Cheshire Ring facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cheshire Ring |
|
|---|---|
| Specifications | |
| Length | 97 miles (156 km) |
| Locks | 92 |
| Status | Canal ring |
| Navigation authority | Canal & River Trust |
The Cheshire Ring is a famous route for canal boats in North West England. It's like a big watery circle that connects six different canals. These are the Ashton Canal, Peak Forest Canal, Macclesfield Canal, Trent and Mersey Canal, Bridgewater Canal, and Rochdale Canal.
This route is perfect for narrowboat holidays. It usually takes about one week to complete the whole trip. Along the way, you'll go through 92 locks. The entire circuit is about 97 miles (156 km) long. You'll see many different sights, from busy Manchester city centre to quiet countryside. There are also great views of the Peak District hills and the flat Cheshire Plain.
Discovering the Cheshire Ring's History
The name "Cheshire Ring" was first used in 1965. It was part of a big effort to save and reopen parts of the canals. Before this, the route was known as the Peak Forest Circular Route. After World War II, fewer goods were carried on the canals. Because of this, some parts of the Rochdale, Ashton, and Peak Forest canals became unused.
By the early 1960s, these sections were hard to use. They didn't have much water, and many locks were broken. People worried the canals might be filled in because they looked messy. But groups like the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) worked hard to fix them. Their efforts paid off! On April 1, 1974, the Cheshire Ring was officially reopened for boats.
Most canals in England became owned by the government in 1947. However, the Rochdale Canal and Bridgewater Canal were different. They were owned by companies linked to the Manchester Ship Canal. So, they were not taken over by the government.
In 2002, the Rochdale Canal was restored even more. Its ownership changed to the Waterways Trust. This meant that a £35 fee to use a small part of the canal in Manchester was removed. This made it much easier and cheaper for boats to complete the entire Cheshire Ring.
The Exciting Cheshire Ring Race
Since 1977, there has been a special event called the Cheshire Ring Race. It's a long-distance race, like a marathon, that covers 96 miles (154 km). The race goes along five of the canals in the Ring.
It starts and finishes at Higher Poynton, which is on the Macclesfield Canal. Different types of participants can join the race. There are individual paddlers, teams in crew boats, and relay teams. The Macclesfield And District Canoe Club (MADCC) organizes this exciting event.
Exploring Canals and Towns on the Ring
Here are the canals and some of the places you'll see on the Cheshire Ring. We'll go clockwise, starting near Manchester Piccadilly station:
- Ashton Canal
- Ancoats
- Clayton
- Droylsden
- Audenshaw
- Ashton-under-Lyne
- Peak Forest Canal
- Dukinfield
- Hyde
- Woodley
- Bredbury
- Romiley
- Marple
- Macclesfield Canal
- High Lane
- Higher Poynton
- Bollington
- Macclesfield
- Bosley
- Congleton
- Trent and Mersey Canal
- Kidsgrove
- Church Lawton
- Rode Heath
- Wheelock
- Middlewich
- Northwich
- Anderton
- Bridgewater Canal
- Preston Brook
- Lymm
- Sale
