What route to choose

[Macca]

Hi to all.

Im a new member needing a little advice. We (5 adults) are taking 1 week holiday (18th June) on a narrow boat. We are hiring from Andersen boats at Middlewich.

What would be the best route for us to take. Although we don't mind traveling for long periods on some days, it would obviously be nice to spend some time sight seeing and relaxing. We prefer mainly open countryside and LLangollen sounds nice but also sound a little busy. So we thought either the Cheshire Ring or the 4 counties. Any other suggestions? Also are there any web sites that could give an itinery of places to stop etc. Hopefully one of you experience boaters out there can help.

 

Thanks in anticipation.

Macca.

[gaggle]

Hi to all. 

Im a new member needing a little advice.  We (5 adults) are taking 1 week holiday (18th June) on a narrow boat.  We are hiring from Andersen boats at Middlewich.

What would be the best route for us to take.  Although we don't mind traveling for long periods on some days, it would obviously be nice to spend some time sight seeing and relaxing.  We prefer mainly open countryside and LLangollen sounds nice but also sound a little busy. So we thought either the Cheshire Ring or the 4 counties.  Any other suggestions?  Also are there any web sites that could give an itinery of places to stop etc. Hopefully one of you experience boaters out there can help.

 

Thanks in anticipation.

Macca.

20684[/snapback]

your best bet is head for liverpool

[dor]

Hi Macca.

 

Although Middlewich is on both the Cheshire Ring & 4 counties, it is a push to do them in 7 days, beaering in mind that in reality you have only just over six days and you are beginners.

 

If you don't mind an out&back trip though, there are several worthwhile trips.

 

The Llangollen is very pretty, but as you say it can get busy. Leaving at a weekend, you will be setting off at the same time as everyone else. However middle of June shouldn't be too bad, although you will be pushing it to reach Llangollen if you get held up at Grindley Brook. You don't need to go all the way though, and it is very rural. Watch the side washes when going uphill though!

 

Do you like locks? If you do, then go to Barbridge, down through Nantwich & Audlem. Turn round and go up the Llangollen for part of the way on the way back. Once you enter the Audlem flight, you are committed to a lot of locks though before you can turn and come back through them again.

 

You could head down the T&M towards Stoke, but again there are a lot of locks in the Cheshire Locks - known by some as "Heartbreak Hill"!

 

If you would rather avoid a lot of locks, you could go North from Middlewich on the T&M. This takes you through some very contrasting scenery - at one point you go through the middle of the ICI chemical works. However beyond that you have the chance to see the Anderton boat lift, and can carry on, through some tunnels, onto the Bridgewater canal with the option of a detour up the Runcorn Branch.

 

The Bridgewater & Runcorn are not so scenic, but are nice & wide and easy crusing.

[kawaton]

I think the 4 counties would be ideal for you. Ok, you are pretty new to it all but it's not too much, and if needed, you did state you dont mind the odd long day.

 

I wouldn't suggest LLangollen, as its busy at the best of times in the summer, and i expect this year might be even more so.

 

What you could do is head towards hurleston jct, then review your progress. If your feeling confident keep going round the four counties, if not, take a short trip up the llangollen, but dont attempt the whole lot.

 

If you do keep going around the four counties it would be all rural for you upto the midway point (nearly Auth. jct) Then you could either turn around knowing how long it will take you to get back or keep going.

 

As you specified you like rural-ness, i wouldnt suggest heading to Stoke first.

[bottle]

Macca

 

Welcome to the forum

 

All the suggestions are fine

 

Get some guides (Nicholsons/Pearsons) and work on a 6hr traveling day for 6 days.

 

This may seem a small number of hours but if you want to stop and sightsee this will be more than enough.

 

With five adults though of course you could travel all the daylight hours but do not forget you will need refreshment stops. These can of course be planned to coincide with the local hostelries.

[enigma]

This site is a route planner and is good.

 

http://www.mihalis.net/canal/cgi-bin/index.cgi

[John Orentas]

Hi Macca.

 

The Caldon Canal will give you a fairly relaxed week. See previous threads and don't be put off by the somewhat un-promising start to the canal, you will also have the bonus of a Harecastle Tunnel trip.

 

Don't be too easily put off the Llangollen, there is a lot of folklore that the route is permanently packed with hoards of hire boats, take some advice as regards what day's are busy and in which direction, June is never too bad anyway, you will be rewarded with a memorable trip.

 

When you have decided on a trip, ask the forum about places to stop etc.

Edited May 25, 2005 by John Orentas

[nichimyo]

On my first ever trip out we went from Middlewich to Nantwich, then turned up the Shropshire Union and went to the Boat Museum at Ellesmenre Port. This route proved to be extremely varied, some very rural and lazy, and some industrial (Ellesmenre Port itself), some with lots of locks and some with none. The most "exciting" bit was the staircase locks at Chester, but we took it easy and no panicking, and taking advice from the lock keeper we felt quite proud of ourselves when we got down - and back up again on the way back! Of course the boat museum was a good focal point for the turn-around point, and kind of gave us a reason to do a "There-and-back-again" route.

And we had plenty of time for fishing on the way, and one of the pubs (sadly it's name is now lost in the mists of time) had a BBQ going, which was very welcome as it fortunately co-incided with a dry day in what was otherwise a pretty wet week.

Perhaps someone who has been to EP more recently than I (about 1994 I think) can furnish some details of the route...?

[Macca]

Thanks to all of you for replying to my questions. It has been most helpful.

I now plan to browse through some details other people have posted.

 

Thanks again.

 

I'll be back.

Macca