Trent and Mersey Canal
Preston
Brook, Runcorn to Froghall or Long Eaton 177km/110.5 miles
total
EASY
East Midlands -
Northwest England -
West Midlands
One of Britain's principal canals, built 1770-77 and sometimes known as the Grand Trunk since it connects Derbyshire, the Potteries and Merseyside, with wide views across the Cheshire plain.
The main line of the canal runs from Preston Brook via Northwich, Middlewich, Sandbach, Stoke on Trent, Rugeley and Burton upon Trent, passing to the south of Derby to end at Trent Lock, Long Eaton. From Preston Brook to Kidsgrove the canal forms part of the Cheshire Ring.
The Caldon Branch connects Etruria Junction, Stoke with Caldon Quarries, Froghall, running to the south of Leek.
Accessibility
A
mainly flat, easy walk. For information about sections with wheelchair access,
contact British Waterways (below).
Public Transport
Numerous stations along the route.
Maps
- Explorer 243, 244, 245, 258, 260, 267, 268
- Trent & Mersey Canal Map 1 Preston Brook to Fradley Junction, ISBN 0863510469. GEOprojects £4.95.
- Trent & Mersey Canal and River Trent Map 2 Great Haywood Junction
to Cromwell Lock, ISBN 0863510493.
GEOprojects £4.95.
1:60 000 scale with additional information. - More about maps
Publications
- Walking the Trent & Mersey Canal by John Merrill, ISBN 1 874754 19 5. Walk & Write £4.95
Connecting routes
- Cheshire Ring Canal Walk
- Cheshire Ways
- Coventry Canal
- Dane Valley Way
- Derwent Valley Heritage Way
- Grand Union Canal (Leicester Line)
- Gritstone Trail
- Leek to Rushton Spencer Greenway (via Caldon branch and link: see Staffordshire Way)
- Macclesfield and Peak Forest Canals
- Midshires Way
- National Forest Walks
- Sabrina Way
- South Cheshire Way
- Staffordshire Way (E2)
- Stoke and Newcastle Greenways
- Trent Valley Way (via link)
- Way for the Millennium (Staffordshire)
Parks and countryside
- Cannock Chase
- Churnet Valley (Caldon Branch)
- National Forest