Canal boat holiday destinations from Brewood, on the Shropshire Union Canal

Our canal boat hire base at Brewood in Staffordshire is perfectly placed to explore the Shropshire Union Canal and the popular Four Counties Ring.
The 66-mile long Shropshire Union Canal links Ellesmere Port and the River Mersey in the north, with the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal at Autherley Junction, near Wolverhampton. There are 51 locks along its length. The northern section takes boaters through the Cheshire countryside. It’s wider with more locks. While the southern section features long embankments and atmospheric cuttings full of vegetation and wildlife, reducing the number of locks.

3-night destinations from Brewood

Gailey and back (26 miles, 2 locks, 10.5 hours)

*Please note this route is not currently open due to a canal closure on the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal at Penkridge.

Head south along the Shropshire Union Canal and in less than 5 miles you reach Autherley Junction, where you’ll join the Staffordshire & Worcester Canal. Turn left, cruising north-east through a narrow section of the canal towards the Anchor Inn at Cross Green. The canal meanders through open countryside, passing the Shady pub at Hatherton. Soon after Hatherton Marina you’ll arrive at Gailey Wharf, where there’s a canal shop and you’ll find the Spread Eagle pub in Gailey. Turn before the lock and return to Brewood.

Shebdon and back (27 miles, 2 locks, 11 hours)
Cruise north across Stretton Aqueduct and through one lock at Wheaton Aston, home of the Hartley Arms. The canal then continues lock-free through scenic countryside and woodland. You’ll go through the short Cowley Tunnel (81 yards), then past the edge of Gnosall village with its canalside Boat Inn. Next you’ll cruise along Shelmore Embankment and then you’ll reach Norbury Wharf with its canalside Norbury Junction pub. Soon after Norbury, you’ll pass under the iconic ‘High Bridge’ and you’ll pass Loynton Moss Nature Reserve. Next you’ll go through the atmospheric Grub Street Cutting and then past the canalside Anchor Inn. At Shebdon you can visit the canalside Wharf pub. Turn around at Shebdon ‘winding hole’ before the aqueduct and return to Brewood.

4-night destinations from Brewood

Penkridge and back (31 miles, 16 locks, 16 hours)

*Please note this route is not currently open due to a canal closure on the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal at Penkridge.

Follow the 3-night route to Gailey and continue on to the historic market town of Penkridge. There you’ll find shops, markets, cafés, take-aways and pubs, including the Littleton Arms. Turn around just before Penkridge Lock and walk into Penkridge. Return to Brewood.

Market Drayton and back (42 miles, 12 locks, 19 hours)
Follow the 3-night route to Shebdon and continue heading north up the Shropshire Union Canal. Soon after Shebdon, you’ll pass Knighton and Cadbury’s Wharf, from where chocolate crumb used to be transported to Bourneville. You’ll pass the Wharf Tavern at Goldstone Common and then you’ll go through Woodseaves Cutting, full of vegetation and wildlife. There are five locks to go through at Tyrley. Moor up at Market Drayton visitors’ moorings and walk into the town, famous for its gingerbread men. Turn at Turley Wharf then return to Brewood.

7-night destinations from Brewood

Kinver and back (40 miles, 42 locks, 24 hours)
Head south down the Shropshire Union Canal to Autherley Junction and join the Staffordshire & Worcester Canal. Turn right, cruising to Aldersley Junction keeping to the right at the junction and continuing past Dunstall Park Race Course (on the left). Compton Bridge 59 and Wightwick Bridge 56 both have pubs within walking distance. There’s an old Lock Keeper’s Toll House at the three-lock ‘Bratch’ Flight.

After the Bratch, you pass through Wombourne, home of the Round Oak Inn. You’ll pass the ruins of a roundhouse at Gothersley. After this comes the Stourton Aqueduct, then Stourton Junction where the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal meets the Stourbridge Canal. Soon after you’ll go through Dunsley Tunnel (25 yards). When you reach the very pretty village of Kinver, you can moor up to explore the village where there are a couple of pubs, a café and a fish and chip shop. And you can walk to the National Trust’s Kinver Rock Houses with its attractive village centre. Just after the village is another lock followed by a turning place.

Rugeley and back (62 miles, 30 locks, 31 hours)

*Please note this route is not currently open due to a canal closure on the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal at Penkridge.

Follow the 4-night route to Penkridge and continue on, passing close by to Stafford. Moor near Radford Bridge 98 to walk into the town. Further along you’ll reach Tixall Wide lake and then Great Haywood, where there’s a farm shop and café, and Clifford Arms pub. Turn right at the junction and head down the Trent & Mersey Canal. Moor at Haywood Lock to visit the National Trust’s Shugborough Estate. Continue south to Wolseley Bridge, the Wolseley Arms pub and Staffordshire Wildlife Trust’s Wolseley Centre. When you arrive at the outskirts of Rugeley, moor up near bridge 66 for easy access to the town and Cannock Chase. Turn just before bridge 65 and return to Brewood.

Nantwich and back (69 miles, 56 locks, 33 hours)
Follow the 4-night route to Market Drayton and continue heading north. There are five locks at Adderley, then 15 locks leading to the village of Audlem. There you’ll find the canalside ‘Shroppie Fly’ pub. Just before Hack Green locks you can moor up to visit the Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker Museum. After crossing over Nantwich Aqueduct, turn the boat around at Nantwich basin and then moor up to explore this historic market town. There’s a great choice of places to eat and drink and you can walk to Dorfold Hall Jacobean Mansion.

Stourport Basin and back (61 miles, 60 locks, 38 hours)
Follow the 7-night route to Kinver and continue heading south along the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal. You’ll go through two more locks before you arrive at Cookley Tunnel (65 yards) and then the village of Cookley. Arriving at the outskirts of Kidderminster, a lock will take you under a busy roundabout in the centre of town. When you reach the outskirts of Stourport the canal gets narrower, with more bends and bridges. Pubs, houses, tea rooms and shops overlook the canal, then there’s one last lock before you enter the Stourport ‘clock’ basin (c. 1770). You can turn the boat around here and then moor up to walk the Stourport Canal Basins Discovery Trail and visit the Georgian town of Stourport-on-Severn, including the riverside Black Star pub.

10 or 11-night destinations from Brewood

The Black Country Ring (85 miles, 81 locks, 47 hours)

*Please note this route is not currently open due to a canal closure on the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal at Penkridge.

Follow the 7-night route to Rugeley and continue heading south along the Trent & Mersey Canal to Fradley Junction. There you’ll find a cafe, the canalside Swan Pub and Fradley Pool Nature Reserve. Turn right at Fradley Junction on to the Coventry Canal which leads to the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal. From there it’s a lock-free journey through the countryside, encountering a series of villages including Hopwas, home of the Tame Otter pub. Next you’ll reach Fazeley Junction. Turn right here, travelling towards central Birmingham.

Between Fazeley Junction and Drayton Basset you can moor up between Tolson’s Footbridge and Coleshill Road Bridge to visit Drayton Manor Theme Park. Approaching central Birmingham, you’ll encounter the flight of 11 locks at Curdworth, followed by a short tunnel (57 yards). Your next turning is at Salford Junction, left under Bridge 110, leading to 11 locks at Aston. You’ll need a T-shaped ‘anti-vandal’ key to unlock the lock gates. Turn right at the Aston Junction where

you’ll meet a flight of 13 locks at Farmers Bridge. This takes you right into the centre of Birmingham to Cambrian Wharf, which is within walking distance of Brindleyplace and city centre attractions. Next, the New Main Line then takes you north through 3 locks and the 103 yard Summit Tunnel. At Tipton Green there are 3 locks and a pub. Then you’ll reach the 360-yard long Coseley Tunnel. A lock-free section then winds its way straight into Wolverhampton. There are visitor’s moorings just before the first of 21 lock Wolverhampton flight. Next you’ll cruise to meet the Staffordshire & Worcester Canal at Aldersley Junction. Turn right here and very soon you’ll be back at Autherley Junction, taking you back onto the Shropshire Union Canal to return to Brewood.

14-night destinations from Brewood

The Four Counties Ring (110 miles, 94 locks, 60 hours)

*Please note this route is not currently open due to a canal closure on the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal at Penkridge.

Follow the 7-night route to Nantwich and when you reach Barbridge Junction you find the canalside Olde Barbridge Inn. Turn left and continue along the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal. The Badger Inn is a 10 minute walk from the canal at Church Minshull. At the end of the Middlewich Branch is the ancient town of Middlewich, famous for its salt industry. Turn right at the junction turn and head south along the Trent & Mersey Canal. The canal climbs 4 locks before Wheelock, home of the Cheshire Cheese Inn. The George Inn at Sandback is a one-mile walk from Wheelock. Continuing on, there are 23 locks between Wheelock and Hardings Wood Junction.

South of Hardings Woods lies the 1.66 mile long Harecastle Tunnel, which has set opening hours. Information is listed on the Canal & River Trust website. Soon you’ll reach Stoke-on-Trent, famous for its ‘potteries’. Continuing south, at Barlaston you’ll find the canalside Plume of Feathers pub. Soon after you’ll reach the historic market town of Stone, with a choice of places to eat and shop. South of Stone lies the Trent Valley which runs through woodland and meadows. At Great Haywood Junction turn right onto the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal.

You’ll soon arrive at ‘Tixall Wide’ lake. Then you’ll go through the historic market town of Penkridge, with shops, markets, cafés, take-aways and pubs, including the Littleton Arms. Further along at Gailey Wharf with its toll-keeper’s watch tower, you’ll find the Spread Eagle pub in the village. Next you pass the disused Hatherton Branch and after Cross Green you’ll reach Autherley Junction. Turn right back onto the Shropshire Union Canal and back to Brewood.

Llangollen and back (160 miles, 98 locks, 82 hours)

*Please note this route is not currently available due a breach on the Llangollen Canal at Whitchurch.

Follow the 7-night route to Nantwich and at Hurleston Junction turn onto the Llangollen Canal. From there 4 locks rise upwards and the canal passes Swanley Bridge Marina and 5 further locks before you reach Wrenbury. At Wrenbury, you’ll find the canalside Dusty Miller pub and a mechanical lift bridge operated by a key (provided). Between Wrenbury and Grindley Brook there are 7 locks.

You’ll find Canal & River Trust lock keepers helping at the Grindley Brook 3-lock staircase. At Whitchurch, you can moor up and take the 25 minute walk into this historic market town, famous for its clock-making and award-winning Black Bear pub. Cruise on, entering the beautiful Shropshire Lake District, with a series of Meres (lakes) to see and visit along the way. There’s a short tunnel to go through just before the historic market town of Ellesmere. Turn right to moor up and visit the town, with its Mere and Boathouse restaurant. Continue on towards Llangollen and you’ll pass the entrance to the Montgomery Canal at Frankton Junction.

At Chirk you’ll find a choice of pubs, including the Bridge Inn. And the National Trust’s Chirk Castle is a 30-minute walk away. You’ll now be cruising along the 11-mile section of the Llangollen Canal designated a World Heritage site. You’ll go through Chirk Tunnel and then the magnificent Chirk Aqueduct. Next you’ll reach Whitehouse Tunnel (191 yards) and then the famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, carrying the canal 38 metres high above the River Dee. Next, at Trevor take a sharp left-hand turn under a bridge to continue towards Llangollen. This next part of the waterway becomes very narrow and at times is only wide enough for one boat, so you’ll need to send a crew member ahead to check for oncoming traffic. At Llangollen Basin you can moor up to visit this pretty traditional Welsh town, with the River Dee running through the centre.