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The charity making life better by water

Cloudy but sunny day, boat travelling along canal, green towpaths indicating bridge

Trent & Mersey Canal

This cross-country canal takes in the best of what the North Midlands has to offer, with stunning views over the Cheshire Plain.

The 93-mile long Trent & Mersey Canal spans our Northwest, East Midlands and West Midlands regions, running from the Bridgewater Canal at Preston Brook to Shardlow and the Trent Navigation.

The canal takes you through some of the best scenes that our waterways have to offer, from the towering Anderton Boat Lift through to the heritage-rich industrial sites of Stoke-on-Trent's potteries district and the nature reserve at picturesque Fradley Junction.

Walking routes and places to fish

The Trent & Mersey Canals provides a green corridor through Stoke-on-Trent, as well as offering cycling and walking routes through rural Cheshire, Staffordshire and Derbyshire.

Walking routes and places to fish

Fishing for fun

More about fishing on the Trent & Mersey

Harecastle Tunnel walk

This 6km walk captures the excitement of a canal born for pottery

Cannock Chase walk

A varied five-mile circular walk starting from Seven Springs car park

Fradley Junction walk

A 7-mile circular walk, explore the countryside, farmland, and local villages

Places to visit on the Trent & Mersey

Anderton Boat Lift

More than a boat lift, take time out in the visitor centre, enjoy a cake in the cafe and relax by the water's edge

Middlewich

Straddling two waterways is the Cheshire village of Middlewich

Westport Lake

The lake sits so close to the canal that it seems the towpath crosses straight through it

Great Haywood

Take a leisurely walk or boat trip and admire the architecture, from the historic bridges and traditional Brindley Aqueduct

Fradley Junction

It's one of the busiest places on the waterways with cafes, a pub and the ever-popular Fradley Pool Nature Reserve

Trent Lock

Where the Trent & Mersey Canal turns into the upper reaches of the River Trent

Free guides for fun days out

Download our free guides - over 100 places to visit

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