www.ramblers.org.uk

Cheshire Ring Canal Walk

Circular via Dunkenfield and Marple 156km/97 miles EASY

Interesting towpath walk via Greater Manchester and rural Cheshire, linking six historic canals. A varied walk in town and country.

The route follows:

  • Trent and Mersey Canal Kidsgrove to Preston Brook
    See the Trent and Mersey Canal page
  • Bridgewater Canal Preston Brook to Castlefield
    The Bridgewater Canal also has a branch from Waters Meeting to Leigh, a total length of 64km/40 miles
  • Rochdale Canal Castlefield to Ducie Street
    The Rochdale Canal then continues to Sowerby Bridge, a total length of 54km/33 miles.
  • Ashton Canal Ducie Street to Portland Basin, a total length of 10km/6 miles.
  • Peak Forest Canal Portland Basin to Marple
    The Peak Forest Canal then continues to Whaley Bridge, a total length of 30km/18 miles
  • Macclesfield Canal Marple to Kidsgrove, a total length of 41.5km/26 miles.

Some of the Peak Forest section forms part of European Path E2. Generally easy, flat walking on good paths. For details of wheelchair accessible sections, contact British Waterways (see below).

Connects with

Bollin Valley Way, Cown Edge Way, Delamare Way, Gritstone Trail, Midshires Way (Goyt Way E2), Peak Forest Canal Towpath (E2), Shropshire Union Canal, South Cheshire Way, Staffordshire Way, Stoke and Newcastle Greenways, Trans Pennine Trail (E8), Trent and Mersey Canal 

Highway Authorities

 Cheshire, Derbyshire, Halton, Manchester, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Warrington

Tourist Information Centres

  • Altrincham 0161 912 5931
  • Congleton 01260 271095
  • Knutsford 01565 632611
  • Macclesfield 01625 504114
  • Manchester 0871 222 8223
  • Nantwich 01270 610983
  • Stockport 0161 474 4444
  • Stoke-on-Trent 01782 284600
  • Warrington 01925 442180

Accommodation

breakfast accommodation on this path.

Holiday providers

 include Byways Breaks, Walking with Water

Maps

Explorer maps 267, 268, 276, 277
Landranger maps 108, 109, 117, 118
The Way is marked on recent editions of these maps.

Publications

  • Exploring the Cheshire Ring by British Waterways and the Manchester Ship Canal Company. £1.00 from local TICs or +44p p&p from British Waterways Pennine and Potteries Office.
    Colourful guide with maps and plentiful background information, mainly aimed at boaters but also useful for walkers and other canal users.
  • Walking the Cheshire Ring by John Merrill, ISBN 0 907496 63 6. Walk & Write, £5.95.
    Includes detailed maps.

Contacts

  • British Waterways Pennine and Potteries Office
  • Manchester Ship Canal Company Peel Dome, The Trafford Centre, Manchester M17 8PL, tel 0161 629 8200