English Rose Canal Boat Holidays Week 3

Cruise 3 - NORTHWICH TO CHESTER

Trent and Mersey Canal, Middlewich Branch, Shropshire Union Canal

Day 1
Arrival and settling in.
We are moored at Wincham Wharf, close to Northwich. We expect our guests to arrive at 4.00pm, but you may leave your cases with us earlier if you wish, and spend some time exploring the town.

Day 2
We leave Northwich and head towards Middlewich. This is a quiet stretch of canal passing through rich farmland interspersed with woods. There are superb views to the west over the River Weaver and Winsford Top Flash. The canal then descends to Middlewich where it joins the Trent and Mersey. Middlewich since Roman times has been dedicated to salt extraction. The canalside area is a haven of peace below the busy streets.
(6 miles, no locks)

Day 3
From Middlewich to Bunbury
The Middlewich Branch is an attractive and under-rated link canal which leaves the mainline at Barbridge Junction, passing a boatyard and heading east through quiet and remote countryside. Up the hill, towards the village, there is a fully restored watermill, working until 1960 when it was destroyed by a massive flood.
(12 miles, 8 locks)

Day 4
From Bunbury to Chester
The ruins of Beeston castle rise 500' above the Cheshire plain, perched on a rocky summit. It has history stretching back some 4 thousand years, as it used to be a Bronze Age hill fort. The present ruins are of a castle built around 1225.
(9 miles, 6 locks, Beeston Iron Lock)

Day 5
We will spend the day in the ancient Roman city of Chester, as there is so much to see and do there. The Roman walls of the city are quite famous, beyond which can be seen the Medieval Rows and the cathedral. Within this historic city there is a great diversity of shopping.

Day 6
From Chester we will travel north to Ellesmere Port to spend the day at the Boat Museum. It houses the largest collection of historic waterways craft and steps back in time from 1840 to 1950 in the period cottages at Porters Row. In the 200 year old dock, principally designed by Thomas Telford, the industrial and social development of the canals is brought to life by a wonderful collection of original artefacts in large island warehouses and 18th century buildings. Visit www.boatmuseum.org for more information.
(8 miles, 4 locks)

Day 7
We will return from Ellesmere Port to Chester, your final destination
(8 miles, 4 locks)

Day 8
From here, we will call you a taxi to the railway station where you can catch a train back to Northwich, if you have left your car there.