Factory - famous for its china and pottery. Continue onto Festival Park Marina, Etruria, here you will find many restaurants, a good selection of shops and Waterworld - an indoor tropical amusement park. The city of Stoke on Trent is only a short bus ride away, where you can experience the Emma Bridgewater Factory, along with some of the local bars and restaurants! Turn at the Marina for your journey back to the marina.
Active route: Fradley Junction and Return - 16 locks, 41 miles, 20 hours total
Best cruised over a midweek break for an active holiday. Half an hour cruising south from the marina will bring you to the picturesque village of Sandon; a good place to moor for your first night is near bridge 83 as there is a pub close by. Less than 2 hours cruise from the base will bring you to the village of Weston upon Trent, where there are plenty of nice pubs to choose from. The following day, continue south towards Great Haywood, where you can stop for provisions if necessary. You should also moor up at Great Haywood if you wish to visit the stately home Shugborough Hall, owned by the National Trust. Travel on through Rugeley, where there are a few pubs and an Indian restaurant. Soon you will reach Fradley Junction, where you can moor up in the marina and get a bite to eat at one of the cafes or the White Swan pub, before you turn at the marina for your journey back to base.
Weekly Route Suggestions:
Relaxed route: Brewood and Return - 32 locks, 68 miles, 34 hours total
This route will give you the opportunity to experience the beautiful Shropshire Union Canal, with the chance to stop off and explore along the way if you so wish. Head south from the base at Stone to the junction at Great Haywood (moor here if you need provisions/pubs). From the junction at Great Haywood, go right under the bridge onto the Staffordshire and Worcester Canal. Once you’ve reached Autherley Junction take the branch for the Shropshire Union Canal, from here you are only a two hour cruise away from the village of Brewood, with no pubs in between. In Brewood however, there are plenty of eateries from traditional pubs to an Indian restaurant. Also in Brewood you will find a couple of National Trust sites including the Victorian Wightwick Manor and Moseley Old Hall. Turn at the Brewood visitor moorings to start your return journey back to base.
Intermediate route: Leek, Froghall and Return - 64 locks, 61 miles, 38 hours total
A great option for a complete canal experience as you will encounter two tunnels, an aqueduct, a staircase of locks and swing bridges. This is a pleasant countryside route suitable for novice boaters willing to work locks, or experienced boaters wanting a relaxed break. At Barlaston there is a canal side pub with moorings. The stop for the Wedgewood Factory, famous for its china and pottery is at bridge 104. Continuing on from here along the Trent & Mersey, take the Caldon Canal branch to Leek, where you can visit the antique shops and a couple of pubs (moor at bridge 9). After visiting Leek continue on the Caldon Canal through the Churnet Valley where you can stop and visit the Steam Railway. If you are planning a trip to Alton Towers continue on to the end of the Froghall branch of the Caldon Canal and moor up at Froghall Wharf, where you can take a taxi. If time permits you could visit the Harecastle Tunnel, at almost 3000yds long it is one of the longest navigable tunnels in the UK (passage through the tunnel does have to be pre-booked!).
Active route: Four Counties Ring - 94 locks, 110 miles, 60 hours total
This is a very active week which will require about 9 hours cruising a day. Head south from the base on the Trent & Mersey Canal to the junction at Great Haywood. From here, join the Staffordshire and Worcester Canal. Once you’ve reached Autherley Junction cruise North up the Shropshire Union Canal, past Market Drayton (home of gingerbread - worth a stop if time permits) and up to Hurleston Junction where you continue past the junction with the Llangollen Canal to Barbridge Junction with the Middlewich branch of the Shropshire Union. Continue along the Middlewich Branch and back onto the Trent & Mersey Canal at Middlewich where you will tackle the Cheshire Locks before entering the Harecastle Tunnel (remember to book your passage). Cruise on through to the marina at Festival Park, and back down past Stone to Aston Marina.
Fortnight Route Suggestions:
Relaxed route: Snarestone (Ashby Canal) and Return - 42 locks, 143 miles, 65.5 hours total
Surprisingly few locks for a two week route with only 24 each way. This nice relaxed journey gives you time to visit attractions en route, such as Shugborough Hall and the picturesque Fradley Junction with its nature reserve. At the junction you will join the Coventry Canal, passing through a lock flight of 11, after which you can stop off at the market town of Atherstone. At Marston Junction, the canal changes dramatically into a rural paradise of green fields, farms and trees, with stone arched bridges and clearer water. % miles cruisng brings you to Hinckley which has a museum based around a row of 17th C thatched cottages, local theatre, some pubs, restaurants. 3.5 miles further you reach Stoke Golding, where at Bridge 25 is a farm shop which offers an excellent range of fresh home and locally produced meat and vegetables, fresh locally baked bread, fresh milk, cheeses etc. From the 'battlefield moorings' at Shenton it is under 1 mile walk to the Bosworth Battlefield Centre where Richard III was killed by Henry Tudor (Henry VII). A steam railway operates between here and Shackerston via Market Bosworth, 3 miles further on. Shackerstone is a small farming village with an village pub selling real ales. Near the present terminus of the canal you pass through the 250 yards Snareston tunnel and turn just after Bridge 61. If you have time to spare you may like to make a short diversion to the city of Coventry, allow another 5 hours cruising plus sightseeing time.
Intermediate route: Cheshire Ring- 122 locks, 129 miles, 71 hours total
This is an exciting route incorporating the Anderton Boat Lift, multiple tunnels and the Marple lock flight and aqueduct. Start your journey heading north through the Harecastle Tunnel (remember to book your passage) at Harding’s Wood Junction head through Middlewich and onto Northwich, where you can experience the mighty Anderton Boat Lift. After this you will get to experience 3 tunnels, as you pass through the villages and onto the Bridgewater Canal you will be approaching the centre of Manchester. Castlefield Junction is the place to moor at if you wish to visit some of Manchester’s attractions such as Old Trafford, the Manchester art gallery or Manchester Cathedral. As you continue your journey through the Ashton and Peak Forest Canals you’ll find the scenery changes from industrial to rural. At the end of the Peak Forest Canal you will reach the Marple flight of locks- one of the steepest in the country, and the Marple Aqueduct. Turn on to the scenic Macclesfield Canal and travel the entire length until you come to the Trent & Mersey and return to Aston Marina.
Four Counties Ring & Llangollen - 136 locks, 200 miles, 107 hours total
This is an active two week route that will incorporate a ring route and a trip down the Llangollen Canal in North Wales. Head south from the marina to the junction at Great Haywood. From the junction at Great Haywood, go onto the Staffordshire and Worcester Canal. Once you’ve reached Autherley Junction take the branch for the Shropshire Union Canal, past Market Drayton (home of gingerbread - worth a stop if time permits) and up to Hurleston Junction where you turn onto the Llangollen Canal. The Llangollen Canal is firm favourite with narrowboaters and it's easy to see why, with stunning scenery, a steam railway, Chirk Castle and the magnificent Pontcysyllte Aqueduct it's really not to be missed. To travel the entire length and back takes around 44 hours so ensure you have enough time. Continue down the Middlewich Branch and back onto the Trent & Mersey Canal where you will tackle the Cheshire Locks before entering the Harecastle Tunnel (remember to book your passage). Cruise on through The Potteries (Stoke on Trent) and back down to Aston Marina.
North West & the Pennines No. 5 (Collins Nicholson Waterways Guides) or Birmingham & the Heart of England No. 3 (Collins Nicholson Waterways Guides)
