Cruising rings

Varying in length and taking anything from two days to three weeks, cruising rings are circular routes that allow you to see a new stretch of water every day.

Our canals and rivers offer years of cruising opportunities and with over 2,000 miles of waterway to explore there’s always something new to see.

However, if you only have a week or two for your boating holiday, why not consider boating around one of the many well-established cruising rings?

And with plenty of stopping-off points for walking, cycling or even fishing along the way, they're great for trying all the healthy, fun activities our waterways have to offer.

Avon Ring

Two weeks should allow you ample time to navigate this 108 mile route without hurrying, while still allowing you to appreciate places such as Stratford-on-Avon or Worcester

Birmingham ring

At 45 miles, this ring takes just one week to complete at your leisure

Aerial view of moorings on Birmingham Canal Main Line in Birmingham City Centre

Black Country ring

The Black Country cruising ring (also known as the Staffordshire ring) is made up of a combination of canals, each memorable for different reasons

Marple Aqueduct on the Peak Forest Canal

Cheshire ring

Featuring the Bridgewater Canal, the Cheshire ring was formed after successful campaigns to restore several sections and is one of the original cruising rings

Big Lock, Trent & Mersey Canal, Middlewich

Four Counties ring

The Four Counties Ring is one of the more rural cruising rings and is best savoured slowly

Leicester ring

Non-tidal rivers combined with broad and narrow gauge canals offer a mixture of waterway experiences

Group sat on moored narrowboat in Vines Park with people walking by on towpath

Mid-Worcestershire ring

The Mid-Worcestershire, or Droitwich ring, is a 21-mile circular route and the only ring that you can comfortably negotiate in a weekend

Narrowboat heads towards Standedge Tunnel

South Pennine ring

The breathtaking scenery on the journey is made even more remarkable as until recently much of the route was derelict

Stourport ring

The Stourport Ring visits no fewer than three cities of contrasting colours, taking in both urban and countryside scenery

Thames ring

The Thames ring offers an eclectic combination of narrow canal, broad canal, tidal and non-tidal river waters

Two Roses ring

Lancashire and Yorkshire are brought together in a combination of canal and river navigations centering on the Pennines

Coventry Canal, Armington courtesy Joanne Rollason

Warwickshire ring

Despite how close it comes to Birmingham and its urban and industrial areas, the Warwickshire ring manages to carve a surprisingly rural canal boating route