Four Counties Ring & Caldon Canal

Weston Head north up the Trent & Mersey Canal from Great Haywood and you’ll soon reach the village of Weston with The Woolpack and Saracen’s Head pubs.

Stone At Stone you’ll find a great choice of places to eat and drink. There are visitor moorings at Westbridge Park, opposite the Swan pub, and a little further along past the Star pub on the left.

Barlaston The popular Plume of Feathers pub is canalside at Barlaston.

World of Wedgewood Just before Trentham Lock, you can stop to explore the World of Wedgwood, with a factory tour, afternoon tea in the Wedgewood tea room, woodland walks and award winning museum housing a UNESCO protected collection.

Stoke-on-Trent Just under 5 miles later, after travelling through the Stoke flights of 5 locks, the canal reaches its junction with the Caldon Canal at Etruria, in Stoke-on-Trent. Here you can stop to visit the Etruria Industrial Museum, Spode Visitor Centre and the Waterworld indoor aqua park.

Caldon Canal Transfer onto the Caldon Canal and go through the Etruria Staircase Locks.

Stoke-on-Trent You can moor up at Bridge 8 to walk into Stoke-on-Trent and visit the Potteries Shopping Centre, Bridgewater Factory shop or the Repertory Theatre.

Stockton Brook Continuing on, the route becomes increasingly rural and you’ll pass the canalside Sportsman pub at Stockton Brook.

Hazelhurst Junction When you reach Hazelhurst Junction, follow the stretch through Hazelhurst Locks then go under Hazelhurst Aqueduct, which carries the Leek branch of the Caldon Canal to Leek.

Denford Heading south through the Staffordshire countryside, you’ll pass the Hollybush Inn at Denford and soon after Deep Hayes Country Park.

Cheddleton Travelling alongside the River Churnet through beautiful countryside, you’ll soon reach Cheddleton. Here you can visit the little Flint Mill Museum, shops, the Black Lion pub and Old School Tearooms and Craft Centre. Cheddleton is also the headquarters of the Churnet Valley Steam Railway.

Consall Forge Next you’ll reach the village of Consall Forge, with its Black Lion pub and Consall Nature Reserve.

Froghall The channel then narrows and the canal runs through densely wooded hills. Turn your boat around in the winding hole before the 69-metre long Froghall Tunnel, which is unusually narrow and low so most boats aren’t able to pass through. The winding hole accommodates boats up to 64ft long. Walk to Froghall Wharf, where you’ll find Hetty’s Tea Rooms. Return to Etruria.

Harecastle Tunnel Transfer back onto the Trent & Mersey Canal and head north. You’ll need to book your passage to be able to pass through the mighty 1¾-mile long Harecastle Tunnel.

Harding’s Wood Junction You’ll re-emerge at Kidsgrove, and Harding’s Wood Junction, where the Macclesfield Canal meets the Trent & Mersey. Here you’ll meet the summit of ‘Heartbreak Hill’ – the series of 31 locks between Middlewich and Kidsgrove, raising the canal 280ft up from the Cheshire Plains.

Rode Heath The next village is Rode Heath with its Royal Oak pub and Rode Hall, one of Cheshire’s most exquisite country houses. The South Cheshire Way crosses the canal at Lower Thurlwood Lock, one of a flight of 3, then it’s the 2 Pierpoint Locks, and then there are 2 more at Hassall Green, just before the canal passes beneath the M6 motorway.

Wheelock At Wheelock, where there’s a choice of pubs, including the canalside Cheshire Cheese, and 8 more locks to negotiate. From Wheelock it’s a 1-mile walk into the historic town of Sandbach, with regular markets, a Waitrose supermarket and plenty of places to eat and drink.

Sandbach Flashes Next there’s a 3-mile break from locks as the canal winds round Ettiley Heath and the Sandbach Flashes, a group of 14 wetlands designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Middlewich 4 miles and another 4 locks on, the canal reaches the historic market town Middlewich, famous for its salt industry which dates back to medieval times.