Chester's Waterways

With more than 200 miles of waterways, Cheshire has more length of canal than any other English county.

The delightful canal tow paths provide ideal routes for peaceful strolls through some of the county's hidden countryside. Canal boats can be rented by the day; or take a trip on a waterbus, or horse-drawn canal boat - some of which have restaurant facilities.

The canal itself goes right through the heart of Chester making it one of the most stylish and relaxing ways to travel into the city.   Arrow-straight for much of its length, this charming rural waterway strides across the landscape.

The 66-mile Shropshire Union Canal is a canal of two halves. North of Nantwich, the canal - built originally as the Chester Canal - is a wide waterway following the gentle rolling landscape of western Cheshire to Ellesmere Port.

But the southern half of the canal - built in the twilight of the canal age - is an astonishing feat of engineering. Its long embankments, deep cuttings and grandiose bridges frequently dominate the scenery. In contrast to the winding contours of early canals, the Shroppie kept the same course across valley and through hills, speeding cargoes on their way from the North-West to Wolverhampton and the Midlands.

If you'd like to learn more about Cheshire's waterways, or even book a canal boat (external link) through the British Waterways website Waterscape.com (external link)