Weekly Route Suggestions:
Relaxed route: Chester, Market Drayton and Return – 61 miles, 66 locks, 33 hours total
Cruise on from Beeston through the picturesque Cheshire Plains heading towards the village of Christleton, here you’ll get your first glimpse of the city of Chester, where the towers and spires come into view. Continue cruising to Bridge 123D and moor close by for a short walk into Chester city centre. This Roman city has so much to explore, including the Roman Walls, Chester Cathedral and Chester Zoo to name a few. Use the winding hole just after the bridge to turn your boat, ready for the cruise to Market Drayton. Head southeast on the Shropshire Union, cruise past Barbridge Junction to the village of Nantwich- worth a visit with its interesting array of antique and independent boutique shops. Cruise on from Nantwich to the Audlem Lock Flight of 15, mooring up after the first few locks near bridge 78 to visit the pubs and local stores. Continue cruising past farmer’s fields towards the village of Adderley, passing through the five Adderley Locks before reaching the traditional Shropshire market town of Market Drayton- the home of gingerbread, which has been baked here for over 200 years. Moor in the visitor moorings for a pleasant walk into this attractive, historic town, with its 17th Century black and white timber-framed buildings and good selection of pubs and shops. Turn at Market Drayton for the return journey back to Beeston.
Intermediate route: Anderton Lift, Lymm and Return – 84 miles, 28 locks, 37 hours total
A great option for those who do not like doing too many locks. Begin your journey by heading southeast on the Shropshire Union from the base at Beeston. Cruise through the Bunbury Locks to Barbridge Junction where you will join onto the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union. Pass through quiet farmland to the village of Church Minshull, where there is an oak-beamed 18th Century Pub and a selection of local stores. Continue cruising to Middlewich Junction, where you will head north on the Trent & Mersey Canal. Travel through the locks at Middlewich, past the canalside pubs and eateries and over the Croxton Aqueduct, which passes over the River Dane below. Enjoy the quiet, open countryside as you cruise towards the attractive town of Northwich, where there is a good selection of pubs, restaurants and shops. Continue on past the village of Marston and the Salt Barge pub, with an interesting contrast of scenery, rural beauty in parts and industrial in others. There are visitor moorings on the approach to the Anderton Boat Lift, moor here to visit this Victorian waterways marvel of engineering. There is an interesting visitor’s centre along with a cafe and gift shop. Cruise through two smaller tunnels, the Barnton Tunnel of 572yds and the Saltersford Tunnel of 424yds and then cruise through the Preston Brook Tunnel of 1239yds, after which you’ll join onto the Bridgewater Canal. Travel east passing through Stockton Heath with fantastic views of the Pennines in the distance and continue to the attractive town of Lymm. Use the visitor moorings to walk into the town for an excellent selection of pubs and shops. Turn at the winding hole slightly further on to start the journey back to base.
Intermediate route: Brewood and Return – 83 miles, 66 locks, 41 hours total
Head south down the scenic Shropshire Union Canal through Bunbury staircase locks past Calveley (pub) to Barbridge (pub). Pass Hurleston Junction (with the Llangollen Canal) and continue south over a small aqueduct to Nantwich. Nantwich is an interesting market town with plenty of shops, pubs and restaurants – there are also numerous historic half-timbered buildings for you to admire. Below Nantwich, cruise through fields and woodland before arriving at Hack Green, where there’s a ‘secret’ nuclear bunker to visit. Arrive at Audlem where you can visit the famous Shroppie Fly pub before working a flight of 15 locks. Five locks follow at Adderley then it’s plain sailing down to Market Drayton, an attractive market town with some splendid old buildings, pubs and shops. Pass through 5 locks at Tyrley before arriving at Goldstone Wharf (pub) then cruise along the pretty Shebdon Embankment to Norbury. South of Norbury you’ll find Gnosall Heath (pubs) before passing through Cowley Tunnel (81 yards). The canal then follows a lock-free route, under lots of high bridges, until you arrive at Wheaton Aston - shops, pubs and a couple of restaurants. Crossing over Stretton Aqueduct, arrive at Brewood Bridge where you can moor up to walk into the charming village. Turn just after Chillington Bridge (No. 9) and return to Beeston.
Active route: Llangollen and Return – 100 miles, 52 locks, 52 hours total
A busy weekly route, best suited to the longer summer days and out of school holidays. Cruise southeast from the base at Beeston through the Bunbury Locks and through Barbridge Junction to Hurleston Junction. Join on to the Llangollen Canal and travel through the Hurleston Locks. Cruise on through the green Cheshire countryside and climb through the Baddiley locks on the way to Wrenbury, which is a great place to visit. Moor by bridge 19 for a short walk into the village where you will find a 14th Century church and several pubs and stores. Cruise through the Grindley Brook Locks and on to Whitchurch; moor up along the Whitchurch Arm to visit the town. Make your way past Ellesmere to Frankton Junction, where you will pass the entrance to the Montgomery Canal. Cruise through the last two locks on the way to Llangollen at New Marton and past a couple of canalside pubs on your way to Chirk. Cruise across the impressive Chirk Aqueduct and into the Chirk Tunnel (459yds). Continue through the shorter Whitehouse Tunnel (191yds) on the approach to the most highly anticipated feature of the Llangollen Canal- the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. One of the most famous attractions on the whole of the canal network, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct carries boaters 126ft above the River Dee below and has now been named a World Heritage Site. Continue through the Vale of Llangollen until you reach the basin at Llangollen. Moor here to visit the numerous attractions such as The Llangollen Steam Railway, the Horseshoe Falls or Dinas Bran Castle. Turn at the basin for the journey back to Beeston.
Fortnight Route Suggestions:
Relaxed route: The Four Counties Ring – 119 miles, 104 locks, 65.5 hours total
The Four Counties Ring offers boaters an unforgettable journey through the counties Staffordshire, Cheshire, Shropshire and West Midlands. From Beeston, head southeast on the Shropshire Union, past Barbridge Junction to the village of Nantwich, an interesting place to visit with black & white timber buildings, cafes and independent boutiques. Continue on from Nantwich to the lock flight of 15 at Audlem. Continue cruising through picturesque Shropshire countryside, passing interesting villages and market towns such as Market Drayton- the home of gingerbread. At Autherley Junction head north east onto the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal, pass through the locks to the old village of Penkridge where there are plenty of pubs and stores. Continue on through Tixall Wide to the junction at Great Haywood, where you join the Trent & Mersey Canal and head north towards Stoke on Trent passing the busy town of Stone. Cruise through the centre of Stoke-on-Trent and then onto the Harecastle Tunnel (2926yds) remember to book your passage through the tunnel. Cruise past a couple of canalside pubs and the entrance to the Macclesfield Canal at Harding’s Wood Junction before navigating through the Cheshire Locks. Join onto the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union at Middlewich Junction, cruise across the small aqueduct, crossing over the River Weaver below. Once at Barbridge Junction head northwest back onto the Shropshire Union Canal towards Bunbury and return your boat to the marina.
Intermediate route: The Cheshire Ring – 125 miles, 111 locks, 67.5 hours total
The Cheshire Ring provides boaters with the opportunity to experience some of the most incredible scenery on the UK canals, travelling through the Cheshire Plains, picturesque villages and canalside towns. Start your journey cruising southeast on the Shropshire Union Canal, through the Bunbury Locks and then onto the Middlewich Branch at Barbridge Junction. Cruise to the Middlewich Junction and head southeast to tackle the Cheshire Locks through to Harding’s Wood Junction, where there are a couple of canalside pubs and eateries. Travel across the Pool Aqueduct at the entrance of the Macclesfield Canal and then shortly afterwards across the Red Bull Aqueduct. Cruise through beautiful open countryside, past numerous canalside towns and villages to the locks at Bosley. Complete the 12 locks and enjoy a nice lock-free stretch all the way through Macclesfield to Marple Junction where there is a canalside pub. Join onto the Peak Forest Canal and tackle the 16 Marple Locks before crossing the most impressive feature of the Peak Forest Canal- the Marple Aqueduct. The scenery starts to become more industrial as you leave the rural scenery behind and start on the approach to Manchester. At Dunkenfield Junction, join onto the Ashton Canal heading west, travelling through a rather built up area, with Old Trafford visible from the waterways. The rural tranquillity soon resumes as you head away from the city and join onto the Bridgewater Canal. Travel south to Lymm, with great views of the Pennines and access to a couple of pubs, fish & chips and stores. Join onto the Trent & Mersey Canal passing the impressive Victorian Anderton Boat Lift, there are visitor moorings should you wish to stop off and visit. Continue cruising to Middlewich, where you can cruise onto the Middlewich Branch, past Church Minshull to Barbridge Junction. Head Northwest from the junction on the Shropshire Union back through the Bunbury Locks to base.
Active Route: Chester, Llangollen, Market Drayton and Return – 161 miles, 118 locks, 85 hours total
Cruise on from Beeston through the picturesque Cheshire Plains heading towards the village of Christleton, here you’ll get your first glimpse of the city of Chester, where the towers and spires come into view. Continue cruising to Bridge 123D and moor close by for a short walk into Chester city centre. This Roman city has so much to explore, including the Roman Walls, Chester Cathedral and Chester Zoo to name a few. Cruise back past the base to Hurleston Junction and join on to the Llangollen Canal. Cruise on past the villages of Wrenbury and Whitchurch and through the meres on your way to Chirk. Cruise across the impressive Chirk Aqueduct and into the Chirk Tunnel (459yds). Cruise on to one of the most famous attractions on the whole of the canal network, the World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct which carries boaters 126ft above the River Dee below. Continue through the Vale of Llangollen until you reach the canal basin. Moor here to visit the numerous attractions such as The Llangollen Steam Railway, the Horseshoe Falls or Dinas Bran Castle. Turn at the basin for the journey back to Hurleston Junction. Head south on the Shropshire Union to the village of Nantwich- worth a visit with its interesting array of antique and independent boutique shops. Pass through the five Adderley Locks before reaching the traditional Shropshire market town of Market Drayton- the home of gingerbread, which has been baked here for over 200 years. Moor in the visitor moorings for a pleasant walk into this attractive, historic town, with its 17th Century black and white timber-framed buildings and good selection of pubs and shops. Turn at Market Drayton for the return journey back to Beeston.
