There’s plenty of storage on board and we offer advice on what to pack
Canal Boat Hire from Great Haywood
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 Great Haywood – Discover the Canals of Staffordshire and the West Midlands
Situated at the junction of the Trent & Mersey Canal and the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal, our Great Haywood base offers one of the most versatile starting points for canal boat holidays in the UK.
From here, you can explore the Staffordshire countryside, the West Midlands canal network, and even venture towards the Potteries and Peak District — with cruising routes suitable for both beginners and experienced boaters.
Routes & Destinations from Great Haywood
Next to the junction of the Trent & Mersey and Staffordshire & Worcestershire canals Great Haywood offers a wide variety of routes
Fradley Junction
Start on Friday or Saturday
Trent & Mersey Canal, Staffordshire
Route details:
Fradley and back
- 25 miles
- 10 locks
- 12 hours
On a short break from Great Haywood you can cruise south to Fradley Junction and back, passing through the Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Stone
Start on Friday or Saturday
Trent & Mersey Canal, Staffordshire
Route details:
Stone and back
- 20 miles
- 8 locks
- 10 hours
On a short break you can travel north along the Trent & Mersey Canal through the wooded Trent Valley to the historic village of Stone and back, passing through a series of villages with canalside pubs.
Gailey Wharf
Start on Monday or Tuesday
Trent & Mersey Canal, Staffordshire
Route details:
Gailey Wharf and back
- 26 miles
- 22 locks
- 15 hours
On a four-night break you can cruise the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal to Gailey Wharf and back.
Alrewas
Start on Monday or Tuesday
Trent & Mersey Canal, Staffordshire
Route details:
Alrewas and back
- 31 miles
- 22 locks
- 17 hours
On a four-night break you can cruise through the Staffordshire countryside to historic Alrewas and back.
Etruria/The Potteries
Start on Monday, Tuesday, Friday or Saturday
Trent & Mersey Canal, Staffordshire
Route details:
Etruria and back
- 38 miles
- 36 locks
- 21.5 hours
On a week away you can cruise north up the Trent & Mersey Canal to Etruria in Stoke on Trent, home of the Potteries.
Drayton Manor Theme Park
Start on Monday, Tuesday, Friday or Saturday
Trent & Mersey Canal, Staffordshire
Route details:
Drayton Manor Theme Park and back
- 48 Miles
- 10 locks
- 22 hours
On a week’s break you can cruise through the countryside to moorings on the Coventry Canal close to Drayton Manor Theme Park and back.
Market Drayton
Start on Monday, Tuesday, Friday or Saturday
Trent & Mersey Canal, Staffordshire
Route details:
Market Drayton and back
- 95 miles
- 38 locks
- 42 hours
On a week’s break you can cruise to the historic market town of Market Drayton, home of the gingerbread man, and back.
Leek on the Caldon Canal
Start on Monday, Tuesday, Friday or Saturday
Trent & Mersey Canal, Staffordshire
Route details:
Leek and back
- 62 miles
- 54 locks
- 36 hours
On a week long holiday from Great Haywood you can cruise to Stoke on Trent and transfer onto the Caldon Canal to Leek and back.
Black Country Ring
Start on Monday, Tuesday, Friday or Saturday
Trent & Mersey Canal, Staffordshire
Route details:
The Black Country Ring
- 75 miles
- 79 locks
- 42.5 hours
On a 10 day or two week break you can complete the Black Country Ring, travelling 75 mile and passing through 79 locks in around 43 cruising hours.
The Four Counties Ring
Start on Monday, Tuesday, Friday or Saturday
Trent & Mersey Canal, Staffordshire
Route details:
The Four Counties Ring
- 110 miles
- 94 locks
- 60 hours
On a 10-day or two week break you can complete the popular Four Counties Ring, cruising 110 miles and passing through 94 locks in around 60 cruising hours.
The Stourport Ring
Start on Monday, Tuesday, Friday or Saturday
Trent & Mersey Canal, Staffordshire
Route details:
The Stourport Ring
- 104 miles
- 121 locks
- 44 hours
The Stourport Ring takes in sections of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire, Worcester & Birmingham, Birmingham Main Line and Stourbridge canals, as well as a short section of the River Severn. You can connect to it from our Great Haywood base.
The South Pennine Ring
Start on Monday, Tuesday, Friday or Saturday
Trent & Mersey Canal, Staffordshire
Route details:
The South Penine Ring
- 73 miles
- 197 locks
This epic circuit for experienced boaters criss-crosses the Pennines. It travels 73 miles, passes through 197 locks and takes around 3 weeks from Great Haywood.
Luxury Boats available at Great Haywood
We have 3 luxury narrowboats for hire at Great Haywood, ranging from boats for 2 to 6 people.
Curzon
This Luxury 65ft Admiral Class narrowboat sleeps up to 4 people.
Hydra
This Luxury 65ft Constellation Class narrowboat sleeps up to 4 people.
Pegasus
This Luxury 67ft Constellation Class narrowboat sleeps up to 6 people.
Other Canal Boats available at Great Haywood
There’s a great choice of narrowboats available at Great Haywood, ranging from boats for 2 to 12 people.
Phoenix
This Premium 69ft Ocean Class narrowboat sleeps up to 10 people.
Warleigh
This Premium 48ft Weir Class cruiser stern narrowboat sleeps up to two people.
Golden Ghyll
This Premium 57ft Firth Class narrowboat sleeps up to two people.
Pulteney
This Premium 48ft Weir Class narrowboat sleeps up to four people.
Arley Hall
This Premium 58ft Weir Class narrowboat sleeps up to 4 people.
Leo II
This Premium 65ft Bond Class narrowboat sleeps up to 4 people.
Lady Andrea
This Premium 58ft Village Class narrowboat sleeps up to 4 people.
Lady Carol
This Premium 65ft Estuary Class narrowboat sleeps up to 6 people.
Vale
This Premium 60ft Beech Class narrowboat sleeps up to 7 people.
May
This Premium 60ft Lock Class narrowboat sleeps up to 8 people.
Firefly
This Standard 58ft Trent III Class narrowboat sleeps up to 8 people.
Hatherton
This Standard 68ft Church Class narrowboat sleeps up to 9 people.
Floral Dance
This Standard 69ft Emperor Class narrowboat sleeps up to 12 people.
Day boats
We have two day boats at Great Haywood. Each boat has space for up to 10 people. Our day boats are family and pet friendly. Prices start at £99.
How to find us
Our boat yard at Great Haywood is on the Trent & Mersey Canal near Stafford.
Anglo Welsh, Mill Lane, Great Haywood, Staffordshire ST18 0RJ
Tel 01889 881711
Discover Canal Boat Hire from Great Haywood
Looking for canal boat hire in Staffordshire? Great Haywood gives you access to a wide range of scenic and cultural routes, with something for every style of trip.
From this base, you can:
- Cruise the Trent & Mersey Canal
Travel through peaceful countryside towards Stone, Rugeley, and Fradley Junction, where historic locks and quaint villages await. - Join the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal
Head northwest through Penkridge, Autherley Junction, and beyond, where wooded landscapes and tranquil stretches offer a relaxing pace. - Explore the Four Counties Ring
For longer breaks (7–14 nights), take on this popular circular route through Staffordshire, Cheshire, Shropshire, and the West Midlands — a diverse and rewarding adventure. - Head towards the Potteries and Peak District
Navigate north past Stoke-on-Trent, the heart of Britain’s ceramic industry, and enjoy dramatic scenery as the canal rises towards the edges of the Peak District.
Explore at Your Own Pace
- 🌾 Savour rural Staffordshire
Enjoy a slower pace through farmland, meadows, and charming lock flights. Moor up in Great Haywood, Tixall, or Shugborough, with scenic spots perfect for walking or picnics. - 🏺 Discover canalside heritage
Visit Stoke-on-Trent for its rich pottery history or stop at heritage sites like Shugborough Estate, located just a short walk from the canal. - 🍻 Stop at traditional pubs and market towns
Break your journey in friendly towns like Stone or Rugeley, where you’ll find canalside pubs, markets, and historic charm.
Book Your Canal Boat Holiday from Great Haywood
With flexible routes and connections to major canal rings, Great Haywood is an ideal base for exploring central England’s waterways. Whether you’re cruising for a few days or a couple of weeks, you’ll find endless scenery, heritage, and hospitality along the way.
Begin your narrowboat journey from Great Haywood and explore the canals of Staffordshire, the Midlands, and beyond.
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.
