Peak District Base Information - Black Prince Narrowboats UK, England, Great Britain, Cruises Holiday Vacation

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PEAK DISTRICT BASE INFORMATION

Situated on the re-developed National Garden Festival Site, this is one of the most popular Black Prince starting points. Close by there is an exciting Water World, dry ski-slope, multi-screen cinema, ten pin bowling and shopping centre… and that is before you get on the water! The variety of routes is wide with the Cheshire Ring and Four Counties being favourites. You travel through some of the waterways’ most beautiful scenery, along with the pure contrast of the Potteries, Royal Doulton, Cheddleton Mill and Wedgwood industries. For the more energetic there’s Alton Towers near the end of the Caldon Canal

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PUBLIC TRANSPORT National Rail Enquiries: www.nationalrail.co.uk Tel: 08457 484950 www.thetrainline.com Tel: 0871 244 1545 Nearest Airport: Manchester International Tel. 0161 489 3000 Nearest Railway Station: Stoke on Trent TAXIS / MINICABS: Intercity Cabs Tel: 01782 855855 / www.intercitycabs.co.uk Z Cars Tel: 01782 593322 Approximate prices: (Prices courtesy of Intercity Cabs – subject to change) Manchester International Airport to Stoke on Trent: £45 Stansted / Heathrow Airport to Stoke on Trent: £16
HOTELS / GUEST HOUSES Haydon House Hotel, Basford, Stoke on Trent. ST4 6JD Tel: 01782 711311 Double rooms - £75, single rooms - £65. Rates include breakfast. www.haydonhousehotel.co.uk Best Western Moat House, Festival Park, Stoke on Trent, ST1 5BQ Tel: 01782 609988 Double / single rooms -£79. Rate does not include breakfast. www.bw-stokeontrentmoathouse.co.uk
GROCERIES There is a large Morrison’s supermarket and a number of other shops at Festival Park, nearby to the base
FLYING INTO LONDON From Heathrow airport, get the London underground tube to Euston station. From Gatwick airport, get the Gatwick Express to London Victoria station, then get a London underground tube to London Euston. From Stansted airport, get the London underground tube to London Euston. From London Euston station there is a train to Stoke on Trent. . Visit www.tfl.gov.uk to plan your route on the London Underground FLYING INTO MANCHESTER Get a train to Manchester Piccadilly or Wilmslow station, and then change for Stoke on Trent HOW TO FIND US (by car) M6: Exit at Junction 15 (from South) or Junction 16 (from North) and follow the A500 until you reach the A53. Turn towards Hanley and the city centre. Passing over the canal, you will see the marina on your left hand side - stay in the left hand lane (do not cross the flyover). At the roundabout, turn left. At the mini - roundabout turn left, and the marina entrance is on your left. on the left hand side.
Suggested Routes from Napton \| Short Routes ( see below )
Cheshire Ring 110 Miles, 92 Locks, 1 Week Cruise, 9 hours per day (ROUTE A) A more active route; you travel northwards through the Harecastle Tunnel and join the Macclesfield Canal via a fly-over. This is a lovely canal through Congleton, Macclesfield and Marple to Manchester. The canal here is currently being improved, but has some way to go. A lock-free section of the Bridgewater Canal (where it all started) follows until Middlewich, passing the Anderton Lift. A section with plenty of locks takes you back home to Stoke.
Four Countries Ring 111 Miles, 94 Locks, 1 Week Cruise, 8 hours per day (ROUTE B) Another more active route, you travel southwards from the marina past the Wedgwood factory and through the canal town of Stone to Great Haywood, where you meet the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal. Travelling westwards, you join the Shropshire Union Canal at Autherley. The ‘Shroppie’ with its impressive architecture, banks and cuttings, carries you northwards to the Middlewich Arm. At Middlewich you rejoin the Trent & Mersey Canal which carries you back to Stoke through a number of locks and the Harecastle Tunnel
Caldon and Leek Canals 42 Miles, 34 Locks, 1 Week Cruise, 3 hours per day (ROUTE C) An easy week down one of the most beautiful and quiet canals of them all. From the junction near the marina, you progress up the locks to the outskirts of Stoke via factories and parks. Here you encounter progressively more picturesque countryside as you enter the Churnet Valley. The Leek branch contains no locks from the junction, whereas the Froghall branch descends to the River Churnet. If time permits, a trip down the Trent & Mersey Canal to Stone is well worthwhile.
Whaley Bridge & Return 82 Miles, 26 Locks, 1 Week Cruise, 6 hours per day (ROUTE D) An easy week, travelling into the Peak District to the end of the Peak Forest Canal at Whaley Bridge. Travelling north through the Harecastle Tunnel, you join the Macclesfield Canal at Hardings Wood. The Macclesfield Canal skirts the edge of the Peak District through the small towns of Congleton, Macclesfield and Marple, before turning onto the Peak Forest Canal to Whaley Bridge.
Short Route
Why not try a short break from Peak District? Why not try a short break from The Peak District? You can enjoy 3 or 4 days from either Saturday afternoon to Tuesday afternoon, Wednesday morning to Saturday morning, Friday afternoon to Monday morning or from Monday afternoon to Friday morning. Prices start from as little as £75 per person Short Route... Locks: 34 / Cruising time around 24 hours return The Caldon Canal, taking in both wings to Froghall and Leek through the Churnet Valley. A quiet canal through beautiful countryside with very good canal side pubs.