The Four Counties Ring — Canal Cruising Ring

Overview

The Four Counties Ring is a popular medium-length cruising circuit through Cheshire, Staffordshire, Shropshire and the West Midlands. It runs to approximately 110 miles with around 94 locks, including the Harecastle Tunnel. Most crews complete it in 10 to 14 days at a relaxed 4-hour-day pace. Some sources count parts of Greater Manchester as a fifth county; the "four" refers to Cheshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire and the West Midlands.

Route

The ring links four canals in a clockwise loop:

• Trent & Mersey Canal (Middlewich Junction southward to Great Haywood)
• Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal (Great Haywood to Autherley Junction)
• Shropshire Union Canal main line (Autherley to Barbridge or Middlewich Branch Junction)
• Middlewich Branch (Barbridge / Middlewich Junction back to the Trent & Mersey)

Highlights

• Harecastle Tunnel — 1.7 miles, one-way operation under CRT lock-keeper control
• The Cheshire Locks ("Heartbreak Hill") on the Trent & Mersey south of Kidsgrove — 26 narrow locks in close succession, mostly paired
• Tixall Wide and Shugborough on the Staffs & Worcs
• The Shropshire Union main line — fast, deep, straight cuttings
• Audlem flight (15 locks) on the Shropshire Union
• Norbury Junction and the Junction Inn
• Market Drayton and the Cadbury factory at Knighton

Difficulty

Approximately 94 locks across 110 miles, mostly concentrated in the Cheshire Locks ("Heartbreak Hill"), Audlem flight, and Adderley flight on the Shropshire Union. No tidal sections. Harecastle Tunnel requires CRT lock-keeper booking and operates one-way in convoys; allow up to 40 minutes for the passage and longer for queueing in summer. The Shroppie main line has deep cuttings and several shorter tunnels (Cowley) and aqueducts. The Middlewich Branch is mostly flat.

Suitable for

A relaxed two-week cruise for first-time hirers; a brisk fortnight or stretched one-week run for experienced crews. The Harecastle Tunnel passage adds a memorable but optional-feeling challenge — crews uncomfortable with long unlit tunnels should plan their tunnel-crew briefing in advance. Two crew minimum; three is more comfortable for "Heartbreak Hill".

Where to start

Common hire bases include Anderton, Middlewich, Stone, Great Haywood, Norbury Junction, Market Drayton, Wrenbury and Nantwich. Norbury and Stone are particularly popular starting points because they let crews tackle Harecastle and "Heartbreak Hill" on fresh legs.

Practicalities

• Stoppages and pinch points: Harecastle Tunnel is the main scheduling constraint — passage windows are limited and queues build in summer. The Cheshire Locks queue but most are paired so two boats can lock together.
• No tidal sections, no river navigation.
• Cowley Tunnel and the deep Shroppie cuttings (Grub Street, Woodseaves) reduce mobile signal in places.
• The ring is largely rural with quiet overnight moorings at Audlem, Market Drayton, Norbury, Gnosall, Penkridge, Tixall Wide and Stone.

Best time of year

Late spring through early autumn. The Harecastle Tunnel typically has a winter stoppage for inspection — check CRT notices before booking a winter trip. School-holiday queues at Harecastle and Audlem are noticeable but manageable.