Canal boat holiday destinations from Great Haywood, on the Trent & Mersey Canal

Our narrow boat hire base at Great Haywood in Staffordshire is next to the junction of the Trent & Mersey and Staffordshire & Worcestershire canals. It is also perfectly placed to explore the Four Counties Ring and the Black Country Ring.

The 93-mile long Trent & Mersey Canal runs from Preston Brook and the Bridgewater Canal to Shardlow and the Trent Navigation. It takes boaters through a range of landscapes, including the Cheshire plains and the industrial Potteries. There are 76 locks along its length, including 26 locks spread over seven miles in Cheshire, also known as ‘Heartbreak Hill’.

The 46-mile long Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal connects the Shropshire Union Canal at Autherley Junction, with the Trent & Mersey Canal at Great Haywood Junction. There are 43 locks along its length.

3-night destinations from Great Haywood

Stone and back (20 miles, 16 locks, 11.5 hours)
Cruise north up the Trent & Mersey Canal through Hoo Mill Lock and Weston Lock. Moor up at Bridge 80 to visit Weston upon Trent where you’ll find the canalside Saracen’s Head and Woolpack pub in the village. Continue cruising north through the quiet meadows of the Trent Valley. When you reach the historic market town of Stone, moor up below the bottom lock or just past the second lock, to walk into town. Stone, known has the foodie capital of Staffordshire, has a great choice of places to eat and drink, including the canalside Star pub. There are 2 more locks leading north from Stone and shortly after Bridge 96a there is a turning point. Turn around and return to Great Haywood, where you’ll find the Clifford Arms.

Fradley Junction and back (25 miles, 10 locks, 12 hours)

Head south along the Trent & Mersey Canal. Go through Haywood Lock and moor up nearby if you want to visit the National Trust’s Shugborough Estate. Cruise past Little Haywood, where there are a couple of pubs, including the Red Lion and Lamb & Flag. Continue cruising through the Staffordshire countryside. At Wolseley Bridge you’ll pass the Wolseley Arms canalside pub and the 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 Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Carry on through the Staffordshire countryside, passing the village of Armitage and ‘Spode House’. When you reach Fradley Junction, where the Trent & Mersey Canal meets the Coventry Canal, you’ll find a cafe, the canalside Swan Pub and Fradley Pool Nature Reserve. Turn at the junction and return to Great Haywood.

Gailey Wharf and back (26 miles, 22 locks, 15 hours)

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

At Great Haywood Junction transfer onto the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal heading west, crossing over a couple of small aqueducts. You’ll soon reach Tixall Wide – a beautiful stretch of water where the canal widens. When you reach Radford Bridge No. 98 you can moor up to walk into Stafford (approx. 1 mile). Pubs in Stafford include the Knot & Plough, and places to visit include The Ancient High House, the largest remaining timber framed house in England. Continue cruising on through the valley to the historic market town of Penkridge, where you’ll find shops, markets, cafés, take-aways and pubs, including the Littleton Arms. When you reach Gailey Wharf, you can moor up to walk into the village where you’ll find the Spread Eagle pub. Us the winding hole just after Gailey Top Lock to turn your boat around for the return journey to Great Haywood.

4-night destinations from Great Haywood

Alrewas and back (31 miles, 22 locks, 17 hours)

Follow the 3-night route to Fradley and continue on the Trent & Mersey Canal. You’ll soon reach the historic village of Alrewas (pronounced ol-re-wus), home of the National Memorial Arboretum, which is accessible from bridges 46, 47 and 48. When you reach Alrewas, moor up to explore the village which dates back to Roman times. You’ll find the Crown and George & Dragon pubs there.  Turn around at Wychnor Moorings and return to Great Haywood.

Stoke-on-Trent and back (38 miles, 36 locks, 21.5 hours)
Follow the 3-night route to Stone and continue heading north up the Trent & Mersey Canal. At Barlaston you’ll find the popular canalside Plume of Feathers pub. Moor up near Trentham Lock to visit the World of Wedgwood. Continue to Festival Park Marina, Etruria, where you’ll find shops, restaurants and the Etruria Industrial Museum.  Turn at the marina for your journey back to Great Haywood.

7-night destinations from Great Haywood

Drayton Manor Theme Park and back (48 Miles, 10 locks, 22 hours)

Follow the 3-night route to Fradley Junction and transfer onto the Coventry Canal. You’ll pass through the villages of Huddlesford with its canalside Plough Inn. Soon after you’ll reach Whittington and then Hopwas with its Tame Otter pub.  When you reach Fazeley Junction, turn right and moor up between Tolson’s Footbridge and Coleshill Road Bridge. From there you can walk to Drayton Manor Theme Park. Turn your boat around just after Coleshill Road Bridge and return to Great Haywood.

Brewood and back (52 miles, 26 locks, 26 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 Wharf and continue cruising along the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal. Next you’ll go through Cross Green and then you’ll reach Autherley Junction. Transfer onto the Shropshire Union Canal and head north. Two hours later you’ll reach the historic village of Brewood, where you’ll find a choice of cafes, shops and pubs, including the Lesters Arms gastropub. You can also visit Speedwell Castle in the market square. Turn at Brewood Wharf to return to Great Haywood.

Leek and back (62 miles, 54 locks, 36 hours)
Follow the 4-night route to Stoke-on-Trent. Join the Caldon Branch of the Trent & Mersey Canal and turn east at Etruria Top Lock. Make your way through the Etruria Staircase Locks. Go through the 2 Bedford Staircase Locks and Planet Lock. By now, the canal is beginning to leave the city behind and at Milton there are two canalside pubs to enjoy, the Foxley and the Miners Arms. Continue cruising on to Stockton Brook, where there are 5 more locks and you’ll find the canalside Sportsman pub.

Continue cruising to Endon with beautiful stretches of moorland opening up. Where the canal splits, at Hazelhurst Junction, take the Leek branch and go through the 130-yard long Leek Tunnel. Turn your boat around at the canal terminus and moor up by Bridge 8 to walk into Leek. There’s a choice of places to eat, including the Reform Inn.

10 or 11-night destinations from Great Haywood

Market Drayton and back (95 miles, 38 locks, 42 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 Brewood and continue cruising north up the Shropshire Union Canal. 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. 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 just after Bridge 62 and return to Great Haywood.

The Black Country Ring (75 miles, 79 locks, 42.5 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 Fradley and transfer onto 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.</p>

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. Continue on to Gailey Wharf where you can moor up and walk into the village to the Spread Eagle pub.

When you reach the historic market town of Penkridge, you’ll find shops, markets, cafés, take-aways and pubs, including the Littleton Arms. When you reach Radford Bridge No. 98 you can moor up to walk into Stafford (approx. 1 mile). Pubs in Stafford include the Knot & Plough, and places to visit include The Ancient High House, the largest remaining timber framed house in England. You’ll go through the beautiful Tixall Wide lake section of the canal before returning to Great Haywo

od Junction.

14-night destinations from Great Haywood

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.

Next you’ll go through Cross Green and then you’ll reach Autherley Junction. Transfer onto the Shropshire Union Canal and head north. At the historic village of Brewood, you’ll find a choice of cafes, shops and pubs, including the Lesters Arms gastropub.

Next you’ll cross Stretton Aqueduct and when you reach Wheaton Aston, you’ll find 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. Then 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.

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.

There are 5 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.

Go past Hurleston Junction, where the Llangollen Canal meets the Shropshire Union Canal. 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 Sandbach 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.

Continue heading south along the Trent & Mersey Canal. Moor up near Trentham Lock to visit the World of Wedgwood. At Barlastan you’ll find the popular Plume of Feathers pub. When you reach the historic market town of Stone, moor up to walk into town. Stone, known has the foodie capital of Staffordshire, has a great choice of places to eat and drink, including the canalside Star pub.

Cruise on through the quiet meadows of the Trent Valley. Moor up at Bridge 80 to visit Weston upon Trent where you’ll find the canalside Saracen’s Head and Woolpack pub in the village. Soon after, you’ll be back at Great Haywood.

The Cheshire Ring (145 miles, 128 locks, 79 hours)

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

Follow the 4-night route to Stoke-on-Trent. Stay on the Trent & Mersey Canal and go through the 1.66-mile long Harecastle Tunnel. The tunnel has set opening house and information is listed on the Canal & River Trust’s website. When you reach 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. 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 2 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.

After Weelock and the canalside Cheshire Cheese pub, you’ll go through the 23 Cheshire Locks, also known as ‘Heartbreak Hill’. You’ll then be back at Harding’s Wood Junction and can continue cruising south down the Trent & Mersey Canal back to Great Haywood.