Norbury Junction where the Shrewsbury Canal meets the Shropshire Union Canal on Four Counties Ring intinerary

Marion’s Four Counties Ring Itinerary

Love Travelling’s Four Counties Ring Itinerary

Marion Collinson from Love Travelling recently cruised the Four Counties Ring and has shared her Four Counties Ring Itinerary.

Setting off from our base at Stoke on Trent, in total the Four Counties Ring journey covered 111 miles, 94 locks and took close to 63 cruising hours.

Marion and her family took their time and did the journey in two weeks. You can do it in a week when the days are longer, but it’s more relaxing to do this journey on a 10-day or two-week holiday.

Day one: Etruria to Westport Lake 3 miles, 0 locks, 1 hour 20 minutes

  • Festival Park Marina, Etruria, Trent & Mersey Canal, Stafforshire (Black Prince base).
  • Morrisons supermarket at Festival Park for supplies to take on board
  • Middleport Pottery on right with moorings. Arranged a tour for the final day after returning boat.
  • Moor on left bank at Westport Lake, after Bridge 127.
  • Westport Lake is within walking distance of Harecastle Tunnel.
  • Westport Lake Visitor Centre closes 4.00 p.m.
  • Evening meal on board boat.

Day two: Longport to Rode Heath 1 tunnel, 5 miles, 12 locks, 5 hours

  • Harecastle tunnel. Open passage 8am to 12 noon. Bookings only pm and can be booked online the previous day.
  • The water at both ends of the tunnel is stained orange by iron ore.
  • Lidl available beside the canal just beyond the tunnel exit.
  • Red Bull pub overlooking Lock 43 at Church Lawton (Robinsons).
  • This is the upper section of what is known as the ‘Cheshire locks’ or ‘heartbreak hill’.
  • Locks x 6 (Nos.41 to 46) – Red Bull.
  • Locks x 2 (Nos. 47 to 48) – Church.
  • Lock x 1 (No. 49) – Hall’s.
  • Locks x 3 (Nos. 50 to 52) – Lawton Treble.
  • Moor at Rode Heath, between Bridge 140 and Lock 53.
  • Dinner at The Broughton Arms beside the canal just after bridge 140.

Day three of Marion’s Four Counties Ring Itinerary: Rode Heath to Wheelock 3 miles, 14 locks, 3 hours 50 minutes

  • This is the lower section of what is known as the ‘Cheshire locks’ or ‘heartbreak hill’.
  • Locks x 2 (Nos. 53 to 54) – Thurlwood.
  • Locks x 2 (Nos.55 to 56) – Pierpoint.
  • Locks x 2 (Nos. 57 to 58) – Hassall Green.
  • Locks x 8 (Nos. 59 to 66) – Wheelock.
  • Moor in Wheelock on left by Bridge 152.
  • Centre of Sandback a 1 mile walk from Wheelock. Dinner at The George Inn.
  • The Cheshire Cheese Inn at Wheelock looks attractive inside but just serves a snack menu.

Day four: Wheelock to Middlewich 6 miles, 6 locks, 3 hours 40 minutes

  • Locks x 3 at Booth lane (Nos. 67 to 69).
  • Rumps Lock (No 70) one mile south of Middlewich centre.
  • Middlewich centre – Locks x 2. Through Kings Lock then turn onto Shropshire Union Canal (SUC) – Middlewich branch, followed immediately by Wardle Lock.
  • Moor on the right between Bridges 28 and 31.
  • Lidl & Morrisons supermarkets in town centre.
  • Dined on board the boat.

Day five: Middlewich to Nantwich 13 miles, 3 locks, 5 hours 45 minutes

  • 3 locks at Stanthorne, Cholmondeston, and Minshull, then enter Shropshire Union Canal (SUC) – Mainline, at Barbridge Junction.
  • Possible lunch stop at The Badger at Church Minshull – Bridge 14.5 miles from Middlewich (10 minute walk).
  • 2 miles, 1 hour, past Hurlstone Junction, to Nantwich.
  • Moorings on left bank after Basin and before aqueduct.
  • Walk into Nantwich from aqueduct / bridge 92.
  • Nantwich museum free to visit, closes at 4pm.
  • Aldi & Morrisons supermarkets.
  • Dinner: Navio Lounge, Nantwich but there are also several attractive pubs in the town.

Day six: Nantwich to Audlem 5 miles, 6 locks, 3 hours 10 minutes

  • Short day to accommodate late start from Nantwich. To continue requires climbing a flight of 9 locks out of Audlem.
  • Locks x 2 at Hack Green.
  • Can visit the Secret Nuclear Bunker after Hack Green locks by Bridge 85.
  • Locks x 4 (Nos. 12 to 15) at start of Audlem.
  • Moorings on left at Audlem Wharf, bridge 78 between locks 12 and 13. Look for old wharf crane.
  • Dinner at the Shroppie Fly – canalside pub with food at Lock 13.

Day seven: Audlem to Market Drayton 5 miles, 16 locks, 4 hours 30 minutes

  • Locks x 11. Upper portion of Audlem flight of locks (Nos. 1 to 11).
  • Panda’s Pantry honesty mini farm shop at Lock 1.
  • Locks x 5. Adderley flight.
  • Moorings on right: below Bridge 62; between Bridges 63 & 64; between Bridges 64 & 65.
  • Bridge 62 gives direct access to Market Drayton centre.
  • Aldi, Lidl, and Asda supermarkets.
  • Dinner at The Hipperdrome in Market Drayton, but there are several other pubs to choose from in the town.

Day eight: Market Drayton to Norbury Junction 11 miles, 5 locks, 5 hours 20 minutes

  • Locks x 5 at Tyrley, a mile south of Market Drayton.
  • Start of 17 mile pound with embankments and cuttings: Woodseaves cutting; Shebden embankment; Grubb Street cutting.
  • Loynton Moss: floating bog managed by Staffordshire Wildlife Trust. Accessible from bridge 39.
  • Moor on the right above or below Bridge 38 at Norbury Junction.
  • Dinner on board the boat.

Day nine: Norwood Junction to Brewood 10 miles, 1 lock, 4 hours 25 minutes

  • More cuttings and embankments.
  • Deep cutting at Cowley Tunnel.
  • Lock x 1 at Wheaton Aston about 3 miles before Brewood.
  • Moor by Bridge 14 at Brewood (Pronounced Brood).
  • Dinner at The Bridge Inn canalside at Bridge 14. The pub also offers laundrette facilities for boaters if needed.

Day 10: Brewood to Gailey Wharf 12 miles, 1 lock, 5 hours 20 minutes

  • Enter Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal through stop lock at Autherley Junction.
  • Several narrow sections both approaching and leaving Autherley junction.
  • Morrisons supermarket in Pendeford, a short walk from the canal with mooring just prior to Autherley Junction.
  • Gailey Wharf (visitors moorings), with toll keeper’s watch-tower and canal shop.
  • Dinner at The Spread Eagle in Gailey, a 15 minute walk from the canal.

Day 11: Gailey Wharf to Radford Bridge 8 miles, 11 locks, 5 hours 30 minutes

  • Locks x 6 between Gailey Wharf and Penkridge: Gailey Top (No. 32); Brick Kiln (No. 33); Bogg’s (No. 34); Rodbaston (No. 35); Otherton (No 36); Filance (No 37).
  • Locks x 5 from Penkridge to Radford Bridge: Penkridge (No. 38) by Penkridge Bridge; Longford (No. 39); Park Gate (No. 40.); Shutt Hill (No. 41); Deptmore (No. 42).
  • Locks in this section are evenly spaced and are attractive, with some having bridges.
  • Radford Bridge (No. 98) visitor moorings on right above and below bridge.
  • Stafford is 1 mile west of Radford Bridge. Bus, walk or taxi.
  • Aldi supermarket for supplies, a 5 minute walk from the canal.
  • Evening meal at The Radford Bank Inn (Stonehouse), beside the canal. Excellent carvery.

Day 12: Radford Bridge to Stone 14 miles, 5 locks, 6 hours 40 minutes

  • 3 miles with 1 lock at Tixall (No43) followed by Tixall Wide.
  • To visit the National Trust’s Shugborough Estate. Moor on right bank before Great Haywood Junction.  Access on foot is from Haywood lock / Essex Bridge on Trent & Mersey south of junction.
  • Enter Trent & Mersey Canal at Great Haywood junction, turning north (left).
  • The Hollybush Inn at Salt accessed from Bridge 82. Renovated thatched pub.
  • 8 miles with 4 locks: Hoo Mill (No. 23); Weston (No. 24); Sandon (No. 25); Aston (No. 26).
  • Moorings above and below Lock 27 / Bridge 93.
  • If short of time could moor south of Stone after Sandon or Aston locks.
  • Stone supermarkets – M & S, Morrisons & Aldi.
  • Dinner in Stone centre at The Poste of Stone. The Star (Marstons) – canalside at Lock 27 is very attractive but no food served after 4pm weekdays and 5pm weekends.

Day 13: Stone to Barlaston 3 miles, 8 locks, 2 hours 50 minutes

  • Short day of boating so leisurely start with breakfast at The Poste of Stone 10 minutes walk from the boat.
  • Locks x 4 at Stone (27 to 30). Two above Stone centre and two below.
  • Locks x 4. Meaford flight (31 to 34) two miles south of Barlaston.
  • Moor by Bridge 103, Barlaston.
  • Evening meal at The Plume of Feathers – Neil Morrissey’s pub, by Bridge 103, moorings outside. Booked a table online as a busy, popular pub.  Definitely recommended.  Sunday roast superb.

Day 14: Barlaston to Longport 7 miles, 6 locks, 3 hours 30 minutes

  • Trentham Lock No. 35.
  • Locks x 5 (Nos. 36 to 40) South of Etruria Junction.
  • Factory Tour, World of Wedgewood accessible from Bridge 104 just south of Trentham.
  • Followed by Afternoon Tea and Pot Throwing.
  • Bottle kilns on right after Bridge 112 and on the left before bridge 115 (Lock 38).
  • Moored back at Black Prince base at Festival Park Marina, ready to return the boat at 9am the next morning.

You can see all our bases are on the Four Counties Ring here.