Chester & Ellesmere Port
Chester & Ellesmere Port Canal Boat Hire & Narrowboat Holidays
A relaxing narrowboat holiday route from Middlewich, through the historic Roman city of Chester, and onward to Britain's premier collection of preserved canal craft.
A Wonderful Week to the Wirral
Route at a Glance
38 (Return) Locks
Open-Air Cruising
7 Night Route
Featured Discovery
Beeston Castle, a 13th-century fortress on a craggy outcrop.
Bunbury and Beeston
In Roman and Medieval times Chester was a thriving port on the River Dee, so a boating holiday seems an appropriate way of approaching this wonderfully romantic and historic city.
Leaving our Middlewich base, you negotiate Wardle Lock, famously known as Britain's 'shortest canal', to join the Middlewich Branch. This wonderfully peaceful stretch of water acts as a strategic link, carrying you effortlessly through subsidence-induced 'flashes' towards Barbridge Junction.
But the Shropshire Union Canal doesn't terminate at Chester; it pushes on across the base of the Wirral to Ellesmere Port on the banks of the mighty Mersey. This is the home of The National Waterways Museum, one of the country's most significant collections of historic canal boats, perfectly situated within a genuine working dockland.
Boating Through Rural Cheshire
Chester represents our most restful out-and-back cruise. A mere ten hours boating out from Middlewich, it requires just three or four hours a day through pleasant Cheshire countryside on the move for a week's holiday; though you will probably want to boat for a bit longer each day to allow yourselves plenty of time for exploring when you get there.
At Barbridge Junction you pursue your leisurely course along the quiet waters of the old broadbeam Chester Canal. The locks on this section are wide enough to cope with two narrowboats side by side, saving water and halving the workload if you share with another boat. Suddenly you get your first glimpse of Beeston Castle soaring above the Cheshire Plain on its high sandstone crag. King John is said to have buried treasure here which has never been found, or perhaps the person who found it just didn't tell the rest of the world! It's open to the public under the aegis of English Heritage, so you can go and do a little treasure hunting for yourself.
There are other pleasant ports of call on this stretch of canal: the lockside cottage at Beeston Stone Lock where freshly baked home-produce is often obtainable; the little glory hole of a craft shop at Castle Wharf; the neighbouring country auction ring; and the Shady Oak, a convivial canalside pub just made for thirsty and hungry boaters.
Exploring Chester is Easy on a Boating Holiday!
Getting into Chester these days by car is a bit of a headache, but the only ache you experience in arriving here by canal is from operating the spectacular Northgate Staircase Locks. This dramatic quintet of locks drops you deep into a gorge cut directly through solid red sandstone, right into the heart of the city.
Emerging at the bottom, you can moor directly beneath the towering Roman walls, within earshot of the majestic cathedral, and without a traffic warden in sight! Make no mistake, Chester is one of the great treasure houses of Europe, and quite the best way to effect an introduction to it is to perambulate its ancient two-mile circuit of walls. You can even view the King Charles Tower, where the monarch reputedly stood to watch his army defeated at Rowton Heath.
Familiarity gained by this, gravitate toward the centre, explore the famous galleried 'Rows', a unique series of two-tiered, half-timbered shopping galleries, and then go and wallow in the hushed peace of the cathedral. Then you can decide where to eat, a choice not made any easier by a proliferation of enchanting looking restaurants, cafes, and pubs.
The Shropshire Union to the Waterways Museum
If recent history holds more appeal to you than the ancient variety, and if, like many of our holidaymakers, you have a real enthusiasm for canals, then Chester may only be a punctuation mark on the voyage towards your real goal of The National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port. at Ellesmere Port. It's only an extra three hours boating up the Shropshire Union Canal, and though no-one would pretend that Ellesmere Port is a pretty place, it is invigorating in a way you might not have supposed.
If you have younger crew members aboard, a short detour from the canal brings you to the Blue Planet Aquarium at Cheshire Oaks, a spectacular and immersive underwater attraction that offers a striking contrast to the shallow waters of the canal network! Alternatively, press on to berth in the old transhipment docks of the port, looking out over the wide waters of the ship canal and Mersey estuary, with Liverpool rising clearly on the horizon. It is a fitting climax to any voyage from Middlewich.
Here, at the National Waterways Museum, your modern, comfortable hire boat rubs shoulders with its cargo-carrying ancestors. Secure moorings allow you to step straight into the Exhibition Hall, the magnificent Engine House, the Historic Cottages, and the working Forge. For a moment, past and present merge inextricably and your holiday on the canal takes on a different, and extremely gratifying, dimension.
Ellesmere Port Holiday Highlights:
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Beeston Castle: Hunt for King John's lost treasure and enjoy soaring views across the Cheshire Plain.
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Northgate Staircase Locks: Experience the thrill of descending this dramatic quintet of locks cut deep into solid Chester sandstone.
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Chester's Roman Walls: Moor without traffic wardens, walk the ancient walls, and explore the unique two-tiered shopping 'Rows'.
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Blue Planet Aquarium: A fantastic, family-friendly deepwater detour located conveniently close to the canal at Cheshire Oaks.
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National Waterways Museum: Moor in the historic docks looking out towards Liverpool, and explore the engine house, traditional forge, and vintage boats.
Cruising Time
One week average cruising time per day:
Chester & Ellesmere Port: 4.5 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 journey to Chester and Ellesmere Port is a highly relaxing 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 route is packed with off-boat attractions! If you're planning to spend a day out and about off your boat (such as exploring Chester's ancient walls, visiting the Blue Planet Aquarium, or touring the National Waterways Museum), please make sure you factor this into your plans when working out the amount of cruising hours required to complete your holiday route.
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.
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