Four Counties Canal Ring
The Four Counties canal ring is a popular waterways cruise linking the Shropshire Union Canal, the Trent & Mersey Canal, plus the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal. It is so called as it passes through the four counties of Staffordshire, Shropshire, Cheshire, and the West Midlands. The Four Counties ring is 110 miles long, with a total of 94 locks to negotiate.
Starting at Autherley Junction in Wolverhampton is also the start of the Shropshire Union canal. This journey north has the fewest locks on the Four Counties ring, as the Shropshire Union canal uses deep cutting and high embankments to minimise them. The main towns that are passed on this section are the historic town of Market Drayton and Nantwich with its half-timbered buildings. At Barbridge Junction the ring takes the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union, where it soon joins the Trent & Mersey Canal at Middlewich.
The route turns right at Middlewich (an old historical Roman town) heading south down the Trent & Mersey canal through rural Cheshire. It soon reaches “Heartbreak Hill”, so called due to the 26 locks in just 7 miles to its summit at Kidsgrove. The next major feature is the famous Harecastle tunnel at almost 3,000 yards long (or 2,675m long). Designed by Thomas Telford, boats go in one-way convoys before reaching daylight and a short run to Stoke-on-Trent (the home of the potteries), and then onto the market town of Stone.
The Trent & Mersey Canal soon reaches Great Haywood, where the ring turns south onto the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal, quickly passing Shugborough Hall. The Canal then widens into a broad lake, called Tixall Wide, built to mitigate objections of the resident at Tixall Hall who didn't want to spoil their view. The ring is almost complete now as the scenery remains tranquil as the canal wends its way lazily past Penkridge and Gailey before arriving back at Autherley Junction in Wolverhampton.
Map of the Four Counties Ring Canals
What maps and Guidebooks are available for the Four Counties Ring?
The Heron Four Counties Ring Map provides detailed information for both waterways and leisure users at a scale of 1:50,000, and it is complimented by information panels and photographs.
The Four Counties Ring Pearson Canal Companion covers the ring in detail, along with the complete Trent & Mersey Canal, the Caldon Canal, and the Weaver Navigation. The Four Counties Ring Pearson Canal Companion uses large scale maps and diagrams along with detailed descriptions of the canal, plus information on waterside towns and villages, listings on eating and drinking, shopping, visitor centres, public transport and boating facilities.
The Nicholson Waterway Guide 4: Four Counties and Welsh Canals guide covers the ring in detail along with 9 canals in Wales and England. Using OS mapping it shows locks, bridges, tunnels, aqueducts, boatyards, pubs, restaurants and local shops.
Four Counties Ring Canals Photographs
The following photographs appear in the Four Counties Ring Pearson Companion that is available to buy from our shop.
The photograph shows the famous Harecastle Tunnel near Kidsgrove that is almost 3,000 yards long (or 2,675m long).
This photograph is © Pearson Companions.
The photograph shows Joules Old Ale Stores at Stone.
This photograph is © Pearson Companions.
The photograph shows the Tixall Wide, where the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal widens opposite Tixall Hall.
This photograph is © Pearson Companions.
The photograph shows Teddesley Bridge, a tranquil part of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal near Penkridge.
This photograph is © Pearson Companions.
