Kidsgrove to Stone Via Congleton
Harecastle Tunnel
(Macclesfield and Trent & Mersey Canals)
£1500pp (£3000per charter)
Trip 21 - 17th to 24th September 2027 (7nights)
£
Kidsgrove to Stone Via Congleton
This is the last 'proper' trip of the 2027 season for 'Ellis' – Capt. E will be quite tired… probably a bit grumpy and ready to plug into shoreline back in the marina for a few months R & R. THAT Said, IF (and it's a big IF at the time of writing) the Bridgewater breach has been fixed, we may sneak in a trip to Liverpool and back following completion of the official final trip.
This trip however is really just an excuse to head up the Macclesfield canal to Congleton for a jaunt before going back to Kidsgrove and through Harecastle Tunnel and back to our Winter Mooring in Stone
Guests will arrive approximately 1.30pm on day one and after an introductory blah blah (and most probably glass of something fizzy) we’ll chug off and spend tonight on the Visitor Moorings at Congleton Wharf.
Next morning (after a simple DIY breakfast), we’ll cast off and retrace our chugs - the plan being to pass through Harecastle tunnel in the afternoon (slot will be booked ) and then moor for the night at Westport Lake. It's a nice walk around and a chance for a bit of bird-watching.
We can have a leisurely start next day before we chug towards our final mooring spot at Etruria. Middleport pottery centre is an excellent stopping point on route and guests can explore under their own steam or go on a guided tour of what is said to be the oldest still working pottery in England.
Once finished at Middleport we'll move on to the visitor moorings at Etruria - a perfect opportunity to visit what has to be the BEST named pub - "The Holy Inadequate"... it's set back from the canal a short walk away but has a really friendly vibe and is well worth a visit.
Assuming guests (and crew) haven't taken too many libations in the pub, we'll make a reasonably early start down Stoke Locks and head on to Trentham - perhaps mooring near Wedgewood for the night to facilitate a look around the factory. We don't have far to travel so we'll probably have a later start and aim to finish the day at Meaford after working down the flight.
Stone Locks await us and once down them we'll moor up so guests can have a wander around the town. Nothing's set in stone (no pun intended) and we've plenty of time available. Our final destination will be back on our winter mooring in Aston Marina with Electricity and water to hand. This trip will will end after breakfast on the final morning, when guests are expected to leave around 9.30am.