Canals and Waterways

Canals and Waterways are a great way to explore Cheshire at a leisurely pace, as well as offering visitors the opportunity to enjoy sites of historic interest along the way.

Cheshire is home to the Cheshire Ring, consisting of 97 miles of canal and 92 locks, taking 50 hours to complete. The Cheshire Ring is made up three main canals that run through the county; the Macclesfield Canal running through Congleton and Macclesfield, the Trent and Mersey running through Middlewich and Wheelock and then the Bridgewater Canal running through Lymm in the North. The Shropshire Union Canal also skirts Chester's City Walls where you can stop off and explore 2000 years of history.

Why not stop off and explore one of the many towns and villages enroute or take a trip to see Anderton Boat Lift, an incredible edifice, perched on the banks of the River Weaver like some giant three-storey-high iron spider.

The Cheshire Ring is a circuit made up of 6 main sections of canal in the North West of England, three of which run through Cheshire and Warrington; the Macclesfield Canal, the Trent and Mersey Canal and the Bridgewater Canal.

The whole is 97 miles long, with 92 locks and takes 1 week to complete. Hire a narrowboat for a week or for the day and explore the beauty of Cheshire; many attractions, places to eat and visit are accessible from the canal side.

The Cheshire Ring provides a range of canalside scenery from the gentle rolling plains of the Cheshire countryside to the peaks of the Peak District National Park. There is a variety of canal features en-route including locks, aqueducts and tunnels plus the historic town centres of Northwich, Middlewich, Macclesfield and Congleton are within easy reach to explore.

Download the Cheshire Ring Map here.

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Number of results: 54

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Bollington Discovery Centre

Type

Type:

Heritage / Visitor Centre

Clarence Road, Bollington

Bollington Discovery Centre brings together the history of this and other great mills of Bollington, the Macclesfield Canal and shows their place and importance to the town.

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Nelson Pit Walk 8

Type

Type:

Walking Route

Higher Poynton

A pleasant ramble on the Middlewood Way, across fields and along the towpath of the Macclesfield Canal. Part of the walk, crossing from the Middlewood Way to the Canal can be muddy.

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Alsager Series No. 6 - Wildflowers and Rode Hall

Type

Type:

Walking Route

Alsager

This route, devised by Alsager Chamber of Trade, is one a series of walks in the Alsager area. The walks have been published in leaflets entitled ‘It’s all about Alsager - Walking Maps of Alsager’.

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Nelson Pit Walk 6

Type

Type:

Walking Route

Higher Poynton

The route follows the Macclesfield Canal north and then along wide country tracks before an uphill stretch into Lyme Park. The views from the highest point near Lyme Park on a good day are spectacular.

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Swanley Bridge Marina Ltd

Type

Type:

Marina

Nantwich

Swanley Bridge Marina is a 315 berth marina. This pristine development is located on the beautiful Llangollen Canal just two miles from the junction of the Shropshire Union.

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Nelson Pit Walk 1

Type

Type:

Walking Route

Macclesfield

This short walk follows the canal towpath and The Middlewood Way, giving an insight into the industrial history of the area.

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Lawton Woods Loop

Type

Type:

Walking Route

Liverpool Road West, Church Lawton

The name Lawton originates in the Lawton family with its family crest being the head of a bleeding wolf. Local legend talks about a man saving the Earl of Chester from being killed by a wolf.

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NCN Route 55

Type

Type:

Cycle Route

Congleton

National Cycle Network A part of route 55 which takes in the Cheshire route, Congleton to Marple.

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Alsager Series No. 5 – Salt Line and Canal

Type

Type:

Walking Route

Church Lawton, Alsager

This route, devised by Alsager Chamber of Trade, is one a series of walks in the Alsager area. The walks have been published in leaflets entitled ‘It’s all about Alsager - Walking Maps of Alsager’.

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Aqueduct Marina

Type

Type:

Marina

Aqueduct Marina is an established 147-berth marina and boatyard near Church Minshull, at the heart of Cheshire's canal network.

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Walks for All - The Wheelock Rail Trail

Type

Type:

Walking Route

Sandbach

The Wheelock Rail Trail near Sandbach follows the route of a disused railway from Ettiley Heath to Malkins Bank. Today the trail is a rich haven for wildlife and wild flowers and provides a pleasant level and wide route through Cheshire.

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Ride the Biddulph Valley Way

Type

Type:

Riding/Trekking Centre

Congleton

For over 100 years trains travelled along the Biddulph Valley Way carrying coal from the Potteries to Congleton. Today walkers, cyclists and horse riders enjoy this tranquil route away from the roads.

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Walks for All - Biddulph Valley Way

Type

Type:

Walking Route

Congleton

The Biddulph Valley Way follows the route of a disused railway which carried coal between the Potteries and Congleton for over 100 years. Today, this is a tranquil route that allows visitors to enjoy the delightful Cheshire East countryside

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Andersen Boats

Type

Type:

Hotel Boat

Middlewich

Based in Middlewich, Cheshire, in the UK, Andersen Boats offer canal boat holidays.

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Nelson Pit Walk 10

Type

Type:

Walking Route

Higher Poynton

The second part of two walks making the Middlewood Challenge, a 20-mile walk in the figure of eight. The first section of the Challenge is Walk 9 which is about 8 miles long and takes around 3½ hours to walk. Total walking time for both parts is arou

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Cycle the Biddulph Valley Way

Type

Type:

Cycle Route

Congleton

For over 100 years trains travelled along the Biddulph Valley Way carrying coal from the Potteries to Congleton. Today walkers, cyclists and horse riders enjoy this tranquil route away from the roads.

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Andersen Boats

Type

Type:

Boat Trip

Middlewich

Andersen Boats offer canal boat holidays and are ideally located for a choice of picturesque canal adventures including the Llangollen Canal, the Marple aqueduct and the Anderton Boat Lift.

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Walk the Biddulph Valley Way

Type

Type:

Walking Route

Congleton

The route is part of NCN 55 Telford to Preston and has a firm, level surface of crushed stone.

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Anglo Welsh - The Narrowboat Holiday Company

Type

Type:

Boat

Bunbury

Bunbury is an ideal starting point for no less then four routes on your voyage of discovery, which includes the ancient city of Chester, the Middlewich branch, the Llangollen Canal and the Shropshire Union Canal.

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Nelson Pit Walk 5

Type

Type:

Walking Route

Higher Poynton

One of a series of walks from the Nelson Pit Visitor Centre. The route through Poynton Coppice is pretty at any time of the year. The majority of The Coppice is owned by Cheshire East Council and is subject to a ten-year management plan.

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