Our canals are steeped in history – and a lot of it is older than the Industrial Revolution.
While towering walls and stories of sieges might seem worlds apart from the quiet life on the canal, you can cruise your way to some of the region's most remarkable castles.
Whether you're drawn to tales of knights and conquests, stunning architecture or simply need a destination that lets the kids run wild, these castle-inspired cruises map out a voyage through history.
1. Warwick Castle
On the banks of the River Avon, Warwick Castle is around a 30-minute walk from the Grand Union Canal.
Dating back to 914, the origins of this castle lie with an Anglo-Saxon burh, fortified by Æthelflæd, daughter of Alfred the Great. With the Norman invasion, William the Conqueror built a wooden motte-and-bailey castle in 1068 to establish control in the midlands before advancing north.
The stone structure as it stands today was constructed in the 12th century and has stood strong – with various fortifications – for the last 900 years.
Make this trip part of your October half-term getaway to take part in the castle's fun events
Just off the Llangollen Canal, this mediaeval fortress has stood since 1295, built to subdue the Welsh. When you visit the castle today, you'll find a lavish interior that tells 700 years of history with a 17th-century gallery, 18th-century state rooms, and art and tapestries from across the centuries.
You can join the Llangollen from the Shropshire Union at Hurleston. From here, it takes about just over three days at a leisurely pace to cruise to Chirk, crossing Chirk Aqueduct. The aqueduct carries the canal 70 feet above the River Ceiriog across ten circular masonry arches, completed in 1801 by William Jessop.
Chirk Castle took 15 years to build and was completed in 1310.
Once in the town, you can stop at the visitor moorings and walk up to the castle – about 30 minutes away by foot.
After spending an afternoon roaming the castle's grounds and climbing to the tops of its towers, return to your boat to continue your journey along the Llangollen to reach the even more impressive Pontcysyllte Aqueduct– our 'stream in the sky'.
Head north along the Shropshire Union to Chester to explore the neoclassical Chester Castle. Built in 1070 as part of the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror, the castle has had a long political and military history.
The oldest part of Chester Castle is the 12th-century Agricola Tower, the original stone gateway to the castle.
You can reach Chester within a day from Nantwich, going through 11 locks. If you're starting further south, it takes about five or six days from Birmingham. Make your cruise longer by continuing along the canal to Ellesmere Port, at the end of the Shropshire Union, where it meets the Manchester Ship Canal and the vast River Mersey.
At Ellesmere Port, you can visit the National Waterways Museum, home to Grade-II listed buildings and a designated collection of waterways history.
Skipton Castle is a 900-year-old fortress on the Spring Branch Canal, just off the Leeds & Liverpool.
Surviving a three-year siege during the English Civil War, the castle yielded in 1645 and was slighted by Cromwell with the removal of its roofs. Carefully restored by Lady Anne Clifford, Skipton Castle is a magnificent attraction, with a well-preserved dungeon, watch tower, banqueting hall and kitchen.
If you have time on your hands, the 27-day cruise along the Two Roses ring will take you from the bustling city of Manchester through the depths of Lancashire and across the Pennines to Yorkshire. This route takes in 214 locks across 183 miles, including the steepest staircase locks in England: Bingley Five Rise.
Moor up in Skipton, a beautiful market town, and walk for less than 10 minutes to reach the 12th-century castle.
Another relic of William the Conqueror, Stafford Castle has watched over the local landscape for nearly 1,000 years. The current structure, with its Gothic Revival architecture, sits on the remains of the Norman motte-and-bailey.
Unfortunately, the castle fell into ruin in the 18th century and, despite renovation efforts in the 19th century, was abandoned in the 1950s. Today, you can visit the remains of the once-grand castle, which consists of a keep, inner bailey, outer bailey, woodland, and herb garden. Learn all about the history of Stafford Castle in the visitor centre.
To get to here by boat, navigate the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal, moor up at Radford Bank and enjoy a half-hour walk up to the site. You can also access the castle from the Shropshire Union. Tie up at the visitor moorings in Gnosall Heath and catch a 30-minute bus to the castle.
Both routes sit on the Four Counties Ring – a two-week rural cruise that follows the Shropshire Union through the rolling hills of Cheshire to the Trent & Mersey and Staffordshire & Worcester.
Dudley Castle is another ruin, standing high above the Dudley Tunnel and canals. Dating back to the 11th century, Dudley Castle is known for its dramatic views and Gothic charm. The castle was once a wooden motte-and-bailey fortification. Rebuilt with stone in the 12th century, the castle was then demolished on the orders of Henry II.
Despite renewed renovations a century later, it was slighted in the English Civil War and met its final downfall with a fire in 1750. Today, the ruins are also home to the Dudley Zoological Gardens, making it a great family-friendly stop.
You can reach Dudley Castle on a cruise around the Black Country ring. Taking about 10 days, this route will take you from the heart of Birmingham through Dudley to the Staffordshire & Worcestershire to Stafford and back on the Trent & Mersey, Coventry and Birmingham & Fazeley Canals.
In Dudley, stop at the visitor moorings to see the castle, take a trip through the tunnel and explore the Black Country Living Museum.
