Market Drayton
Featured Routes

Did you know Market Drayton has been the home of gingerbread for the last 200 years!

Explore the lesser-known northern stretch of the Llangollen canal before heading through beautiful countryside to the historic towns of Nantwich and Market Drayton.

Arriving at Wrenbury Mill Marina, you might like to visit the Dusty Miller pub next door before starting your cruise. Built in a converted 18th-century corn mill it’s an ideal spot for refreshments right next to the canal.

Having boarded your boat and negotiated the Wrenbury Church Lift Bridge, you’ve got half an hour of lock-free cruising to enjoy on your way to the 3 Baddiley Locks. Look out on the left after Bridge 17 for views of Wrenbury Hall, a 16th century country house and estate, now in use as a luxury wedding venue.

You are now only 4 miles away from Hurleston Junction where the Llangollen Canal meets the Shropshire Union Canal.  The large Hurleston Reservoir is fed via the Llangollen all the way from the River Dee at Llantysilio, and the draw-off point for the reservoir is clearly visible above Hurleston top-lock.

Turn right at the junction and cruise through peaceful countryside on the way to Nantwich. You’ll know you are nearly there if you spot the ‘Arts Along the Canal’ sculpture trail along the towpath after Bridge 92, the most notable being a large wooden horse commemorating the days when canal boats were towed by working horses.

Medieval Nantwich and a Secret Bunker

The pretty medieval town of Nantwich is well worth a visit and is full of timber-framed buildings, independent shops and an award-winning food scene. There is a particularly strong focus on cheese, with the world’s largest cheese festival taking place in late July each year!

Soon after leaving Nantwich, you’ll arrive at the two Hack Green locks and an opportunity to visit the Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker. Not so secret anymore, the bunker was designed to be a regional Government headquarters in the event of a nuclear attack and was kept secret for over 50 years. It is now a museum and visitor centre with a nuclear shelter experience and a Bunker Bistro.

Your next destination is the canal-side village of Audlem, which sits near the bottom of the 15-lock Audlem Flight, lifting you up over 90ft from the plains of Cheshire to the border of Shropshire. Don’t miss a visit to the Shroppie Fly pub on the left; walk inside and you’ll find half of a historic 70ft wooden coal carrying boat, which was cut in half and installed as the bar.

Next stop Market Drayton!  First, there’s just one more set of locks to go through, the 5 Adderley locks, and then it’s easy cruising to the visitor moorings and a short walk into the town, which is famous for apparently being the home of gingerbread. There are two bakeries, one of which produces the original Billingtons recipe which was sold at a weekly market at the Buttercross.  There’s a handy café right by the Buttercross building where, if you’re lucky, you can sample some warm gingerbread straight from the oven!

When you’re ready to begin your journey back to Wrenbury Mill, you can turn your boat round at Talbot Wharf opposite the visitor moorings, before retracing your steps and perhaps a farewell drink back at the Dusty Miller.