The Best Attractions on the Ashton-under-Lyne & Peak Forest Canals 2026

The Ashton-under-Lyne Canal and Peak Forest Canal form an interconnected waterway system in Greater Manchester and Derbyshire that played a vital role in the region's industrial heritage. The Peak Forest Canal, completed in 1800, was engineered to transport limestone from the quarries at Dove Holes in the Peak District down to the industrial heartlands, featuring impressive engineering works including the Marple Aqueduct and a flight of 16 locks at Marple. The Ashton-under-Lyne Canal, opened in 1796, connected the thriving cotton mills and coal mines of Ashton with Manchester and the wider canal network, serving as a crucial artery for raw materials and finished goods during the Industrial Revolution. Together, these canals facilitated the movement of limestone, coal, cotton, and other commodities that fuelled the region's manufacturing boom. Today, both waterways have been restored and form part of the popular Cheshire Ring cruising route, offering boaters and walkers scenic journeys through industrial archaeology, stone-built mill towns, and the dramatic landscapes of the Pennine foothills

Britain’s 4,700 miles of canals and rivers are lined with historic pubs, castles, and engineering marvels. Visitors can enjoy canalside pubs like the Admiral Nelson and The Turf Hotel, explore castles such as Beeston and Chirk, and see attractions like the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, Anderton Boat Lift, and National Waterways Museums. Day boat hire is widely available, and guided cruises offer relaxing ways to discover the canals’ heritage and scenery.

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