Cruising Route

Start From Anderton Marina

Start From Blackwater Meadow Marina

Information

A fascinating voyage of discovery and well worth the extra bit of effort!

The journey takes you along the wonderfully rural Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal to Great Haywood Junction where, passing under a distinctive roving bridge, you join the Trent and Mersey Canal heading north towards the Potteries and Peak District.

The rolling Staffordshire countryside leads you to Stoke-on-Trent, the Wedgewood Visitors Centre and the impressive 2926-yard long Harecastle Tunnel.

Beyond Harecastle the 13 miles to the salt town of Middlewich sees the canal descend 31 locks to the Cheshire Plains.

The short Middlewich arm links the Trent and Mersey Canal to the Shropshire Union Canal again through more glorious countryside.

The scenery on the climb up ‘Heartbreak Hill’ to the summit at Kidsgrove is fantastic. As well as sights of the potteries such as the Bottle Kilns at Etruria, the Wedgwood Pottery Centre at Barlaston is not to be missed. 01782 204218 www.thewedgwoodstory.com

The National Trust’s Shugborough Hall is a short walk from moorings at Great Haywood. 01889 881388 www.nationaltrust.org.uk

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Useful Information

Etruria Industrial Museum canalsidein Stoke on Trent – The last steam powered potters mill in Britain www.stokemuseums.org.uk

Waterworld festival park- Etrutia, Stoke on Trent- Indoor Tropical aqua park with over 20 water rides www.waterworld.co.uk Tel. 01782 205747

The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery- Stoke on Trent- the home of the worlds finest collection of Staffordshire Ceramics Website Tel. 01782 232323

Gladstone Pottery museum- Stoke on trent- the last remaining Victorian Pottery factory Website Tel. 01782 319232

Churchill China- close to Bridge 112 Stoke on Trent- factory shop selling bone china.

Royal Doulton Shop- close to bridge 119 Stoke on Trent. www.churchill-direct.com

Alton Towers Theme park - by bus from Stoke on Trent city centre www.alton-towers.co.uk Tel. 08705 204060

Harecastle Tunnel- 1.66 miles long just under 3000 yards, one of the longest tunnels in the UK Tel. 01606 723800

Nantwich Tourist information Website

Nantwich Museum Tel. 01270 627104

Dorfold Hall- ¼ mile south west of Nantwich Basin – a Jacobean Country House built in about 1616 www.aboutbritain.com/DorfoldHall

Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker, a unique & quite exciting day out - beside bridge 85 south of Nantwich www.hackgreen.co.uk

Market Drayton www.shropshiretourism.co.uk/market-drayton

Chillington Hall- 18th century home with gardens by Capability Brown north of the Autherley Junction, 1 ½ miles west of the Shropshire Union canal www.chillingtonhall.co.uk

Dunstall park- Wolverhampton racecourse www.wolverhampton-racecourse.co.uk

Shugborough Park Estate near Great Haywood on the Staffs & Worcs canal www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-shugboroughestate Tel. 01889 881388

Stafford Tourist Information www.visitstafford.org

Wedgwood Visitor Centre at Barlaston south of Stoke on Trent, a short walk from the canal at bridge 104 www.wedgwoodvisitorcentre.com