Acton
Bridge: Canals of North West England
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Boats
Available: All
boats start on Friday, Saturday, Monday
or Wednesday
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Based
near Northwich, Acton Bridge is a good starting point
for a number of routes. Traveling north, you meet the
canal where it all started - the Bridgewater canal,
which takes you lock free to Manchester. From there
you can travel to the Leeds-Liverpool Canal, or continue
on the Cheshire Ring via the Peak Forest and Macclesfield.
Apart from Manchester itself, currently being cleaned
up, this is a beautiful route with constantly changing
scenery. South of base you can travel the Four Counties
Ring, or meander up to Chester and beyond to the Ellesmere
Port boat museum.
Click
here for Base Information
Click
here for Acton Bridge Base Information (pdf
file 551 Kb)
Click
here for Acton Bridge Routes Information 1 (pdf
file 647 Kb)
Click
here for Acton Bridge Routes Information 2 (pdf
file 621 Kb)
Suggested
Routes From Acton
Bridge
1.
WIGAN & RETURN
84 Miles, 6 Locks, 1 Week Cruise, 5 hours per day (GREEN ROUTE)
A very pleasant and easy run with many miles of lock free cruising. Leaving
the base you travel onto the first British canal built by the Duke of Bridgewater
to transport coal to Manchester. On this you can see some mine entrances, together
with the later Barton Swing Bridge over the Manchester Ship Canal, where the
whole canal is swung to let large ships through. At Wigan the Pier Museum,
and the Trencherfield Mill Steam Engine (the world's largest) are well worth
a visit.
2.
CHESTER & RETURN
84 Miles, 44 Locks, 1 Week Cruise, 6 hours per day (RED ROUTE)
A slightly more vigorous route, but still easily manageable at about five hours
per day, this trip includes varying canals and countryside. Traveling southwards
past the old salt mines to Middlewich you turn onto the Middlewich Arm to join
up with the shropshire Union. The trip up to the medieval City of Chester is
particularly pleasant with the canal built next to the old city walls. You
should also have time to visit the boat museum at Ellesmere Port.
3.
CHESHIRE RING
96 Miles, 92 Locks, 1 Week Cruise, 8 hours per day (BLUE ROUTE)
More active route at around eight hours per day, the Cheshire Ring is one of contrasts.
Traveling northwards over the Bridgewater Canal, lock-free to Manchester, where
the city is currently being restored. After this into the Peak District on
the Macclesfield Canal, with the small towns built of stone. Just north of
Stoke you meet the Trent and Mersey, and travel through the many locks to Middlewich
and its history of salt then home.
4.
FOUR COUNTIES RING
141 Miles, 102 Locks, 2 Week Cruise, 4 hours per day (YELLOW ROUTE)
A relaxing fortnight, you travel southwards to Stoke on Trent via Middlewich.
Passing through the red-watered Harecastle Tunnel ( the result of local iron
workings), and continuing down past the Wedgewood Factory to Stone and Great
Haywood, you join the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal. Just north of
Wolverhampton, you meet the Shropshire Union with its extravagant cuttings
and embankments, which carries you up to Barbridge and the Middlewich Arm.
If time permits a diversion along the Caldon is well worthwhile.
Acton
Bridge Base Information
| Hotels
/ Guest Houses |
Ash House Farm, Chapel Lane, Acton Bridge, Northwich,
Cheshire, CW8 3QS
Telephone: 01606 852717
Fax: 01606 853752
www.ashhousefarm.co.uk
Prices are around £35.00 per person for bed and
breakfast
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Holly
Bush Inn, Warrington,
Little leigh, Northwich. Chesire, CW8 4QY
Telephone: 01606 853196
www.thehollybush.net
Price Guide: Double room £48.50 / Single room £43.50 / Full English Breakfast £6.50
This inn was built in 1641
Happy Guests Lodge, Tarporley Road, Dutton, Chesire, WA4 4EZ
Telephone: 01928 790824
www.happyguestslodge.co.uk/
Price Guide: Double room £44.95 / Single room £39.95 - Rates includes breakfast
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| Public
Transport |
Nearest
Railway Station: Acton Bridge / Hartford
National Rail Enquiries: www.nationalrail.co.uk Tel: 08457 484950
www.thetrainline.com Tel: 0871 244 1545
Nearest Airport: Manchester International Tel. 0161
489 3000
www.manchesterairport.co.uk
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| Taxi
/ Minicabs |
A1
Luxury Travel: Telephone. 01606 75500
Twinz Travel: Telephone. 01606
786888
Example Prices:
A taxi from Manchester Piccadilly station to the base
at Acton Bridge would be approx. £40.00
A taxi from Manchester International Airport to the
base at Acton Bridge would be approx. £30.00
(Prices courtesy of A1 Luxury Travel Subject to change)
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| Car
Hire |
Hertz Car Hire have depots throughout the UK
including main airports. We have an exclusive agreement
with Hertz who will provide reduced rates for all Black Prince customers. Drop-offs, collections and one
ways are all available, allowing you to pick up a car at your arrival point and request a car to be waiting at
the end of your holiday for onward travel. To book your car visit www.hertz.co.uk or call 0870 844 4844
and quote CDP 694816.
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| Rail |
www.nationalrail.co.uk / www.qjump.co.uk
National Rail Enquiries: Telephone : 08457 484950
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| Flying
into London |
From Heathrow the underground tube train goes through
to London Euston station.
From Gatwick the train (Gatwick Express) goes through
to London Victoria station and then change to the
tube train to London Euston.
From
London Euston station there is a train through
to Crewe or Runcorn. Then change for Hartford.
You can either phone the base or ring a taxi
from the above selection.
Visit www.tfl.gov.uk to plan your route on the London Underground.
Manchester
railway station is adjacent to Manchester Airport.
From here there is a train to
Piccadilly station.
At
Manchester Piccadilly
station you can get the train to Liverpool
Lime Street station
and then change for Acton Bridge. Please check
with British Rail before travelling.
Prices will vary depending on the day you travel
and whether it is single or return etc.
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| How
To Find Us (By Road) |
Our
base at Acton Bridge is situated beside the A49
(Warrington to Whitchurch road) 4 miles south of
Junction 10 on the M56 and 300 yards north of the
swing bridge crossing the River Weaver.
www.theaa.com/route-planner
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| Groceries |
| Good shopping and a petrol filling station are within easy travelling distance. The Leigh Arms is next to the swing bridge and offers lunches and evening meals. |
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Black
Prince Narrowboat Hire - Acton Bridge Base Information
