Routes
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Based on the Shropshire union
canal and less than a day’s cruise from the historic city of Chester,
‘Jacaranda’s base is ideally located to explore a vast number
of canal networks. Choice of route will depend on your experience, length
of holiday and how energetic you want to be! Decide whether you are looking
for a relaxing holiday with time to visit local attractions, or a more
energetic holiday route with many locks and less time to relax. |
Here are some tips : • Cruising speed is approximately 3-4 miles per hour. • Locks are great fun but do get busy during holiday periods. • Choose the type of route you wish to travel through whether it be completely rural or include towns and cities. • There are canal ‘rings’ that can be cruised in a week, but for a more relaxing holiday it is often better to allow more time. • There and back journeys can offer a more relaxed cruise with more opportunity to visit places of interest or local shops and pubs. |
There are various canal books on board containing
detailed maps of your chosen canal route and all the local amenities and
places of interest on route. Alternately visit www.canalplan.org.uk
where you can plan your journey before commencing your holiday. |
Here are some suggested routes you may wish
to try. For maps and further descriptions of each canal route visit www.waterwayroutes
.co.uk (click on the heading for more information)
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| • Shropshire Union canal (1 Week) |
| • Llangollen canal (1 Week) |
• Four Counties Ring (2 Weeks) This circular route can be travelled clockwise or anticlockwise and you will travel through the counties of Cheshire, Staffordshire, West Midlands and Shropshire passing through areas of lovely countryside and the industrial areas of Stoke with its history in the Potteries. We recommend you allow 2 weeks cruising. Travelling south from the marina, join the Middlewich branch of the 'Shroppie' at Barbridge junction and at Middlewich Wardle Junction turn right onto the Trent and Mersey canal heading towards Stoke on Trent. You now work your way up through 31 locks in 13 miles locally known by the old boatmen as 'Heartbreak Hill' or the Cheshire locks. From here you will navigate the famous 2670 meter single width Harecastle Tunnel said to be haunted (manned by tunnel keepers) originally built by Brindley and later modernized by Telford. Traveling the 45minutes through the tunnel the open Cheshire countryside will be replaced by the busy shopping parks in the city of Stoke with its industrial past revealed in the Potteries museums and Industrial Museum at Etruria. Here the Caldon canal branches off towards Leek and Froghall. |
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