Popular Canal Cruises to Enjoy that Take in Middlewich
Cheshire Ring
Without the campaigns for the restoration of several parts of the Ring there would not be a Cheshire Ring today.
Beginning at Preston Brook Tunnel it follows the Bridgewater to Castlefield and takes in the Rochdale, Ashton, Peak Forest and Macclesfield Canals before returning via the Trent and Mersey.
From Preston Brook the Bridgewater Canal cuts through flat landscape and for some miles runs almost parallel to the Manchester Ship Canal.
Reaching Castlefield Basin we find a series of wharves for goods brought here by canal and then a short section of Rochdale Canal lifts the route through the 'Rochdale 9' locks. At Ducie Street Junction the Ashton Canal passes the Piccadilly Village through many locks to reach the Portland Basin which was built to allow narrowboats to make the tight turn out of the Peak Forest Canal.
At the top of the Marple flight of locks the Peak Forest continues to its end at Buxworth Basin and Whaley Bridge. From there the turn to the right leads onto the Macclesfield Canal and so to Macclesfield and Congleton. At Hardings Wood Junction the Trent & Mersey Canal drops towards the Cheshire Plain through a heavily locked section, which is perhaps unsurprisingly known as 'Heartbreak Hill'. A restful section leads to Anderton and its spectacular vertical lift. Preston Brook Tunnel is narrow and to its north is the Bridgewater Canal.
Four Counties Ring
The Shropshire Union Canal, the Trent and Mersey Canal and the Staffordshire and Worcester Canal provide the route for the Four Counties Ring.
At Barbridge Junction the Middlewich Branch of the "Shroppie" diverts from the main line towards Wardle Lock. A small section of canal, the Wardle Branch, completes the connection to the Trent and Mersey at Middlewich.
Turn right at Middlewich onto the Trent and Mersey and the long climb up "Heartbreak Hill" which makes you realise why the old boaters gave it the name and then you reach the Harecastle Tunnel. If you suffer from claustrophobia, don't do it! When in the middle there is a pin prick of daylight in front of you and the same at the back. From there you cruise through the heart of The Potteries.
Great Haywood Junction takes the Staffs and Worcester Canal through Tixall Wide past Shugborough Hall until approaching Autherley Junction where the canal narrows for about half a mile, with room for one boat. At Autherley Junction the Shropshire Union negotiates a stop lock and then continues to a solitary lock at Wheaton Aston before a series of locks including flights of 5 at Tyrley, 5 at Adderley and 15 at Audlem drop the line back down towards the Cheshire Plain. A stretch of locks that never seems to end! At Barbridge Junction is the right turn heading back to Middlewich.
Llangollen Canal
One of the most popular waterways in Europe and certainly my favourite piece of canal. If you do not like heights then the magnificent Pontcysyllte Aqueduct across the River Dee is a problem for you unless you disappear inside the barge and close your eyes! This 200-year old structure towers 125 feet above the Dee Valley and crossing it on a boat feels like floating in mid-air over the Welsh countryside.
This 46-mile canal is beautiful throughout and is understandably very busy in the high season. The final few miles of canal hug the side of the River Dee valley on their approach to Llangollen. The canal beyond the moorings at Llangollen, continuing to the water feeder at Horseshoe Falls, is a particularly attractive spot for a walk.
One never to be forgotten memory is of the point where the canal and railway run alongside for a short while. The driver of the express train sounded his horn and waved as he went past to acknowledge the mode of transport that the railways replaced.
Rodger Cresswell
