Canal Holidays Guide to the Cheshire Ring
Cheshire Ring Overview
| Distance | Time | Locks |
|---|---|---|
| 97 miles | about 55 hours cruising | 93 locks |
Out-and-back trips and short breaks are available from all bases.
Usually covered in a week, the Ring includes some energetic sections.
Out-and-back trips and short breaks are available from all bases.
Relaxed routes for new canal boaters
Our Customer Comments | Holiday Options & Bases
Travelling through five counties, the Cheshire Ring contrasts the highest waterways in England on the Macclesfield and Peak Forest canals with the cityscape of Manchester and its historic canal engineering.
Cruising the Ring
From our bases in the Northwich area pass the Anderton BoatLift, cruise along the hillside above the River Weaver and onto the Bridgewater canal. The first British canal, it is wide, deep and lock-free for the run to Manchester.
A mooring at Castlefields will allow you to explore the city, its shops, museums and art galleries.
The following canalside environment under and through inner-city Manchester is not to everyone's taste, and is often tackled early in the day.
Leave Manchester behind, climbing the Ashton canal to its highest point at Marple with its picturesque flight of locks and character cottages. Join the Macclesfield Canal for a scenic 26 mile lock-free section skirting the edge of the Peak District through small stone built towns.
The 12 Bosley locks then lower the canal 118 feet to the Cheshire Plains.
In the distance can be seen the half-timbered Little Moreton Hall before the canal joins the Trent and Mersey Canal at Kidsgrove. Travel down the locks of 'Heartbreak Hill' to reach Middlewich and its old salt mines.
Places of Interest
- Anderton Lift: built 1875 to lower boats between the canal and the river below
- Manchester: shops, industrial heritage, arts, music, media, Museum of Science and Industry, Old Trafford, Granada Studios
- Marple: scenic lock flight and high aqueduct over the River Goyt Macclesfield Silk Museum
- Little Moreton Hall: 15th century timber framed and moated manor house
- Middlewich: Lion Salt Works
Possible Holidays Options on the Avon Ring
One Week
The Cheshire Ring makes a realistic one week holiday, although strenuous at times. Alternatively, an out-and-back holiday can be taken from any of the bases. Options include a return trip to historic Chester, or a leisurely trip to Wigan Pier.
Short Breaks
Mid-week and weekend breaks are available from all Canal Holidays bases on the Cheshire Ring. Historic Chester may be reached on a short break from Base 18.
Longer Holidays
In a two week trip the Cheshire Ring can be combined with the Llangollen Canal or adjacent Rings, or can be extended with a visit to Chester, famous for its city walls and historic Rows.
Narrowboat Bases on the Avon Ring
Click on a boat base below for more information and possible routes from that base.
Customer Comments
Read what some of our previous clients say about the Avon Ring