UK Canal Boating

Day 1

By the time you've checked in and stashed all your belongings and provisions, watched the training video and had your training, time will be passing, and it might be worthwhile getting supplies in Whitchurch and finding a nice pub or restaurant in the town and stay there for the night. You can moor up along the Whitchurch arm, by turning right from the marina and cruising north and take the right fork and moor along there. It is about a 15 minutes walk into the town.

Day 2

Head south towards Ellesmere.

Pass the marina again, the countryside is typically quiet and pretty.

At bridge 43 in the village of Platt Lane,

Continue your cruise and you will shortly reach Whixall Moss, a raised bog with rare insect and plant life, but there might be mosquitoes as well! The bog was also formed during the Ice Age. There are walks & cycle routes over Whixall Moss, see leaflets near bridges 44 & 45.

There is a lovely lift bridge at bridge 45.

The canal branches away to your left but Prees Branch only leads to a nature reserve & a marina, so keep right.

The canal passes into England and then into Wales, going backwards & forwards past a remote and unpopulated area. At bridge 48 is the small village of Bettisfield, there is a stores here & off-licence.

Soon the open countryside gives way to more hilly wooded landscape as you start to pass through the Meres that make this area famously called the mini Lake District.
Cole Mere is the first on your left, then Blake Mere further on your right. The largest Mere is by Ellesmere itself, you can walk to it from Bridge 57 just after the short Ellesmere Tunnel. The Meres were carved out during the Ice Age.

You will soon be approaching Ellesmere, and a fine old warehouse and small canalside crane, and old canal company offices, testify to the canal trading that used to be carried out from here.

Ellesmere is a busy 18th century market town with delightful pubs and restaurants, also a variety of shops and a Co-op. Moor up the end of the Ellesmere Arm a canal branch to your right if you would like to take a look.

It takes 5.5 cruising hours to get to here from Whitchurch, so enough time to explore the Meres & the lovely town of Ellesmere.

Day 3
Day 4
Cruise back to Whitchurch.

 

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 Information may become inaccurate or out of date.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.