Anderton Marina, Cheshire

Discover the hidden delights of the Cheshire countryside on a dog-friendly canal boat cruise beginning at Anderton Marina. Together with your best furry friend, meander along the gentle waterways on a comfortable berth packed with modern amenities through routes around the northwest. Stop off for some fabulous walking opportunities and make sure to visit fido-friendly sights along your route starting in Anderton. One of ABC Boat Hire’s most northerly of English bases with access to Cheshire, Leeds, Liverpool Canal and the Trent and Mersey, begins at the local feature and one of the Seven Wonders of the Waterways, Anderton Boat Lift. All canal boats at Anderton Marina berth two to twelve and come equipped with all you need to swap the hustle and bustle of life in the city for an idyllic boating escape with your canine companion.

Begin your boating adventure for the first time or as a more experienced crew member with full tuition provided at the start of every journey. A handover ensures you are comfortable operating the canal boat and includes where you can moor and how to operate locks, lifts and swing bridges. Most visitor moorings on canals and rivers are governed by the Canal & River Trust and are free of charge, meaning your boat will be permitted to moor anywhere on the towpath side of the canal as long as no obstruction is being caused. An overnight fee may be charged for overnight moorings at a select number of privately owned sites such as The River Thames. 

A suggested route for those wanting a longer escape is The Cheshire Ring, a gentle cruise through the idyllic Cheshire countryside, the Peak District and briefly in contrast, the heart of Manchester. This route from Anderton includes 92 locks and can be completed in 7-14 nights with highlights including Dunham Massey Hall, discovered when passing eastwards along a lock-free stretch from Preston Brook, where you and your best furry friend can enjoy a stunning walk through the 250-acre deer park. Also tackle the mighty ‘Heartbreak Hill’ when cruising through Macclesfield, taking a break from the two day boating climb at the dog-friendly Canal Tavern or the Blue Bell Inn pub at the Kidsgrove summit.

If you’re looking for a shorter break the Lymm and Return route is a leisurely cruise with tunnels, two locks, an aqueduct and views to slow down for where the sights of the Anderton Boat lift to a fantasy adventure in the birthplace of Alice in Wonderland can be enjoyed in a three night duration. Before heading off on your journey it’s worth taking time to explore one of the Seven Wonders of the Waterways, Anderton Boat Lift, before heading to Daresbury village, the birthplace of Alice in Wonderland’s author Lewis Carroll where refreshing walks along rolling hills can be enjoyed with your furry friend. Take an interlude to the village church, now nationally and internationally known for its Lewis Carroll stained glass window which incorporates many of his much loved characters from Alice in Wonderland including the Mad Hatter and the Cheshire Cat.

All dog-friendly canal boats are available from April to November. Arrive on Friday, Saturday or Monday for a 3, 4, 7, 10, 11 or 14 night stay. Please note that each route has individual changeover dates. In a canal boat berthing 4, enjoy a 3 night stay from £999 or 7 night stay from £1,399 in the low season, excluding fuel supplement. Supplements apply on summer dates and larger boats.