Below are some examples of routes you could take from our base at Preston Brook.

LLANGOLLEN AND RETURN (Red Route)
A breathtaking route that takes you deep into Wales. Travelling south from Preston Brook to the Roman town of Middlewich, on to Barbridge Junction then to Hurleston Junction and the Llangollen Canal. There are many interesting sights to see on this Canal: the 16th Century buildings of Wrenbury and the enchanting village of Marbury, the fine old market towns of Whitchurch, and Ellesmere and the Meres. Next, the Chirk Aqueduct takes you through magnificent country to the Vale of Llangollen, which you cross on the 1,000ft long Pontcysyllte Aqueduct at a height of l20ft over the River Dee — an awe inspiring view. Once in Trevor, you turn onto a narrow canal to the town of Llangollen, famous for its Eisteddfod. The route to Llangollen and back takes about 60 hours cruising time.

CHESTER AND RETURN (Black Route)
If it is your first time out, or you don’t want to travel too far, this could be the route for you. Head south along the Trent & Mersey Canal, through the Weaver Valley and past the restored Anderton Lift to the Roman town of Middlewich. The Middlewich branch of the Shropshire Union Canal meets Barbridge Junction then you are off on the main line of the Shropshire Union Canal. Westwards past a 'Cheshire Cheese' warehouse and the ruins of Beeston Castle, through the green Cheshire plains to the delightful village of Christleton, and on to the Roman City of Chester. Take time to explore Chester as there is a wealth of things to see. You can walk the two miles around the Roman Walls, view the Cathedral, visit the Roodee Race Course, take in the Theatre and, of course, the early Mediaeval 'Rows,' unique double-tier shopping levels. The route to Chester and back takes about 37 hours cruising time. To see the Boat Museum at Ellesmere Port would add a further 7 hours to your round trip.

LEEDS AND LIVERPOOL CANAL (Green Route)
Glimpse our industrial past and our canal side future on this route. You can choose to travel North from Preston Brook along the wide Bridgewater Canal over the Manchester Ship Canal, on the famous “Barton Swing Aqueduct,” and on to Leigh where you join the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. The Canal carries on to Wigan and the well known “Wigan Pier,” here you have the choice of turning West towards the Lancashire coast, or turning East up the Wigan Flight of locks towards Yorkshire.

THE CHESHIRE RING (Purple Route)
Go north from Preston Brook through beautiful pastoral country along the wide Bridgewater Canal, for 20 miles of lock free cruising to Castlefields Basin. Here you join the Rochdale Canal with its Dickensian atmosphere, in the heart of Manchester. Then along the Ashton Canal and the Peak Forest Canal crossing the 100ft high Marple Aqueduct, over the River Goyt, to the junction with the Macclesfield Canal. Through the green and hilly countryside you enter the silk town of Macclesfield, with its picturesque Mediaeval market place and church. Wend your way past the two superb National Trust properties of Little Moreton Hall and Mow Cop, to the junction with the Trent & Mersey Canal at Kidsgrove, turning North to the Roman town of Middlewich and along the Weaver Valley back to Preston Brook. The round trip of the Cheshire Ring takes about 47 hours cruising time. May we suggest that first time hirers talk to us before deciding to cruise the Cheshire Ring.

THE FOUR COUNTIES RING (Yellow Route)
This very popular ring route takes you south from Preston Brook through the salt wiches of Northwich and Middlewich on the Trent & Mersey Canal. Then onto Kidsgrove and through the famous Harecastle Tunnel to Stoke-on-Trent, where you can visit the Wedgwood Potteries and the Gladstone Pottery Museum. Here you can detour onto the Caldon Canal before you continue south to Great Haywood, onto the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal into the very beautiful Tixall Wide, through pleasing countryside and river valleys to Autherley Junction. Then onto the southern end of Shropshire Union Canal, through rock cuttings and beautifully wooded areas to Tyrley Locks and onto the picturesque black and white timbered buildings of Market Drayton. In time you come to the Audlem flight of locks and down into the dairy lands of Cheshire, wending your way to Barbridge junction. Next, the Middlewich branch of the Shropshire Union Canal to Middlewich, then onto the Trent & Mersey Canal and back home to base at Preston Brook. The round trip of the Four Counties Ring takes about 65 hours cruising time. The detour up the Caldon Canal would add a further 17 hours to your round trip.

To help plan you holiday we stock a full range of canal maps and guidebooks in our online waterways store. Click here to browse our selection.