Narrowboat holidays in the Pennines, Chester & Yorkshire

The Cheshire Ring

Click on the trip name below for full details:
Chester or Ellesmere Port & return
Four Counties Ring
Bingley & return
South Pennine Ring

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The Cheshire Ring

From Anderton
(7 nights, 8 hours per day, 92 locks)
From Wrenbury
(10/11 nights, 6.5 hours per day, 114 locks)
From Whitchurch
(14 nights, 6 hours per day, 137 locks)
From Blackwater Meadow
(14 nights, 7 hours per day, 137 locks)

Maps and Guides for sale

Ashton Canal
Bridgewater Canal
Macclesfield Canal
Middlewich Canal
Peak Forest Canal
Rochdale Canal
Shropshire Union Canal
Trent and Mersey Canal

A fascinating trip that takes you through the heart of Manchester and the Peak District with its distinctive stone architecture.

Moor at Castlefields to explore the city of Manchester, including Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C. 0870 4421994

The huge Arndale shopping centre and the Science & Industry Museum 0161 832 2244

This trip will let you enjoy glorious scenery as the Pennine Range overlooks the canal and, if time allows, detour along the Peak Forest canal to its terminus. Enjoy the stunning views from Marple and at Anderton pause to visit the fabulously restored boat lift which now operates throughout the cruising season to link the canal with the River Weaver.

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Chester or Ellesmere Port & return

From Anderton to Chester
(7 nights, 5.5 hours per day, 44 locks)
From Wrenbury to Chester
(7 nights, 4 hours per day, 46 locks)
From Whitchurch to Chester
(7 nights, 5 hours per day, 66 locks)
For Ellesmere Port
(add 1.5 hours per day and 8 locks)
From Gailey
(10 nights, 6.5 hours, 44 locks)

Maps and Guides for sale

Llangollen Canal
Middlewich Canal
River Weaver
Shropshire Union Canal
Trent and Mersey Canal

On this popular countryside route the locks are well spaced for easy cruising. You can choose to travel to Chester and then retrace your steps back to the marina or continue along the Shropshire Union main line to it’s historic terminal on the River Mersey at Ellesmere Port.

Mooring in Chester is within easy reach of the walled city centre with its medieval‘rows’ where there are a variety of shops, galleries and the majestic cathedral. Chester Tourist Information Centre 01244 402111. Chester Zoo is just a short walk from the canal. 01244 380280

The fascinating Boat Museum 0151 355 5017 at Ellesmere Port is a few locks beyond Chester, near to the junction with the Manchester Ship Canal. The museum has an extensive collection of preserved inland waterway craft and display areas in many of the former warehouses.

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Four Counties Ring

From Anderton
(10/11 nights, 6.5 hours per day, 102 locks)
From Wrenbury
(10/11 nights, 6.5 hours per day, 112 locks)
From Whitchurch
(10/11 nights, 7 hours per day, 132 locks)
From Gailey
(7 nights, 8.5 hours per day, 110 locks)
From Blackwater Meadow
(14 nights, 7 hours per day, 132 locks)

Maps and Guides for sale

Llangollen Canal
Middlewich Canal
Shropshire Union Canal
Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal
Trent and Mersey Canal

A fascinating voyage of discovery and well worth the extra bit of effort! The journey takes you along the wonderfully rural Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal to Great Haywood Junction where, passing under a distinctive roving bridge, you join the Trent and Mersey Canal heading north towards the Potteries and Peak District.

The rolling Staffordshire countryside leads you to Stoke-on-Trent, the Wedgewood Visitors Centre and the impressive 2926-yard long Harecastle Tunnel. Beyond Harecastle the 13 miles to the salt town of Middlewich sees the canal descend 31 locks to the Cheshire Plains.

The short Middlewich arm links the Trent and Mersey Canal to the Shropshire Union Canal again through more glorious countryside.

The scenery on the climb up ‘Heartbreak Hill’ to the summit at Kidsgrove is fantastic. As well as sights of the potteries such as the Bottle Kilns at Etruria,The Wedgwood Pottery Centre at Barlaston is not to be missed. 01782 204218

The National Trust’s Shugborough Hall is a short walk from moorings at Great Haywood. 01889 881388

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Bingley & return

From Anderton
(14/21 nights, 8+ hours per day, 134 locks) (Max 60ft boats)

Maps and Guides for sale

Bridgewater Canal
Leeds Liverpool Canal
Rochdale Canal
Trent and Mersey Canal

For the more energetic this can be a 14 night trip, but if you are wanting to take your time and see the sights then take a more leisurely 3 week break.

Heading north of the Cheshire Ring the scenery is varied, frequently rural and often spectacular.

You will experience areas of easy, lock-free cruising through the beautiful wide-open moorland of rural Pendle.

If just two people are cruising, it is best to share the large double locks with another boat if possible. A comfortable turning point for a fortnight cruise is the appealing market town of Skipton.

This is a short walking distance from the canal and a lovely market town to explore. It has a good selection of shops, a castle, museum and local bicycle hire.

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The South Pennine Ring

From Anderton
(21 nights, 6.5 hours per day, 227 locks) (Max 58ft boats)

Maps and Guides for sale

Aire and Calder Navigations
Ashton Canal
Bridgewater Canal
Calder and Hebble Navigation
Huddersfield Narrow Canal
Leeds Liverpool Canal
Rochdale Canal
Trent and Mersey Canal

The recently restored Huddersfield Narrow Canal crosses the Pennines to complete the fantastic south Pennine Ring.

At 5698 yards, the Standedge Tunnel is the longest and highest in Britain.

The passage requires pre booking with Standedge Visitor Centre. (01484 844298)

East of Huddersfield the canal is wider and the locks are shorter, so the maximum length of boat able to complete the circuit is 58ft.

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