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.
The route climbs over 1300 feet from Nelson Pit to Bowstones, and is partly strenuous. However, the views from the highest points on a good day are spectacular. This walk should be avoided on a misty day.
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.
Route 73 takes in the Cheshire section of the route from Congleton to Davenham. It provides a link between two National Routes - 55 to the east and 5, which runs through the centre of the county and on to Wales.
Enjoy a pleasant ramble in the rolling Cheshire countryside, through arable farmland and pastures, along the Macclesfield Canal and across the Danes Moss Reserve.
The first part of two walks making the Middlewood Challenge, a 20-mile walk in the figure of eight. The second section of the Challenge is Walk 10 which is about 12 miles long and takes around 5 hours to walk.
Linking up with the Macclesfield Canal allows you to enjoy a gentle stroll along this picturesque waterway, before returning once again to cross the fields back to the unique half-timbered Little Moreton Hall.
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’.
Situated in the delightful Bollin Valley, the Macclesfield Riverside Park provides a recreational park close to the heart of the town. The park has a variety of habitats and is a great place to watch wildlife.
Many of the features of the Country Park, including the lime avenues and the arboretum, are a legacy of the days when Marbury was a grand estate. Stroll through splendid woodlands and enjoy views across Budworth Mere.
OverWater is set in the beautiful Cheshire countryside close to the vibrant village of Audlem. Find them next to Bridge 80 on the Shropshire Union Canal.
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.
The Bollin Valley Way is a 25 mile (40 km) recreational path shadowing the course of the River Bollin. The route starts at Macclesfield Riverside Park and finishes in Partington giving walkers a feel of the valley's variety.
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.
The Middlewood Way offers a 10-mile (16-km) traffic-free route for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. It follows the line of the former Macclesfield, Bollington and Marple Railway through picturesque Cheshire countryside and between historic mill to
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