The Four Counties Ring

This 110-mile circuit takes narrowboat holiday-makers through a wide variety of landscapes, from the Cheshire Plains on the Trent & Mersey Canal to deep wooded cuttings on the Shropshire Union Canal.

What can you See & Do in a week?

To complete this popular circuit in a week, you will need to cruise around eight hours each day, giving time to visit canalside villages and pubs along the way, and perhaps one or two major attractions.

To create more time for visiting destinations along the way, we recommend booking a 10-day or two-week holiday to travel this route.

The Four Counties Ring

Embark on an epic journey through four English counties and a wide variety of landscapes

The 110-mile Four Counties Ring takes canal boaters on a waterway journey through the counties of Staffordshire, the West Midlands, Cheshire and Shropshire.  It passes through 94 locks and takes around 55 cruising hours, so it can be done in a week.  But a 10-day or two week holiday will allow more time stopping off at the many exciting destinations along the way.

Just some of the route highlights include: the 2,670-metre long Harecastle Tunnel, and Wedgewood Pottery Visitor Centre on the Trent & Mersey Canal; extravagant cuttings and the 15 locks at Audlem on the Shropshire Union; the Roman town of Middlewich at the gateway to the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal; and the quiet waters at Tixall Wide on the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal.

  • GBB Hire Base

  • Numbered Attractions

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UK Canal map

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Things to see & do

From quiet country pubs and village churches, to exciting historic attractions where history and culture come to life, you’ll find plenty of places to visit on your canal journey.

Other Canal Rings:

Stourport Ring

Warwickshire Ring

East Midlands Ring

Black Country Ring

Avon Ring

World of Wedgewood Pottery

The World of Wedgwood

With displays, creative experiences, a factory tour, a café serving afternoon tea and shop selling Wedgwood products, this museum celebrates Wedgwood pottery.

Stone

This historic market town on the Trent & Mersey Canal in Staffordshire, has regular markets and a reputation for excellent food and drink.  The Stone Food & Drink Festival is held here every October.

Canal boat holidays in Staffordshire

Shugborough Hall Estate

The National Trust’s Shugborough Estate lets you explore a beautiful Georgian Mansion House, servant’s quarters, working heritage breeds farm, walled garden and fascinating parkland dotted with monuments and follies.

Norbury Wharf Tea Rooms

Norbury Wharf Tea Room

Decorated with canal ware, the Old Wharf Tea Room at Norbury Wharf serves home-made cakes, ice cream and daily specials. It also serves wine, beer and lager.

Market Drayton

Market Drayton

This historic market town in Shropshire, is considered to be the ‘home of gingerbread’, with trade in gingerbread biscuits dating back to the 1700’s.

Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker

Just a short walk from Hack Green Locks, this museum in a 1950’s nuclear bunker transports visitors into the chilling world of the Cold War.  The 35,000 square foot underground bunker remained secret for 50 years, until it was declassified in 1993.

Nantwich Aqueduct

Nantwich Aqueduct

Carrying the Shropshire Union Canal over the Chester Road, this impressive Grade II* listed Aqueduct offers canal boat holiday-makers panoramic views across the historic market town of Nantwich.

Harecastle Tunnel

Harecastle Tunnel

At 1.6 miles long, Harecastle Tunnel on the Trent & Mersey Canal in Staffordshire is one of the longest canal tunnels in Britain.  Passage through the tunnel must be booked in advance with the Canal & River Trust.

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