Short Break Route Suggestions (3 & 4 nights):
Relaxed route: Wrenbury and Return – 18 miles, 20 locks, 11 hours total
Start your journey on the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union, depart the marina and travel west through Cholmondeston Lock. Continue to Barbridge Junction and head south, joining the main line of the Shropshire Union Canal. Cruise to Hurleston Junction, where you will travel through the Hurleston Locks on to the Llangollen Canal. The scenery is especially spectacular along this canal, one of the numerous reasons it one of the most popular canals on the network. Cruise on through the green Cheshire countryside, and climb through the Baddiley locks on the way to Wrenbury. Moor up along the towpath, close to the pubs and Wrenbury Mill. The village is ¼ mile away and is a listed conservation area as it is home to many interesting period properties. Turn at Wrenbury Mill to begin your journey back to base.
Intermediate route: Chester and Return – 33 miles, 24 locks, 16.5 hours total
Start your journey from our base at Venetian Marina heading west to Barbridge Junction. Travel northwest from the Junction joining the mainline of the Shropshire Union Canal. Cruise through beautiful unspoilt countryside to the Bunbury Locks and continue to the village of Beeston, home to Beeston Castle. Situated on top of a steep hill, these impressive ruins date back to the 14th Century. To visit the castle, moor up by bridge 107, where there are also a couple of pubs within walking distance. 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. If you feel a little short on time, there are moorings at Christleton by Christleton Lock close to the park and ride service into Chester. Alternatively, 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 its 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 return journey back to the marina.
Active route: Market Drayton and Return – 33 miles, 46 locks, 19.5 hours total
A great option for lock-enthusiasts and for those wanting a very active weekend break, or more relaxed midweek break. Start your cruise from the marina and head west to Barbridge Junction. At the junction join the mainline of the Shropshire Union and cruise south, passing through Nantwich and through Hack Green- home of the ‘Secret Nuclear Bunker’ (moor at bridge 85 to visit this unique attraction). Continue 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 20 minute 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 the boatyard by bridge 63 to start the return journey back to the marina.
Weekly Route Suggestions:
Relaxed route: Lymm and Return – 72 miles, 16 locks, 30 hours total
Start your journey heading east, passing 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: Anderton Boat Lift, Ellesmere Port and Return– 89 miles, 45 locks, 41 hours total
Head east from the base passing 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 through the attractive town of Northwich and through the village of Marston. Continue to the 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. Turn at the winding hole to start the journey to Ellesmere Port. Cruise back past the base to Barbridge Junction and head north on the main line of the Shropshire Union. Travel through beautiful unspoilt countryside through the villages of Beeston and Christleton and continue cruising to Bridge 123D, 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. A few more locks allow you to continue to Ellesmere Port, continue to the visitor moorings to explore the celebrated National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port before using the winding hole to turn your boat for the journey back to base.
Active route: Llangollen and Return – 94 miles, 44 locks, 48.5 hours total
A busy weekly route, best suited to the longer summer days and out of school holidays. Cruise west from the base to Barbridge Junction and join the mainline of the Shropshire Union Canal heading south 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 the marina.
Fortnight Route Suggestions:
Relaxed route: The Cheshire Ring – 113 miles, 99 locks, 60.5 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 east to 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 and back to the base. This route is also achievable in a 10/11 night holiday.
Intermediate route: The Four Counties Ring and Froghall – 144 miles, 130 locks, 82 hours total
The Four Counties Ring offers boaters an unforgettable journey through the counties Staffordshire, Cheshire, Shropshire and West Midlands. From the base, head west to Barbridge Junction and cruise south on the Shropshire Union, passing through 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. Join onto the Caldon Branch of the Trent & Mersey at Etruria Top Lock and make your way through the Etruria Staircase Locks. Continue to cruise this pleasant stretch of canal until you reach Hazelhurst Junction where you will join onto the Froghall Branch of the Caldon Canal, continue through the Churnet Valley where you can stop and visit the Steam Railway. If you are planning a trip to Alton Towers moor up at Froghall Wharf for a short taxi journey. Turn your boat and rejoin the Trent & Mersey Canal, 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 and return your boat to the marina.
Active Route: The Four Counties Ring and Llangollen Canal – 199 miles, 136 locks, 106.5 hours total
The ideal cruise for the more experienced boater that likes to keep busy! Start your journey heading west to Barbridge Junction, head south to Hurleston Junction to the entrance of the Llangollen Canal. Cruise the length of the Llangollen Canal, crossing over the UNESCO Pontcysyllte Aqueduct to the town of Llangollen, where you can turn in the basin for the return journey back to Hurleston Junction. Head south from the junction on the Shropshire Union, passing through Nantwich and on to the lock flight of 15 at Audlem. Continue past the historic market town of Market Drayton and continue to Autherley Junction. At the 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 and head back to the marina.
