UK Canal Boating

Day 1

Leaving Nantwich, you will be heading towards Bunbury Locks, 6 miles away.

If you want to visit Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker, it would be best to do so before you set off on your cruise, or on your return.

As you cruise towards Hurleston Junction, you will notice a sculpture trail along the towpath between Bridges 91 and 92, which celebrates the restoration of the Nantwich embankment. Beside the largest sculpture, at Bridge 92, a picnic site has been created.

Cruising through countryside, you will soon reach Hurleston Junction. Stay on the Shropshire Union Canal and pretty soon you will reach Barbridge Junction, where you will need to bear slightly left.

The Olde Barbridge Inn is accessible from the canal, and serves food and real ales. Children are welcome, but you should check with The Olde Barbridge Inn if you have a dog.

Very shortly you will be at Bunbury Wharf where the two locks are. You can moor in this area for the night if you wish.

There are two pubs nearby, both serving food, children welcome, as well as dogs – The Dysart Arms and The Nags Head, both in Bunbury.

You will have cruised 6 miles in around 2 hours.

Day 2

Today you will continue your cruise into Chester.

After Bunbury Locks, continue through quiet countryside and soon you will reach Tilstone Lock, then the Beeston Locks. To your left, from Wharton's Lock, you will be able to see Beeston Castle, which is visible from about 30 miles away.

Through Beeston Locks, the canal follows the hillside towards Tiverton. By Bridge 107 is a cafe which is open every day, and beyond the railway bridge is a grocery shop.

Again, there are pubs nearby – The Wild Boar Hotel and The Shady Oak, all serving food and children welcome.

Cruising leisurely westwards through the flat, green countryside of the Cheshire plain, you will eventually reach a charming village called Christleton, in the suburbs of Chester.

Christleton is well worth visiting for its olde-worlde charm, if nothing else. It is the quintessential English village, with chocolate box houses and village green. There is a pub here called The Old Trooper, by Christleton Bridge, which welcomes children.

Descending the canal in a north-westerly direction, it's not long until you get to City Road Bridge No. 123B, where you can moor up if you want to go into Chester.

Chester is a Roman city and has much to offer for all the family. Among many other points of interest, there is the Castle with its C13th Agricola Tower, which is open to the public. Abbey Square is accessed through a large gateway which was built in 1377, and is outside Chester Cathedral.

From an open-top 1930's vintage omnibus you can see the city of Chester. You can get details of Chester Heritage Tours from the Visitor Centre or Tourist Information Centre. A traditional market in Princess Street is open from Monday to Saturday. There is also a Military Museum, situated inside the tower at the Castle, with interactive displays. You can find more information at www.chester.ac.uk/militarymuseum.

There are many pubs, restaurants and bars in Chester, so you will have plenty of choice. Canalside at Bridge 123E is The Frog and Nightingale, and in the city centre are The Albion, Ye Olde Custom House and Telford's Warehouse, to name but a few.

You will have cruised 12 miles in just over 6 hours.

Day 3
Day 4

Today you will return to Nantwich, 18 miles away, which will take around 8½ hours.

 

NB: This route has been provided as a guide only. Information may become inaccurate or out of date. You should always check with the marina that the route is possible within your time frame, current weather conditions and canal stoppages etc.