Boating the Trent & Mersey

Find boating information for the Trent & Mersey Canal.

Trent & Mersey Canal

Length	93 miles
Locks	76

Note: A handcuff key will be required as anti-vandal locks are fitted along this canal.

Maximum boat dimensions

Preston Brook to Croxton

Length	21.95m	72ft
Width	2.74m	9ft
Draught	1.1m	3ft 7
Headroom	1.9m	6ft 1"

Croxton to Wardle Junction (Middlewich Branch)

Length	21.95m	72ft
Width	2.13m	7ft
Draught	1.1m	3ft 7"
Headroom	1.91m	6ft 3"

Wardle Junction to Trentham Lock (narrow)

Length	21.95m	72ft
Width	2.13m	7ft
Draught	1.1m	3ft 7"
Headroom	1.78m	5ft 10"

Great Haywood Junction to Horninglow Basin

Length	21.95m	72ft
Width	2.13m	7ft
Draught	1.1m	3ft 7"
Headroom	1.94m	6ft 3"

Horninglow Basin to Shardlow

Length	21.95m	72ft
Width	4.29m	14ft 1"
Draught	1.1m	3ft 7"
Headroom	2.23m	7ft 4"

Shardlow to Derwent Mouth Lock

Length	21.95m	72ft
Width	4.26m	13ft 11"
Draught	0.99m	3ft 3"
Headroom	2.13m	7ft

Harecastle Tunnel: winter opening hours 2025/26
1 November 2025 to 28 February 2026
During the winter season 2025/26 booking will be required for all passages through the Harecastle Tunnel.
From Sunday 1 November 2025 to Saturday 28 February 2026, booking slots are available between 9am to 12pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays only: -
North to South – 9am & 11am
South to North – 10am & 12pm
Booking is required 48 hours prior to passage, and we will be unable to accommodate late arrivals.
Christmas and New Year Period the tunnel will be closed on 24, 25 & 26 December reopening on Saturday 27 December. The tunnel will close again on Wednesday 31 December and reopen for passage on Saturday 3 January 2025
Customers must book before 12pm on Saturday 20 December to guarantee a passage during the Christmas and New Year period. Un-booked passages will not be permitted.
For direct tunnel enquiries please email [email protected].
Please always follow the directions of our team members on site. Passage is only permitted with a working horn and tunnel light; at present we are unable to lend such items.
10 day cruising
Trust and the Bridgewater Canal customers can now spend up to ten days cruising away from their home navigation free of charge. There are no restrictions about how far you can travel, but you will need to book your passage online and return to your home navigation authority within the ten days. You can revisit the other authority's water again after a 28-day period.
- More information on booking a passage.
- Middlewich Branch