Beginners Cruise in the North Midlands (Great Haywood )

Cruising from Great Haywood gives you a choice of three directions but for the “novice” boater a recommended route is to Market Drayton and back. This route is perfect for people who want a relaxing weeks hire, with enough locks to be a pleasure but not a chore.

Ten minutes after leaving Great Haywood the canal opens up to become more like a lake, this huge expanse of water known as Tixall Wide is abundant with wildlife and is also a good place to practice some boat manoeuvres.

As you carry on along the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal there are many villages such as Acton Trussell, Penkridge and Coven, all with canal side pubs. Immediately as you turn onto the Shropshire Union canal there is a small stop lock then one more lock at Wheaton Aston, the canal is then lock free until the four Tyrley locks just before Market Drayton. Along this section of canal there are many cuttings, embankments and a small tunnel to navigate which add to the charm of this canal.

Market Drayton is very picturesque with many old timber framed buildings such as the Tudor House Hotel in the market square, Wednesday is market day and with a bit of forward planning you can spend a couple of hours in the morning perusing the bustling market before starting your return journey.