Our cruise of the north was by far the longest we have yet done. It was basically a version of what is sometimes called the Northern Ring except we had to travel to Fradley before starting the ring.
We covered sections of the Grand Union, North Oxford, Coventry, Trent & Mersey, Beeston & Nottingham, Stainforth & Keadby, New Junction, Aire & Calder, Leeds & Liverpool, Rochdale, Ashton, Peak Forest and Macclesfield Canals, along with the River Trent (including a tidal section). It was certainly memorable and not only for the weather ("wettest drought on record"). We shall never forget the adventures we had along the way and the people we met. This is a route that just has to be done and we enjoyed it.
For the record, according to Canalplan AC the journey covered a "Total distance was 524 miles and 286 locks. There were at least 77 moveable bridges of which 6 were usually left open; 86 small aqueducts or underbridges; 12 tunnels and 4 major aqueducts. This was made up of 213 miles of narrow canals; 199 miles of broad canals; 5 miles of commercial waterways; 33 miles of small rivers; 28 miles of large rivers; 43 miles of tidal rivers; 115 narrow locks; 163 broad locks; 8 large locks."
