Ststa Stone /Cheshire Ring 127 miles, 116 locks, 7 Tunnels
This equates to 10 days, 3 hours and 17 minutes travelling 7 hours a day.
This is the place to book your Cheshire Ring canal boat hire. The Cheshire ring can be completed in an active 11 day hire or a more relaxed 2 week canal boat hire.
The Cheshire Ring is a popular canal ring in the North West of England, traversing Cheshire, Greater Manchester, and a small section of Staffordshire. This scenic route features a mix of narrow and broad locks, providing an engaging experience for boaters.
The majority of locks on the Cheshire Ring are narrow, including the Marple Locks, Bosley Locks, and Cheshire Locks (also known as Heartbreak Hill). These locks can be easily managed by small crews, offering a day or half a day of lock-wheeling followed by one or two days of lock-free cruising.
The ring also includes 10 broad locks: nine on the Rochdale Canal between the Ashton Canal and the Bridgewater Canal, and the Big Lock on the Trent & Mersey near Middlewich. While these locks have larger, heavier gates and may take more time to navigate, they are still manageable for small crews.
As much of the route lies within Cheshire, you can enjoy expansive views over the Cheshire Plain. The Macclesfield Canal, running along Gritstone ridges to the east, offers stunning vistas of Mow Cop, Bosley Cloud, and White Nancy, all accessible via the Gritstone Trail. These landmarks provide superb views of the Cheshire countryside and the Derbyshire Peak District. In Greater Manchester, the canal’s surroundings become more urban, cutting through the heart of Manchester. Castlefields, at the junction of the Rochdale and Bridgewater canals, offers excellent moorings and a base to explore the city and its rich industrial heritage.
The Cheshire Ring’s canals were integral to local industries, including the silk mills in Macclesfield, potteries in Stoke-on-Trent, and salt mines in Middlewich and Northwich. Visitors can learn about these industries and the canals’ historical significance at various museums, such as the Lion Salt Works in Northwich, Macclesfield Silk Museum, Portland Basin Museum, Anderson Engine Museum in Higher Poynton, Discovery Center in Bollington, Science and Industry Museum in Manchester, and the Anderton Boat Lift and Visitor Centre.
Anderton Boat Lift https://www.visitcheshire.com/things-to-do/anderton-boat-lift-p245491
