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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Bollington Brewery Co.

Type

Type:

Brewery

Macclesfield

Deep in the heart of the Happy Valley, one man has been blending a concoction to put Bollington back on the brewing map.

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Walk the Wheelock Rail Trail

Type

Type:

Walking Route

Nr Sandbach

The Wheelock Rail Trail is a popular 2km traffic free route for walkers and cyclists on the outskirts of Sandbach and runs between Ettiley Heath and Malkins Bank.

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Overwater Marina

Type

Type:

Marina

Nantwich

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.

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Cycle the Middlewood Way

Type

Type:

Cycle Route

Macclesfield

The Middlewood Way, part of NCN 55 offers a 10-mile (16-km) traffic-free route ideal for cyclists. It follows the line of the former Macclesfield, Bollington and Marple Railway through picturesque Cheshire countryside.

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Cycle the Wheelock Rail Trail and Salt Line

Type

Type:

Cycle Route

Nr Sandbach

The Wheelock Rail Trail and Salt Line are both part of NCN Route 5 linking Middlewich with Alsager.

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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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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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Walks for All - Macclesfield Riverside

Type

Type:

Walking Route

Off Manchester Road, Macclesfield

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.

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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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Alsager Series No. 4 – Borrowpit Meadow

Type

Type:

Walking Route

Alsager

Pleasant walking through woods, by pools and with views afar.

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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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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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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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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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Nelson Pit Walk 2

Type

Type:

Walking Route

Higher Poynton

This walk visits the estate of Lyme Park where red deer may be spotted alongside the moorland paths.

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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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Riding the Wheelock Rail Trail

Type

Type:

Riding/Trekking Centre

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.

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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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National Waterways Museum - Boat Trip

Type

Type:

Boat Trip

Ellesmere Port

Visitors to the National Waterways Museum can take a trip up and down the Shropshire Union Canal.

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Cheshire Cat Narrowboat Holidays

Type

Type:

Boat

Nantwich

We are a small family-run firm based at Overwater Marina, Audlem, on the Shropshire Union Canal.

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