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

Our canal boat hire base at Bunbury, near Tarporley in Cheshire, is perfectly placed to explore the waterways of the north west, reaching destinations such as Chester, Anderton Boat Lift and the Cheshire and Four Counties rings.

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 Bunbury

Audlem and back (23 miles, 8 locks, 10 hours)

Go through the Bunbury locks and cruise south along the Shropshire Union Canal to Barbridge Junction, where you’ll find the canalside Olde Barbridge Inn.  Soon after, you’ll pass Hurleston Junction, where the Llangollen Canal meets the Shropshire Union Canal. At Nantwich, the canal crosses a stunning cast-iron aqueduct, with great views across the historic market town. You can moor up to explore Nantwich, once the centre of the salt mining industry. There you’ll find some fine Tudor buildings, the Weaver Hall Museum & Workhouse and a choice of places to eat out and shop. Continue cruising south and after the two locks at Hack Green you can moor up to visit the Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker Museum. Continue on lock free until Moss Hall Bridge. Turn just before the bridge and then moor up to visit the village of Audlem, with its canalside Shroppie Fly pub.

Middlewich and back (25 miles, 8 locks, 12 hours)

Go through the Bunbury locks and cruise south along the Shropshire Union Canal to Barbridge Junction, where you’ll find the canalside Olde Barbridge Inn.  Transfer onto the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal. Cruising on through the Cheshire countryside and moor up after Bridge 12 to visit the Badger Inn in Church Minshull. When you reach Middlewich, go through Wardle Lock and moor up to explore this ancient town, famous for its salt industry.

Wrenbury Mill and back (20 miles, 22 locks, 12 hours)

Go through the Bunbury locks and cruise south along the Shropshire Union Canal to Barbridge Junction, where you’ll find the canalside Olde Barbridge Inn.  Then at Hurleston Junction, turn right on to the Llangollen Canal. From there 4 locks rise upwards and the canal passes Swanley Bridge Marina and 5 further locks before you reach the pretty village of Wrenbury. At Wrenbury, you’ll find the canalside Dusty Miller pub and another pub in the village. There are also lots of walking routes to enjoy. Turn the boat around and return to Bunbury.

Chester and back (24 miles, 18 locks, 14 hours)

Head north through the Cheshire countryside along the Shropshire Union Canal. You’ll go through the 2 staircase locks at Bunbury, then 4 spread-out locks through the village of Beeston, home of the canalside Shady Oak pub.  You can moor up to visit English Heritage’s Beeston Castle & Woodland Park. Continuing on through the Cheshire countryside, you’ll pass through Waverton, site of the Battle of Rowton Moor. Then you’ll reach the village of Christleton, with its Cheshire Cat canalside pub. Next the canal descends through five locks into the centre of Chester.  You can turn your boat in the winding hole close to Chester Cathedral (between Bridges 123D and 123E). Then moor up to explore the city, including its Roman City Walls and famous Chester Rows shops.

4-night destinations from Bunbury

Anderton Boat Lift and back (46 miles, 20 locks, 19 hours)

Go through the Bunbury locks and cruise south along the Shropshire Union Canal to Barbridge Junction. Transfer onto the Middlewich Branch and cruise on through the Cheshire countryside. 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 left at Middlewich Junction and head north along the Trent & Mersey Canal. Go through the Middlewich Locks and over the Croxton Aqueduct. You’ll pass the Old Broken Cross pub at Rudheath and the Lion Salt Works and Salt Barge pub at Marston. There are visitor moorings on the approach to the Anderton Boat Lift, one of the Seven Wonders of the Waterways. Moor up to explore the Canal & River Trust’s Anderton Boat Lift Visitor Centre and nearby Stanley Arms. Turn at the Boat Lift and return to Bunbury.

*Please note the Anderton Boat Lift is currently closed, but the visitor centre is open as usual.

Ellesmere Port and back (42 miles, 24 locks, 19 hours)

Follow the 3-night route to Chester and continue cruising north along the Shropshire Union Canal. When you reach Cauhall Bridge (No 134) you can moor up and take a half-a-mile walk to Chester Zoo. When you reach the Canal & River Trust’s National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port you can moor up to visit the museum. Occupying the old dock buildings of Ellesmere Port, which originally linked the Shropshire Union Canal to the River Mersey, the Museum tells the fascinating history of our canals and the people who worked on them. There are 19 Grade II listed buildings to explore, including the Porters Row cottages built for dock workers in 1833, the forge and stables, all bought to life with the help of costumed interpreters and volunteers maintaining the historic boats and engines.

Whitchurch and back (35 miles, 40 locks, 20 hours)

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

Follow the 3-night route to Wrenbury and continue cruising along the Llangollen Canal. 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 on the Whitchurch Arm and take the 25 minute walk into this historic market town, famous for its clock-making and award-winning Black Bear pub. Turn the boat around in the winding hole on the Whitchurch Arm and return to Bunbury.

Market Drayton and back (36 miles, 48 locks, 21 hours)

Follow the 3-night route to Audlem and continue cruising south down the Shropshire Union Canal. There are 15 locks to go through at Audlem. When you reach Adderley, there are five more locks before you reach the historic town of Market Drayton, famous for its gingerbread men. Turn before bridge 63 and moor up to take the 20 minute into the heart of Market Drayton.

7-night destinations from Bunbury

Norbury and back (58 miles, 58 locks, 31 hours)

Follow the 4-night route to Market Drayton and continue heading south down the Shropshire Union Canal. There are five locks to go through at Tyrley. Next you’ll go through the atmospheric Woodseaves Cutting, full of vegetation and wildlife. You’ll then pass the Wharf Tavern at Goldstone Common. Then you’ll pass Knighton and Cadbury’s Wharf, from where chocolate crumb used to be transported to Bournville. When you reach Shebdon, you can visit the canalside Wharf pub. Soon after you’ll pass the canalside Anchor Inn and then you’ll go through Grub Street Cutting. Next you’ll pass under the iconic ‘High Bridge’ and you’ll pass closeby to Loynton Moss Nature Reserve. When you reach Norbury Wharf you can turn the boat around and then moor up to visit the Norbury Junction pub.

10 or 11-night destinations from Bunbury

Llangollen and back (97 miles, 46 locks, 47 hours)

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

Follow the 4-night route to Whitchurch and continue cruising through the Shropshire countryside. You’ll soon be cruising through 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. Turn at Llangollen Basin to return to Bunbury.

14-night destinations from Bunbury

The Four Counties Ring (115 miles, 98 locks, 63 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 Norbury and continue heading south along the Shropshire Union Canal. Soon after Norbury, you’ll reach Gnosall village with its canalside Boat Inn. You’ll then go through the short Cowley Tunnel (81 yards). The canal then continues lock-free through scenic countryside and woodland.

When you reach the village of Wheaton Aston, you’ll find the Harley Arms. Next you’ll cross over Stretton Aqueduct and then you’ll really the pretty village of Brewood. Here there’s a choice of cafes, shops and pubs, including the Lesters Arms gastropub.

At Autherley Junction, turn left and head east onto the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal. Next you’ll pass through Cross Green and at Gailey you’ll find the Spread Eagle pub in the village. Then you’ll go through the historic market town of Penkridge, with shops, markets, cafés, take-aways and pubs, including the Littleton Arms. After passing through the beautiful ‘Tixall Wide’ section of the canal where it becomes a lake, you reach Great Haywood Junction.

Head north up the Trent & Mersey Canal through the Trent Valley woodlands and meadows. When you reach the historic market town of Stone, you’ll find a great choice of places to eat out and shop. Continuing north, at Barlaston you can stop at the popular canalside Plume of Feathers pub.  You’ll pass the World of Wedgewood just before you reach Stoke-on-Trent.

Next you’ll reach the 1.66 mile long Harecastle Tunnel, which has set opening hours. Information is listed on the Canal & River Trust website. Soon after you’ll pass Hardings Wood Junction and then there are 23 locks to go through before you get to Weelock, home of the Cheshire Cheese Inn. These Cheshire Locks are also known as Heartbreak Hill.

When you reach Middlewich turn left onto the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal and at Barbridge Junction head north along the main line back to Bunbury.

The Cheshire Ring (122 miles, 104 locks, 65 hours)

*Please note this route is not currently open due to a breach on the Bridgewater Canal.

Follow the 3-night route to Middlewich and then head south along the Trent & Mersey Canal. Go through the Cheshire Locks (also known as Heartbreak Hill) to Harding’s Wood Junction.

Transfer onto the Macclesfield Canal and cruise on through the Cheshire countryside and into Congleton. Go through the 12 locks at Bosley and then join the Peak Forest Canal at Marple Junction. Go through the 16 locks at Marple and then cross the impressive Marple Aqueduct.

The scenery becomes more urban as you approach Manchester. At Dunkenfield Junction (also known as Portland Basin) you’ll join the Ashton Canal taking you into central Manchester. At Ducie Street you’ll transfer onto the Rochdale Canal and then you’ll join the Bridgewater Canal at Castlefield.

Cruise on south to Lymm, where there’s a great choice of pubs, including the canalside Golden Fleece. You’ll enjoy great views of the Pennines along this stretch. Next you will re-join the Trent & Mersey Canal at Preston Brook Tunnel (1,239 yards). You’ll go through Dutton Stop Lock and then you’ll pass Acton Bridge Marina. The next two tunnels – Salterford and Barnton – are one-way only so they have strict timings.

Soon after you’ll pass the Anderton Boat Lift, also known as ‘The Cathedral of the Canals’. You can moor up to explore the Canal & River Trust’s Anderton Boat Lift Visitor Centre and enjoy a meal at the Stanley Arms. Cruising on along the Trent & Mersey Canal, you’ll pass the Lion Salt Works and Salt Barge pub at Marston and the Old Broken Cross pub at Rudheath.

When you reach Middlewich, you can transfer back onto the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal and return to Bunbury.