There’s plenty of storage on board and we offer advice on what to pack
Bunbury Canal Boat Marinna
We offer a range of boat sizes with accommodation for two to 12 people.
With our Price Promise you know you’ll be paying the best price.
Cruise from Bunbury – Explore Cheshire and the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
Located on the Shropshire Union Canal near Tarporley in Cheshire, our Bunbury base is the perfect launch point for exploring the North West canal network. With scenic countryside routes and access to the incredible Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is a top choice for both new and experienced boaters.
From peaceful farmland to iconic canal landmarks, canal boat holidays from Bunbury offer a rich mix of nature, history and relaxed cruising.
Routes & Destinations from Bunbury
Bunbury on the Shropshire Union Canal in Cheshire offers a wide variety of routes
Chester
Start on Friday or Saturday
The Shropshire Union Canal, Shropshire
Route details:
Chester and back
- 12 miles
- 18 locks
- 14 hours
On a short break from Bunbury you can navigate the Shropshire Union Canal through the Cheshire countryside to the ancient City of Chester and back.
Audlem
Start on Friday or Saturday
The Shropshire Union Canal, Shropshire
Route details:
Audlem and back
- 23 miles
- 4 locks
- 9 hours
On a short break you can cruise through the Cheshire countryside, crossing Nantwich Aqueduct along the way, to the historic village of Audlem and back.
Anderton Boat Lift
Start on Monday or Tuesday
The Shropshire Union Canal, Shropshire
Route details:
Anderton Boat Lift and back
- 46 miles
- 20 locks
- 18 hours
On a four-night break you can cruise along the Shropshire Union Canal and transfer onto the Trent & Mersey Canal to the Anderton Boat Lift, one of the Seven Wonders of the Waterways.
Ellesmere Port
Start on Monday or Tuesday
The Shropshire Union Canal, Shropshire
Route details:
Ellesmere Port and back
- 24 locks
- 19 hours
On a four-night break you can cruise through the ancient City of Chester and on along the Shropshire Union Canal to the Canal & River Trust’s National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port and back.
Whitchurch
Start on Monday or Tuesday
The Shropshire Union Canal, Shropshire
Route details:
Whitchurch and back
- 35 miles
- 40 locks
- 20 hours
On a four-night mid-week break you can cruise the Shropshire Union Canal, then transfer onto the Llangollen Canal to the historic market town of Whitchurch and back.
Market Drayton
Start on Monday or Tuesday
The Shropshire Union Canal, Shropshire
Route details:
Market Drayton and back
- 36 miles
- 48 locks
- 21 hours
On a four-night mid-week break you can cruise through the Cheshire and Shropshire countryside to the historic market town of Market Drayton and back.
Norbury Junction
Start on Monday or Tuesday, Friday or Saturday
The Shropshire Union Canal, Shropshire
Route details:
Norbury Junction and back
- 58 miles
- 58 locks
- 31 hours
On a week’s break you can cruise through the Cheshire and Shropshire countryside along the Shropshire Union Canal to Norbury Junction and back.
Llangollen
Start on Monday or Tuesday, Friday or Saturday
The Shropshire Union Canal, Shropshire
Route details:
Llangollen and back
- 97 miles
- 46 locks
- 47 hours
On a week-long holiday you cruise the Llangollen Canal through the Shropshire Lake District and the UNESCO World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct to Llangollen and back.
The Four Counties Ring
Start on Monday or Tuesday, Friday or Saturday
The Shropshire Union Canal, Shropshire
Route details:
The Four Counties Ring
- 115 miles
- 98 locks
- 63 hours
On a 10-day or two week break you can complete the popular Four Counties Ring, cruising 115 miles and passing through 104 locks in around 65 cruising hours.
The Cheshire Ring
Start on Monday or Tuesday, Friday or Saturday
The Shropshire Union Canal, Shropshire
Route details:
The Cheshire Ring
- 122 miles
- 104 locks
- 65 hours
On a 10-day or two-week break you can complete the epic Cheshire Ring, cruising 122 miles and passing through 104 locks in around 65 cruising hours.
Boats available at Bunbury
There’s a great range of narrowboats available at Bunbury, ranging from boats for two to 12 people.
Golden Goose
This Premium 57ft Firth Class narrowboat sleeps 2 people.
Trossachs
This Premium 65ft Bond Class narrowboat sleeps up to 4 people.
Chertsey
This Premium 48ft Weir Class narrowboat sleeps up to 4 people.
Merlin
This Premium 62ft Stream Class narrowboat sleeps up to 4 people.
Carina
This Luxury 65ft Constellation Class narrowboat sleeps up to 4 people.
Killington
This Premium 58ft Village Class narrowboat sleeps up to 4 people.
Lady Susan
This Standard 62ft Trent III Class narrowboat sleeps up to 6 people.
Irene
This Standard 62ft Trent III Class narrowboat sleeps up to 6 people.
Cygnus
This Luxury 67ft Constellation Class narrowboat sleeps up to 6 people.
Cassiopeia
This Luxury 67ft Constellation Class narrowboat sleeps up to 6 people.
Buckland
This Premium 67ft Bond Class narrowboat sleeps up to 6 people.
Irene
This Standard 62ft Trent II Class narrowboat sleeps up to 8 people.
Mirabella
This Premium 69ft Ocean Class narrowboat sleeps up to 10 people.
River Dance
This Standard 69ft Emperor Class narrowboat sleeps up to 12 people.
Lynx
This Luxury 69ft Constellation Class narrowboat sleeps up to 12 people.
Day boat
Our day boat Bella at Bunbury has space for up to 10 people. Our day boats are family and pet friendly. Prices start at £99.
How to find us
Our Bunbury canal boat hire base is on the Shropshire Union Canal near Tarporley in Cheshire.
Anglo Welsh, Bunbury Lock, Tarporley, Cheshire CW6 9QB
Tel 01829 260957
Discover Canal Boat Hire in Cheshire
Looking for canal boat hire in Cheshire? Bunbury provides the ideal location to start your narrowboat holiday, offering flexible routes in all directions:
Cruise north towards Chester, with its Roman walls and medieval architecture
Travel south to the rolling hills of Shropshire
Join the Llangollen Canal and experience the breathtaking Pontcysyllte Aqueduct — often called the “stream in the sky”
With options for short breaks, week-long holidays or longer cruises, our Bunbury base gives you a range of choices to suit your time and interests.
Explore at Your Own Pace
🌿 Drift through Cheshire’s countryside
Pass through a landscape of green fields, working farms and picturesque villages. Moor up at traditional pubs and enjoy the peace of the towpath.
🏛️ Visit historic Chester
Cruise directly into the city via the canal, and enjoy its Roman amphitheatre, black-and-white buildings, and riverside dining.
🌉 Cross the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
Navigate one of the most famous canal structures in the world – a 307-metre aqueduct towering 38 metres above the River Dee. An unforgettable highlight.
🍻 Stop at canalside inns
Relax with good food and friendly company at welcoming moorings like The Shady Oak or The Cheshire Cat.
Book Your Canal Boat Holiday from Bunbury
Whether you’re planning a family break, a couple’s escape or a relaxed adventure with friends, canal boat hire from Bunbury gives you the flexibility to explore Cheshire, North Wales and Shropshire at your own pace.
Download a Brochure
Our brochure includes information on our boats, routes, destinations and prices. There are also tips for canal boat beginners, advice on what to pack and a list of our locations offering day boat hire.
FAQs
How do canal locks work?
A lock is a chamber with gates at either end. By emptying or filling the chamber with water, boats can move up or down a canal. With the lock gates closed, open the sluices (paddles) to let the water in or out. When the water level under your boat is the same as the level it’s moving to, you can move your boat in or out of the lock.
How long does it take to go through a lock?
It takes around 15 to 20 minutes to go through a lock.
Will my narrowboat have heating?
All our narrowboats have gas central heating with radiators throughout for cosy year-round canal boat holidays. Some of our boats also have a multi-fuel stove.
