AVAILABLE
BOATS (see list of boats below) |
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National Rail Enquiries: www.nationalrail.co.uk Tel: 08457 484950
www.thetrainline.com Tel: 0871 244 1545
Nearest Airport: Manchester International Tel. 0161 489 3000
Nearest Railway Station: Stoke on Trent
Click here for Boats Availability
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Situated on the re-developed National Garden Festival Site, this is one of the most popular Black Prince starting points. Close by there is an exciting Water World, dry ski-slope, multi-screen cinema, ten pin bowling and shopping centre… and that is before you get on the water!
The variety of routes is wide with the Cheshire Ring and Four Counties being favourites. You travel through some of the waterways’ most beautiful scenery, along with the pure contrast of the Potteries, Royal Doulton, Cheddleton Mill and Wedgwood industries. For the more energetic there’s Alton Towers near the end of the Caldon Canal
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| Suggested
Routes from Peak District
| Short Routes (see below) |
| (ROUTE
A)
A more active route; you travel northwards
through the Harecastle Tunnel and
join the Macclesfield Canal via a
fly-over. This is a lovely canal
through Congleton, Macclesfield and
Marple to Manchester. The canal here
is currently being improved, but
has some way to go. A lock-free section
of the Bridgewater Canal (where it
all started) follows until Middlewich,
passing the Anderton Lift. A section
with plenty of locks takes you back
home to Stoke. |
(ROUTE
B)
Another
more active route, you travel southwards
from the marina past the
Wedgwood factory and through the
canal town of Stone to Great Haywood,
where
you meet the Staffordshire & Worcestershire
Canal. Travelling westwards, you join
the Shropshire Union Canal at Autherley.
The ‘Shroppie’ with its
impressive architecture, banks and
cuttings, carries you northwards to
the Middlewich Arm. At Middlewich you
rejoin the Trent & Mersey Canal
which carries you back to Stoke
through a number of locks and the
Harecastle
Tunnel. |
(ROUTE
C)
An
easy week down one of the most
beautiful and quiet canals of them
all. From
the junction near the marina, you
progress up the locks to the outskirts
of Stoke
via factories and parks. Here you
encounter progressively more picturesque
countryside
as you enter the Churnet Valley.
The Leek branch contains no locks
from
the junction, whereas the Froghall
branch descends to the River Churnet.
If time permits, a trip down the
Trent & Mersey
Canal to Stone is well worthwhile. |
(ROUTE
D)
An easy week, travelling into the Peak
District to the end of the Peak Forest
Canal at Whaley Bridge. Travelling
north through the Harecastle Tunnel,
you join the Macclesfield Canal at
Hardings Wood. The Macclesfield Canal
skirts the edge of the Peak District
through the small towns of Congleton,
Macclesfield and Marple, before turning
onto the Peak Forest Canal to Whaley
Bridge. |
Why
not try a short break from Peak
District?
You can enjoy 3 or 4 days from either
Saturday afternoon to Tuesday afternoon,
Wednesday morning to Saturday morning,
Friday afternoon to Monday morning
or from Monday afternoon to Friday
morning.
Prices start from as little as £75
per person.
Locks: 34 Cruising Time: Around 24hrs
return
The Caldon Canal, taking in both wings
to Froghall and Leek through the Churnet
Valley. A quiet canal through beautiful
countryside with very good canal side
pubs.
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