Canal Boat Holiday Base Information - Base 25 on the Four Counties Ring

These follow sections of the Four Counties Ring south towards Stone and Great Haywood or north to Kidsgrove, perhaps onto the Macclesfield Canal. The lower section of the Caldon Canal is another option.

Caldon and Leek Canals

41 miles • 34 locks • 18 hours

An easy week down one of the most beautiful and quiet canals of them all. You encounter progressively more picturesque countryside as you enter the Churnet Valley. The Leek branch contains no locks from the junction, whereas the Froghall branch descends to the River Churnet. Alton Towers Theme Park is a short bus ride from the end of the Caldon Canal.

Four Counties Ring

110 miles • 92 locks • 54 hours

Travel onto the Trent and Mersey Canal, southwards through the canal town of Stone to Great Haywood. where you meet the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. Travelling westwards you join the Shropshire Union at Autherley. The 'Shroppie' with its impressive architecture, banks and cuttings, carries you northwards to the Middlewich Arm. At Middlewich you rejoin the Trent and Mersey which carries you back to the base through a number of locks and the Harecastle Tunnel.

Cheshire Ring

108 miles • 92 locks • 54 hours

A more energetic route. Travel on to the Trent and Mersey Canal, northwards through the Harecastle Tunnel and join the Macclesfield via a fly-over. This is a lovely canal through Congleton, Macclesfield and Marple to Manchester. A lock-free section of the Bridgewater Canal follows until Middlewich, passing the restored Anderton Lift. A more heavily locked section takes you back to the base.

East Midlands Ring

219 miles • 147 locks • 90 hours

South from the junction with Trent and Mersey Canal, through Stone and Great Haywood to Fradley Junction, where you turn towards Burton-on-Trent and the canalised River Soar to Leicester. After Leicester you encounter the famous Foxton flight and pass through undulating countryside to Norton and Braunston Junctions. Turning northwards towards Rugby and Coventry, the canal takes a more direct route with cuttings and embankments to Fazeley and Fradley and home. Most of this route is very rural and quiet.