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

Canal trips have become a popular leisure activity in the UK, offering a relaxing way to explore historic waterways. Day boat hire is available across England, Wales, and Scotland, with no license or experience needed—operators provide basic training. These self-drive adventures are ideal for families, friends, or couples, as narrowboats cruise slowly past countryside, villages, and industrial sites. For a more luxurious option, restaurant and hotel boats serve gourmet meals while gliding along the canals. Major routes include the Kennet and Avon, Oxford, Llangollen, and Caledonian canals, each with unique scenery. Longer holidays are also available, letting guests create their own itineraries and stop at waterside pubs and villages, making canal boating a distinctive and tranquil British holiday.