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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Claymoore Canal Holidays

Type

Type:

Boat

Warrington

A canal holiday on a narrowboat in Britain is a unique way to see our towns, villages and countryside.

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Nelson Pit Walk 9

Type

Type:

Walking Route

Higher Poynton

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.

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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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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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Nelson Pit Walk 3

Type

Type:

Walking Route

Macclesfield

One of a series of walks from the Nelson Pit Visitor Centre. One of the main features of this walk is Poynton Coppice.

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Heritage Narrowboats

Type

Type:

Boat Trip

Scholar Green

Why not hire a dayboat for the day to meander the local canals?

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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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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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Middlewich Narrowboats

Type

Type:

Boat

MIDDLEWICH

Established in 1971, Middlewich Narrowboats are a small company, who place great importance on strong customer relations and value for money. They operate three main routes covering the 'seven wonders of the waterways'

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Mow Cop Loop

Type

Type:

Walking Route

Congleton

An energetic short loop climbing onto the ridge leading to Mow Cop. The path leads through beautiful woodlands and there are fabulous views from the ridge. Interesting industrial history – coal mining and Primitive Methodism.

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Gawsworth Hall Circular Walk

Type

Type:

Walking Route

Gawsworth, Macclesfield

Enjoy a pleasant ramble in the rolling Cheshire countryside, through arable farmland and pastures, along the Macclesfield Canal and across the Danes Moss Reserve.

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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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Little Moreton Hall (NT)

Type

Type:

Historic House / Palace

Congleton

Seeing the tumbling architecture of Little Moreton Hall for the first time, engineers in 1990 could not believe their eyes either.

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Freedom Boats

Type

Type:

Boat Trip

Macclesfield

Premier boat hire and cruises. Come and visit our chandlery. We hope to provide you with a better shopping experience; a clear display of chandlery, in a light and friendly environment.

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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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White Nancy

Type

Type:

Historic Site

Bollington / Kerridge

The White Nancy overlooks the village of Kerridge and town of Bollington.

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Nelson Pit Walk 4

Type

Type:

Walking Route

Higher Poynton

This is one of a series of walks from the Nelson Pit Visitor Centre. This is a flat walk along the Macclesfield Canal towpath and Middlewood Way.

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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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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 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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