Four Counties Ring

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.

Harecastle Tunnel Continuing north along the Trent & Mersey Canal, 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. Here the Four Counties Ring route leaves the Trent & Mersey Canal, heading to Barbridge along the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal. This quiet waterway travels peacefully through the Cheshire countryside, with just 4 locks along its 10-mile length. Along the way, the Badger Inn at Church Minshull is a short walk from the canal.

Barbridge Junction At Barbridge Junction, where you’ll find the Olde Barbridge Inn, head south down the Shropshire Union Canal main line.

Hurleston Junction Just over 1 mile later, you’ll pass Hurleston Junction, where the Llangollen Canal connects with the Shropshire Union Canal. Continue cruising along the main line.

Nantwich The historic market town of Nantwich was once the centre of the salt mining industry. You can find out more about it at the Nantwich Museum.  Nantwich has a great choice of places to eat, including the Wickstead Arms.