UK Canal Boating

From Tattenhall Marina turn right or south along the Trent & Mersey canal.

From Wharton Lock is an excellent view of Beeston castle- a massive ruin dating back to the 14th century which is visible from 30 miles away. The castle was built by the Earl of Chester in 1337, & is situated on the top of a steep hill dominating the surrounding countryside. It is open April to September.

Beeston Castle is also known as the the formidable ‘Castle of the Rock’. Climb to the top of this impressive crag with incredible views over eight counties, from the Pennines to the Welsh mountains. Legend has it that Beeston still guards King Richard II’s lost treasure – maybe your family can find it? An exciting exhibition details the secrets of 4,000 years of Beeston Castle’s history, from Bronze Age settlement to Iron Age hill fort, the Castle itself was begun in 1225.

With over 40 acres of unspoiled woodland trails to explore and an abundance of wildlife Beeston Castle and Woodland Park makes for a truly exhilarating and enchanting day out for all the family.

At Bunbury Wharf, 2 staircase locks require thought before action, they are 14 feet wide like all locks between here and Chester. The village of Bunbury is 1 mile south west of the Locks and has stores, butcher & take away fish & chips & a couple of pubs.

Bunbury Water Mill is up the hill from Bunbury Wharf, & is open Easter-Sep & gives guided tours around its fully restored watermill.

The Davenport Arms is at Calveley by bridge 104. The countryside is flat, rich farmland. The Olde Barbridge Inn is Canalside at the Barbridge Junction.

Turn left along the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal, this is an attractive and wonderfully tranquil canal, with some rural moorings.

The canal crosses the River Weaver over an aqueduct as it approaches the village of Church Minshull which can be accessed by bridge 14.

If you moor by Bridge 14 and walk into the village on Church Minshull, to your left, the Badger Inn is in the village and serves lovely food and ales.

Continue along the Middlewich Branch to the town of Middlewich and the junction with the Trent & Mersey Canal and turn left.

The canalside area of Middlewich is a haven of peace below the busy streets. The town has been extracting salt since Roman times, and there is an interesting town trail north of Bridge 172. There are shops and pubs in the town and some interesting listed and historical buildings.
There are several salt works, which shows this areas industrial heritage. The Rock salt mining that has gone on since Roman times has resulted in severe local subsidence, and the canal has had to be banked up in some stretches, which makes it much deeper than normal

There are pleasant moorings with picnic tables & BBQ just before Bridge 176 or moor in the town, perhaps before Middlewich Big Lock which is 5.75 hours from Barbridge Junction.

You move out into fine open country on a beautiful stretch of canal, often overhung by trees following the delightful valley of the River Dane.

Soon Northwich is reached, there is a chemist, grocer & other shops.

The Old Broken Cross Pub is by Bridge 184 canalside and has moorings.

By Marston Bridge 193 there is a pub and late opening stores.

Away on your right you will see Marbury Country park which has woodlands carpeted with bluebells in the springtime, or relax under the shade of the lime avenues. Wander along the mere with splendid views over the water to the church at Great Budworth, or explore the arboretum and community orchard. Children will enjoy the play area, close to the picnic area.

Anderton Boat lift is on your left and it is worth mooring up here and looking round the Visitor centre, and even take the boat trip that goes down the boat lift , It is one of the Seven Wonders of the Waterways. There is a nice cafe at the top.
With the re-opening of the Anderton boat lift in Spring 2002, a whole new navigation is open for exploration . A stunning feat of 19th Century engineering, the lift carries two boats at a time hydraulically, one up and one down between the Trent & Mersey canal and the River Weaver 50 feet below.

Leaving Anderton, you will be heading towards Barnton Tunnel, which emerges onto a hillside overlooking the River Weaver, with a fantastic view down to Saltersford Locks. Do make sure before you enter the tunnel, that there are no boats coming from the other side, as it is only wide enough for one boat at a time.

At the east end of the tunnel, you will see some handy shops, so maybe a good time to stock up.

Moving on, you will now enter Saltersford Tunnel, Tunnel entry is as follows:
Northbound (Saltersford Tunnel to Preston Brook) - Entry on the hour until 20 minutes past the hour.
Southbound (Saltersford Tunnel to Barnton) - Entry 30 minutes past the hour until 10 minutes to the hour.

Again, two boats cannot pass in this tunnel, so do take care when entering and leaving it.

Once through the tunnel, you will again be in open countryside . You might like to have a meal in The Holly Bush Inn. Food is served at lunchtimes and evenings, along with traditional ales. There is a large beer garden with children's play area.

You will soon enter some woodlands, just prior to Preston Brook Tunnel which is 1239 yards long. From the North end of the tunnel, you will see a sign announcing that from here onwards, you are now on the Bridgewater Canal.
Tunnel times are as follows:
Northbound: open on the hour, and remains open until 10 past the hour.
Southbound: open at half past the hour, and remain opens until 20 to the hour.

You will notice that the canal now splits into two, where you will need to bear right. If you have the time, and want to visit Runcorn, then bear left for the 1½ hour cruise to the end of the canal, otherwise, keep left and make for Stockton Heath, a suburb of Warrington.

Runcorn (if you chose this route), has a really impressive road bridge, called the 'Silver Jubilee Bridge'. It links Runcorn to Widnes and is around 1,082 feet long, and it really is worth taking the detour to Runcorn just to see it.

Back towards Preston Brook Marina, bear left on a rural stretch until you reach Higher Walton, which is a pretty estate village, with local shops and amenities. A nice place to stop for lunch is the Walton Arms in Higher Walton. Children are welcome here, but only if they are dining with adults.

If you have time, you might like to visit Walton Hall in Higher Walton. This beautiful house and its gardens makes a nice day out for all the family, with play area's for the children.

And moving on, towards Stockton Heath, it becomes more urban and is a popular area for walkers and fishermen. Stockton Heath is North of London Road Bridge No. 15, and is a suburb of Warrington. This side of the canal is quite built-up, but on the South side, it is still very much unspoilt and open.

Next, you will pass by Grappenhall and Thelwall, where there is a pub called The Penny Ferry Inn. You can get a drink and maybe a snack here whilst waiting for the Penny Ferry to transport you across the Manchester Ship Canal, for a minimal fee.

Once back on your boat, you will cruise towards Lymm.

Lymm is a pretty little town with the streets tumbling down to the canal side. There are 24 hour moorings, which is handy for the fish and chip shop! In the town centre is Lymm Cross, built in C17th, and the centre-point of the town.

 

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.