The Four Counties Ring
The Four Counties Ring offers a memorable canal boat holiday experience, combining scenic beauty, historic interest, and the unique charm of England’s canal network. It’s a popular choice for boating enthusiasts looking to explore the tranquil waterways of the British countryside.
The 110-mile route takes boaters on a canal boat holiday odyssey through the counties of Staffordshire, the West Midlands, Cheshire and Shropshire. The circuit travels sections of the Shropshire Union, Staffordshire & Worcestershire and Trent & Mersey canals. There are 94 locks to pass through and it takes around 55 cruising hours.
Highlights include: the Wedgewood Visitor centre in Stoke-on-Trent; the 2670-metre long Harecastle Tunnel; the flight of 15 locks at Audlem; views of the rolling Cheshire Plains; the Roman town of Middlewich; and the medieval market town of Market Drayton.
To complete the Four Counties Ring from our base at Great Haywood, you’ll travel 110 miles, pass through 94 locks. It will take around 55 hours, so it’s recommended to be done on a 10-day or two-week holiday. From Bunbury it will take around 58 hours to complete the Four Counties Ring.
