Stone to Kidsgrove (Potteries Cruise)
Trent & Mersey Canal
Harecastle Tunnel
£624pp (£1248 per charter)
Cruise 16- 10th to 13th August  2026 (3 nights)

2

This trip will ideally start from Aston Marina where 'Ellis' will have had the luxury or a turn around on Shoreline.  Parking a car here for a couple of nights (with the Marina's permission) is easily enough arranged.  Alternatively, if guests are coming by train, 'Ellis' can be moored at the top of Stone lock flight.

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​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 to begin our adventure.

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The aim will be to make it up as we go along but bear in mind we will need the tunnel booking for the 12th.... most likely we'll aim for Barlaston  for night 1.

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 Next morning after a leisurely DIY breakfast, we'll move on and aim for Etruria or Festival Park Stoke (night 2).  If guests would prefer, we can go a little closer to the tunnel and maybe moor at Westport Lake  - there's a nice walk around the water and it would allow for a later start on our final morning of travel. 

 

Once through the tunnel  (keep an eye out for the boggle towards the other end)  we'll , tie up for our final night together Just after Harding's Wood Junction (where the T & M meets the Macclesfield).

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As Ellis needs to be pointing the 'other way' for her next trip, we'll take an unusual approach to the final lock of this trip... ergo, we'll turn around and reverse down the lock.  Folks on the towpath (gongoozlers) can't help but comment when you go backwards down a lock... Capt. E will have to bite his tongue.

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​​​​At the end of the trip,  we’ll have travelled a total distance off 16 miles and 15 locks and 1 spooky tunnel.  We expect guests will depart following breakfast on the final morning around 9.30 am.