This map is designed for tourists and includes detailed town plans of Brewood, Market Drayton, Audlem, Nantwich, Middlewich, Kidsgrove, Etruria and Hanley, Stone, and Penkridge. The scale for the map is 1:50000, while the plans for Stone and Penkridge are at a scale of 1:12500.
This map includes navigation and history details and contact information for visitor moorings, marinas, boatyards, and boat rental centres. It also provides facilities for boat users, sailing and boat clubs, shops, post offices, and distance markers. For tourists, the information offers details on tourist information centres, places of interest, pubs, nature reserves, parks, churches, national cycle routes, long-distance paths, public restrooms, and caravan and campsites.
The Four Counties Ring route takes you through rural areas, open countryside, a handful of market towns, and the heart of the Potteries. It comprises sections of the Shropshire Union, Trent & Mersey, and Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canals. Starting from Autherley Junction on the outskirts of Wolverhampton, the Shropshire Union canal heads northward, passing through picturesque rural scenery, deep cuttings, and high embankments. It offers many miles of canals without locks.
As you head east from Barbridge Junction towards Middlewich, just north of Nantwich, you’ll continue to experience the peaceful countryside atmosphere. Once you reach Middlewich, the route will take you through Wardle Lock and along the Wardle Canal, the shortest canal in the UK at only 154 ft (47 m) in length. After that, you’ll join up with the Trent & Mersey Canal.
If you continue heading south, the canal route passes through Sandbach and includes a challenging stretch known as ‘Heartbreak Hill’. This part of the journey involves navigating 26 locks, providing stunning views across the Cheshire Plain. Continuing on, the route passes through the Harecastle Tunnel – the fifth longest in the UK – before emerging in the urban environment of Stoke-on-Trent. This city is renowned for its pottery industry, with famous brands such as Wedgwood, Royal Doulton, Spode and Emma Bridgewater all offering opportunities for visitors to explore their history and purchase their products.
The route goes south to Great Haywood Junction, then turns west along the winding Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal. It passes the southern part of Stafford, climbs towards Penkridge and Gailey, reaches the summit pound, and then leads to Autherley Junction without any locks.
Although it is possible to finish the 110-mile ring in a week, allocating more time to appreciate its beauty fully is recommended. For instance, taking a detour along the scenic Caldon Canal from Stoke, passing through the Churnet Valley towards the Peak District is highly recommended.
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