Although most holidays on the waterways are ‘out and back’, it is possible in some cases to carry out a circular cruise, ending back where you started but without retracing your steps. These canal holiday routes cruising rings do require a little more planning, since you need to keep to a schedule to avoid having to rush at the end of the holiday to get back to bases at the agreed time.
We’ve described the various popular ‘rings’ here, and given the measure of how much cruising you need to carry out each day to stay on schedule. The number of hours you need to be on the move are given, but do bear in mind that you’ll probably want to stop off along the way to explore a village, do some shopping or just relax and enjoy the countryside. For some of the ‘rings’, we’ve shown you a choice of lengths of cruise, depending on what sort of pace you want to take your holiday at.
There are no rings in Scotland, and those in Northern England tend to pretty strenuous – and thus ideal for an active crew.
There is a wide choice of rings in Central England, many involving the bustling parts of Birmingham.
In Southern England, the cruising rings tend to be a little longer, and the Thames ring is a wonderful yet relaxing treat.
For more information about any of the canal holiday routes Cruising Rings, please click on the area of the map below that interests you.
CRUISING RINGS
FOUR COUNTIES RING (See detailed map)
110 miles, 90 locks, 7 days at 9 hours cruising per day
Waterways:Shropshire Union Canal, Trent & Mersey Canal, Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal
Highlights:
Harecastle Tunnel, Wedgwood Visitor Centre, Market Drayton, Tixall Wide, The Potteries, Audlem Mill, Audlem Locks, Tyrley Locks.
BLACK COUNTRY RING (See detailed map)
Also known as the Birmingham Ring or the Staffordshire Ring
75 miles, 79 locks, 7 days at 8 hours cruising per day
Waterways:
Birmingham Canal Navigations, Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal, Trent & Mersey Canal, Coventry Canal, Birmingham & Fazeley Canal
Highlights:
Tixall Wide, Black Country Living Museum, Dudley Tunnel trips, Drayton Manor Theme Park & Zoo, Gas Street Basin, Birmingham Science Museum, Birmingham Symphony Hall, Birmingham Sealife Centre, Brindley Place.
LEICESTER RING (See detailed map)
Also known as the East Midlands Ring
154 miles, 100 locks, 14 days at 6 hours cruising per day
Waterways:
Grand Union Canal (Leicester Section), River Soar, Trent & Mersey Canal, Coventry Canal, Oxford Canal. Grand Union Canal
Highlights:
Foxton Locks, Foxton Inclined Plane & Museum, Shardlow village, Burton Brewing Museum, Drayton Manor Theme Park and Zoo, Coventry Cathedral,
STOURPORT RING (See detailed map)
79 miles, 110 locks, 7 days at 8 hours cruising per day
Waterways:
Birmingham Canal Navigations, Worcester & Birmingham Canal, River Severn, Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal
Highlights:
Tardebigge Locks, Worcester Cathedral, Worcester City, Birmingham Science Museum, Birmingham Symphony Hall, Birmingham Sealife Centre, Brindley Place, National Indoor Arena, Cadbury World, Kinver village, Bratch Locks.
WARWICKSHIRE RING (See detailed map)
Also known as the Midlands Ring
100 miles, 93 locks, 7 days at 9 hours cruising per day
Waterways:
Coventry Canal, Oxford Canal, Grand Union Canal, Birmingham Canal Navigations, Birmingham & Fazeley Canal
Highlights:
Drayton Manor Theme Park and Zoo, Gas Street Basin, Birmingham nightlife, Cadbury World, Coventry Cathedral, Coventry Museum of Transport, Birmingham Science Museum, Birmingham Symphony Hall, Birmingham Sealife Centre, Brindley Place.
AVON RING (See detailed map)
108 miles, 130 locks, 7 days at 9 hours cruising per day or 14days at 6 hours cruising per day.
Waterways:
Worcester & Birmingham Canal, River Avon, Stratford on Avon Canal, Birmingham Canal Navigations.
Highlights:
Stratford on Avon, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Tewkesbury Abbey, Mary Arden’s House, Birmingham nightlife ,Birmingham Science Museum, Birmingham Symphony Hall, Birmingham Sealife Centre, Brindley Place, Evesham town, Pershore town, Stourport, Worcester City, Worcester Cathedral.