|
|
Four Counties Ring
(Shropshire Union, Staffs & Worcester, Trent & Mersey and Middlewich
Branch Canals)
(120 miles, 106 locks on circular route) |
|
| This is a hardworking
circular route for 1 week, with little time for visiting places, or a
leisurely 2 weeks with plenty of time for excursions off the canal.
On this cruise you travel southwards along the Shropshire Canal over high
embankments and through deep cuttings. The main flights of locks are at
Audlem and Market Drayton, all are easy to operate and in beautiful
surroundings. The canal strides boldly across country in a direct line
reaching Autherley Junction, near Wolverhampton, where you turn left onto
the Staffs & Worcester Canal. What a contrast to the ‘Shroppie’. The canal
twists and turns, in one place travelling 3 miles to cross a half mile
valley. After a 7 mile summit, the locks start again at Gailey and are
spaced out all the way to Stafford. At Penkridge there is a large open air
market. Then you cruise through open country past Stafford to the
picturesque Tixall Wide (a large lake to please the local landowner) and
Great Haywood Junction. Alongside is Shugborough Hall, home of the Earl of
Lichfield, with the Staffs county museum housed in the stables, well worth
a visit. |
| Here you join the Trent and Mersey Canal, and the heavier locks begin. The
canal climbs slowly to it’s summit at Etruria passing through the busy
town of Stone and past the Wedgewood Pottery (also well worth a visit).
At Etruria (Stoke on Trent) the Caldon Canal branches off into the
Staffordshire Moorlands to Leek and Froghall. After an industrial,
although impressive, start this canal is exquisite! If you have 2 weeks
don’t miss it! It will take you 4 days to fully cruise, and worth every
moment.
On the main line your route continues past Etruria’s shopping parks (and
Waterworld) to Harecastle Tunnel where boats are shepherded into the 2926
yard tunnel by resident keepers. Soon after, at Hardingswood Junction, the
Macclesfield Canal branches away.
|
 |
| You now travel (work) your way down ‘heartbreak hill’so called by the old
boatmen because of the large number of locks (26 to Wheelock) before there
is a break. The remaining 5 locks dropping the canal to Middlewich are
well spaced. At Middlewich Wardle Junction turn left onto the Middlewich
branch of the Shropshire Union to return to Barbridge and on to our
boatyard at Beeston. |
Cruising times from
Beeston:
Audlem (6½ hrs)
Market Drayton (11 hrs)
Norbury Junction (15½ hrs)
Autherley Junction (21 hrs)
Penkridge (25½ hrs)
Great Haywood Junction (30 hrs)
Stone (34½ hrs)
Etruria (Stoke on Trent) (39½ hrs)
Kidsgrove (42 hrs)
Middlewich (51 hrs)
Barbridge (55 hrs)
Beeston (57½ hrs) |
|
|
|
|
|
