Can anyone assist me on canals navigation route planning UK ?

Question

Going from the Sharpness Canal at Hardwicke Gloucester through to Anderton on the Trent & Mersey canal in Cheshire. What would be the route and allowing say 5 hours cruise per day, how long would you estimate it could take ?

Answer 1

If your craft is wider than a seven foot narrow-boat , then I'm afraid it's impossible, as a lot of the journey is on 'narrow' canals.
The following site should help, it was the first I came across. If I find a better one I'll 'edit'
http://www.jim-shead.com/waterways/Inland-Waterways-of-England.html.
To give you some idea of how long it would take you would need a map (or maps) of the canals you will be using.Find out the mileage from start (Hardwicke) to finish (Anderton Lift), then add 1mile for every lock. Divide total by average speed (4m.p.h.) and this will give you the number of hours required for the journey.
e.g.length of canal 18miles number of locks 6, time required 6hours (18+6= 24 divide by 4 = 6).

Hope this helps!

P.S. After my own, and my family's experiences on canals, I think you may find it difficult to cruise for only 5 hours per day. we have many times kept cruising until nightfall, and sometimes beyond. (Yes! I know your not supposed to:-))

*edit* Been busy but had time to look at following site:-
www.keeping-up.co.uk

Answer 2

You need AC canal route planner, it'll answer all your questions and is very acurate, giving navigation info, fuel stops etc. You can configure it with your speed, hours per day etc

http://www2.mihalis.net/canal/cgi-bin/canal.cgi?m=js;

and its free !!

I've used it for the whole network.

For your journey, it says :

Total distance is 134 miles, ½ flg and 76 locks. There are at least 4 moveable bridges; 19 small aqueducts or underbridges and 3 tunnels.

Made up of 84 miles, 6¾ furlongs of narrow canals; 3 miles, 1 furlong of broad canals; 4 miles, 1 furlong of commercial waterways; 41 miles, 7¾ furlongs of large rivers; 70 narrow locks; 6 large locks.

This will take 61 hours, 2 minutes which is 12 days, 1 hour and 2 minutes at 5 hours per day.

But i would recommend you go into the website itself because it gives lots of useful info about the route