 Explore
the countryside on the edges of 4
different counties, taking in a variety
of industry around Stoke and The
Potteries, and the small market towns
and villages along the Shroppie. You
have a choice to navigate the Four
Counties Ring
clockwise or anti clockwise from the
boatyard.We
find that the majority of our customers
prefer to leave the boatyard and head
clockwise, spending the first evening in
the small village of Wheelock or Hassall
Green, where there are a wide choice of
pubs and bistros.
On the 2nd day,
you will start the most demanding
section of your holiday i.e. Heartbreak
Hill - putting it behind you. This is a
section of approximately 26 locks in 7
miles - testing your lock skills. At the
end of this section, you will come to
the Red Bull ‘merry go round’ which is
the Southern tip of the Cheshire Ring.
 From
Red Bull, you then pass under the
Macclesfield Canal, Continuing to the
Harecastle Tunnel (one of the great
inland waterway adventures). At most
times there is a tunnel keeper at either
end controlling the passage. You will
then reach the outskirt of Hanley - the
shopping area of Stoke on Trent.
Your journey through
Stoke will take you past some Industrial
areas, such as the site of the famous
Wedgewood and other pottery factories,
finding a night spot en route.
Leaving the Stoke area
on your 3rd day, pass through
some Staffordshire villages and the
market town of Stone, a place to stock
up on provisions. Arriving near Great
Heywood Junction for your 3rd night.
On day 4,
continue cruising, joining the Staffs
and Worcester Canal at Great Heywood
Junction, passing through Penkridge -
(with a choice of nice pubs for a lunch
stop), coming out of Staffordshire,
passing briefly through the West
Midlands near Wolves, where you will
then reach Autherley Junction, joining
the ‘Shroppie’ - a beautiful canal with
lots of country scenery. Perhaps
stopping at Brewood or Wheaton Aston
overnight.
On day 5,
continue cruising along the sublime
Shroppie, passing through Gnosall Heath
and Norbury Junction where you will then
pass into the 4th and final county of
Shropshire, where a possible night stop
at market Drayton should be considered.
On the morning of
day 6, you will encounter the
challenges of Adderley 5 locks and the
Audlem flight of 15. This can be fairly
busy during summer, but there are some
nice pubs between locks for a swift
half!! You may wish to visit the secret
bunker of Hack Green (approx 2/3 hours)
(not one of the best kept secrets), with
a night visit at the market town of
Nantwich, with a wide taste of pubs and
restaurants and good nightlife, leaving
you a steady, approx 6 hours cruise back
to Middlewich. |
