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The Cheshire Ring

The Cheshire Ring is a popular circular canal route, especially for hire boat holidays since it can be cruised in one week. Take two and take your time or do a bit more exploring.


Saltersford Locks near Northwich on the River Weaver

Saltersford Locks near Northwich on the River Weaver

  • The Rochdale Canal leaves Castlefields in central Manchester heading for the Pennine Hils but the Cheshire Ring only takes the first couple of miles down the Rochdale Nine wide locks through the lively cafes and bars of the gay village and then below the city streets to Ducie Street Junction.
  • The Ashton Canal climbs out of urban industrial east Manchester through the area which was regenerated after the Commonwealth Games came to Manchester in 2002.
  • The Peak Forest Canal continues the climb into the Pennines, now through increasingly pleasant surroundings of the wooded Goyt Valley. Whalley Bridge is worth a detour.
  • The Macclesfield Canal turns south and rides the edge of the Pennine hillsides through attractive and well presented stone towns & villages overlooking the Cheshire Plain.
  • The Trent and Mersey Canal is reached via an unusual ‘fly-over’ junction at Hardings Wood then heads north through the salt towns of Middlewich and Northwich where the subsidence it caused can still be seen.
  • The Bridgewater Canal runs parallel with the River Mersey and the Manchester Ship Canal into Manchester on a single level, wide and deep and no locks for a welcome change!
the Cheshire Ring Map

The Cheshire Ring – Junctions, locks and lengths

bullet  Ashton Canal – Ducie St. Junction, 18 locks, 6 miles to …

bullet  Peak Forest Canal – Dukinfield Junction, 16 locks, 8 miles to …

bullet  Macclesfield Canal – Marple Junction, 13 locks, 28 miles to …

bullet  Trent and Mersey Canal – Hardings Wood Junction, 31 locks, 23 miles to …

bullet  Bridgewater Canal – Preston Brook Junction, 0 locks, 23 miles to …

bullet  Rochdale Canal – Castlefields, 9 locks, 1.5 miles to Ducie St. Junction

Dukinfield Junction, right for the Macclesfield Canal

Boat Hire from family firms on or around The Cheshire Ring

canal signpost

Shropshire Union Canal

Black Dog Boat Hire

Black Dog Boat Hire. The black dog is a unique modern narrowboat perfectly situated on the Shropshire Union Canal with links to cruise the Four Counties Ring, the Cheshire Ring and the Llangollen Canal.

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Trent and Mersey Canal

Canal Cruising Company

The Canal Cruising Company is located in the canal town of Stone. We are ideally placed for a number of out and back routes and circular routes. Our boats are 2 to 8 berths, all are ETC graded.

canal signpost

Macclesfield Canal

Heritage Narrowboats

Heritage Narrowboats
offering 'quality graded' Narrowboats to cruise the Cheshire & Four counties Rings and beyond. Or why not have a day out on the canal on one of our 12 person dayboats.

More Rings

All materials and images © Canal Junction Ltd. Dalton House, 35 Chester St, Wrexham LL13 8AH. No unauthorised reproduction.

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