The Caldon Canal
Caldon Canal Boat Hire & Narrowboat Holidays
Explore the beautiful Caldon Canal on a narrowboat holiday from Middlewich. Cruise through the Potteries, Harecastle Tunnel, and the stunning Churnet Valley.
Through the Heart of the Potteries
Route at a Glance
98 (Return) Locks
3 Subterranean Tunnels
7+ Night Route
Featured Discovery
Flemish-appearance Town Hall housing the covered market.
Sandbach and Wheelock
This is a boating holiday cruise with everything, plenty of locks, a journey through the industrial heart of the Potteries, and the transition into the simply stunning Caldon Canal itself.
Leaving our Middlewich base, your journey begins on the historic Trent & Mersey Canal, heading south towards the 26 locks of 'The Cheshire Flight'. This intensively locked climb lifts you high onto the Cheshire Plain, preparing you for one of the most thrilling experiences on the network: the magnificent Harecastle Tunnel.
This 2,926-yard subterranean passage is an adventure in itself. Equipped with a unique forced-ventilation system and manned by keepers, you will navigate through the dark for nearly three-quarters of an hour before emerging into the striking, iron-rich orange waters of the Potteries.
From the Potteries to the Pennines
The route officially joins the Caldon Canal at Etruria Junction. Plunging into a complex of pottery works that look as if they haven't altered since the canal was dug, the Caldon illustrates its origins beautifully; one of the works still uses specially designed narrowboats to ferry pottery ware between its depots!
Hanley, the commercial centre of Stoke-on-Trent, is within walking distance. Here you can visit the prize-winning City Museum & Art Gallery, featuring a splendid collection of ceramics and a Spitfire fighter aeroplane, celebrating the career of locally born designer R. J. Mitchell.
Leaving all signs of Hanley behind, this wonderful canal begins to show its pedigree. It meanders to a flight of five locks at Stockton Brook, which carry the canal up to its summit level of 486ft. You emerge into a landscape which begins to have a Pennine sense of obduracy about it. Hedges and fences give way to dry stone walls, and there is a plethora of smallholdings whose inhabitants eke out a tenacious living from these windswept pastures.
Hazelhurst Junction & The Leek Branch
At Hazelhurst Junction, the canal branches in a fascinating 1841 engineering layout. Before continuing down the main line, we highly recommend taking the Leek Branch, which heads off on its brief, but astonishingly pretty journey to the self-styled "Queen of the Moorlands", a fascinating old textile town with a watermill where James Brindley served his apprenticeship.
This detour is indescribably beautiful at any time of year. It carries you past the towering 135ft octagonal tower of the former St Edward's Hospital, before negotiating the 130-yard Leek Tunnel to reach a spectacular, secluded mooring pool. With time to spare, you can follow the feeder which brings water to the canal from Rudyard Lake, a reservoir which famously gave its name to one of the UK's most celebrated writers.
Returning to Hazelhurst, the main line of the Caldon Canal passes engagingly beneath the branch aqueduct and heads for Cheddleton. This historic village boasts two attractive little museums: a restored Flint Mill powered by a pair of waterwheels, and a small railway museum based in an old station designed by the architect Pugin, who was responsible for the Houses of Parliament!
Into the Churnet Valley
Beyond Cheddleton, the canal loses itself in the peaceful calm of the Churnet Valley, actually joining the river for a short while before reaching Consall Forge, where the wonderfully remote Black Lion Inn overlooks the canal and the adjacent weir. This serene and forgotten valley was once a hive of activity, with forges and furnaces clustered alongside the canal, but you would need to be an expert in industrial archaeology to detect the majority of these remains.
The canal wanders on down to the historic limestone basin at Froghall. Once upon a time, the Caldon extended all the way to Uttoxeter, but it was abandoned beyond Froghall in the nineteenth century and a railway was built on its bed. Today, only one outpost of industry remains: a copper works just short of the notoriously tiny tunnel which precludes navigation for most hire boats. A winding hole is provided just before it, making it the perfect turnaround point.
The final stages of this lovely canal are a match for any in the country, even the Llangollen! In any case, it seems appropriate that you can't actually reach the end of the Caldon Canal, for in your mind's eye it can go on forever, mile after delectable mile.
Caldon Canal Holiday Highlights:
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Harecastle Tunnel: Navigate this exhilarating 2,926-yard subterranean passage beneath Harecastle Hill.
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Etruria & The Potteries: Step back in time at this historic junction, and visit the City Museum & Art Gallery in Hanley.
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The Leek Branch: A spectacularly scenic detour offering sweeping moorland views, Pugin's architecture, and a beautifully secluded tunnel pool.
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The Churnet Valley: A lush, densely forested stretch of remote cruising, merging seamlessly with the river itself past the Black Lion Inn.
Cruising Time
One week average cruising time per day:
Caldon Canal: 9 hours
Explore More Canal Routes
Looking for a different direction? See where else you can travel from Middlewich.
Important Route Updates
While our Middlewich base offers incredible access to the network, please note the following updates to some of our famous routes.
Great news, there is still an abundance to explore! Even when a 'Ring' is temporarily closed, you can enjoy magnificent out-and-back journeys along the open sections. The UK canal network is over 200 years old, so occasional maintenance 'hiccups' are to be expected. Please contact us for expert advice on tailoring an amazing adventure around them!
The Cheshire Ring
Expected to open again as a full ring next year. However, much of the route remains open and makes for a wonderful out-and-back holiday.
The Llangollen Canal
Currently closed due to a major breach, as seen in the national news. It is expected to reopen as a route next year and cannot be explored past the breach.
Looking for a Ring?
The Caldon Canal is a magnificent out-and-back return route, allowing you to choose your own pace. But if you feel a little more energetic for your next holiday, we can suggest some 'rings' where you travel around a circular route to arrive back with us: the Cheshire Ring or the Four Counties Ring.
Please Remember: This is a beautifully active route! If you're planning to spend a day out and about off your boat (such as exploring the Potteries, the Churnet Valley Railway, or Alton Towers), please make sure you factor this into your plans when working out the amount of cruising hours required to complete your holiday.
Choosing Your Perfect Pace
We want you to love every moment of your journey. While our route guides provide suggested times based on a steady pace and ideal conditions, we always encourage you to plan your trip around your crew's unique comfort and abilities.
Since everyone's energy levels are different, you may find that choosing a longer duration, such as 14 nights instead of 7, allows you to reach your goals while keeping the adventure inclusive, relaxed, and truly enjoyable for everyone on board. For more detailed advice on planning a journey that is safe and inclusive for everyone, please visit our Accessibility Statement.
Captain's Note: Your holiday should always feel like a break, never a task! If you are unsure about the best route and duration for your specific crew, please get in touch for friendly, honest advice.
Download Your Digital Map
We suggest downloading the free Open Canal Map while you plan. It is a fantastic interactive tool for exploring routes, finding visitor moorings, water points, and local pubs along the towpath.
Boatyard Bonus: It's incredibly helpful for pinpointing your exact location on the canal network. If you ever need to call our team for advice or assistance during your holiday, you can tell us exactly where you are!
* Disclaimer: Open Canal Map is a third-party application. It is not affiliated with Andersen Boats and is downloaded and used entirely at your own discretion.
Pearson's Canal Companions
For the ultimate captain's preparation, we highly recommend picking up a copy of Pearson's Canal Companions. These legendary guides are the gold standard for boaters, packed with beautifully illustrated mile-by-mile maps, fascinating local history, and invaluable reviews of towpath pubs and eateries.
Four Counties & Cheshire Rings
Perfect for navigating the Cheshire Ring, Four Counties Ring, and our local Trent & Mersey routes.
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Welsh Waters (featuring the Llangollen Canal)
The essential guide for anyone heading down the Llangollen Canal or exploring the Shropshire Union.
View on Amazon* Disclaimer: The links above direct to Amazon. Andersen Boats is not responsible for external content, pricing, or purchases made on third-party websites.
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