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The Four counties ring is an ideal
canal boat holidays cruising route
for you to explore.

Four counties ring holiday cruising route.

This is a recommended canal boat holidays route.

A fascinating voyage of discovery and well worth the extra bit of effort!

The journey takes you along the wonderfully rural Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal to Great Haywood Junction where, passing under a distinctive roving bridge, you join the Trent and Mersey Canal heading north towards the Potteries and Peak District.

The rolling Staffordshire countryside leads you to Stoke-on-Trent, the Wedgewood Visitors Centre and the impressive 2926-yard long Harecastle Tunnel.

Beyond Harecastle the 13 miles to the salt town of Middlewich sees the canal descend 31 locks to the Cheshire Plains.

The short Middlewich arm links the Trent and Mersey Canal to the Shropshire Union Canal again through more glorious countryside.

The scenery on the climb up ‘Heartbreak Hill’ to the summit at Kidsgrove is fantastic. As well as sights of the potteries such as the Bottle Kilns at Etruria, the Wedgwood Pottery Centre at Barlaston is not to be missed.

The four counties ring

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Four counties ring from Anderton

Book From : Anderton Marina

10/11 day canal boat hire.

6.5 Hours per day cruising time.

102 Locks.

 

Four counties ring from Blackwater

Book From : Blackwater Marina

14 day canal boat hire.

7 Hours per day cruising time.

132 Locks.

 

Useful Four counties ring information

Etruria Industrial Museum canalside in Stoke on Trent – The last steam powered potters mill in Britain Website
Waterworld festival park- Etrutia, Stoke on Trent- Indoor Tropical aqua park with over 20 water rides www.waterworld.co.uk
Tel. 01782 205747
The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery- Stoke on Trent- the home of the worlds finest collection of Staffordshire Ceramics

Tel. 01782 232323

Gladstone Pottery museum- Stoke on trent- the last remaining Victorian Pottery factory Website
Tel. 01782 319232
Alton Towers Theme park - by bus from Stoke on Trent city centre Website
Tel. 08705 204060
Harecastle Tunnel- 1.66 miles long just under 3000 yards, one of the longest tunnels in the UK Tel. 01606 723800
Nantwich Tourist information Website
Nantwich Museum Website
Tel. 01270 627104
Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker, a unique & quite exciting day out - beside bridge 85 south of Nantwich www.hackgreen.co.uk
Market Drayton Website
Chillington Hall- 18th century home with gardens by Capability Brown north of the Autherley Junction, 1 ½ miles west of the Shropshire Union canal Website
Dunstall park- Wolverhampton racecourse Website
Shugborough Park Estate near Great Haywood on the Staffs & Worcs canal Website
Tel. 01889 881388
Stafford Tourist Information www.visitstafford.org
Wedgwood Visitor Centre at Barlaston south of Stoke on Trent, a short walk from the canal at bridge 104

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