Boating In Britain - Cruising Rings

Waterway Cruising “Rings”
For convenience, and for planning a cruise, many of Britain’s waterways have been identified as forming part of a “ring” which enables boats to complete a round-trip cruise without using the same stretch of waterway more than once. 

The following is a summary of the best known cruising rings, along with a rough indication of how long it might take to complete a round trip at a reasonably leisurely pace:
 
London Ring: 44kms; 25 locks; 2 days; Thames, Grand Union, Regents Canal.

Staffordshire Ring: 75kms; 79 locks; 1 week; Trent & Mersey Canal, Coventry Canal, Birmingham & Fazeley Canal, Birmingham Canal Navigation, Staffs & Worcestershire Canal.

Avon Ring: 108kms; 130 locks; 12 days; Worcester & Birmingham Canal, Stratford Canal, River Avon, River Severn.

Cheshire Ring: 96kms; 90 locks; 12 days; Macclesfield Canal, Peak Forest Canal, Ashton Canal, Rochdale Canal,  Bridgewater Canal, Trent & Mersey Canal.

4 Counties Ring: 110kms; 89 locks; 12 days; Shropshire Union Canal, Trent & Mersey Canal, Staffs & Worcestershire Canal.

Stourport Ring: 79kms; 100 locks; 12 days; Worcester & Birmingham Canal, Birmingham Canal Navigation, Dudley Canal, Stourbridge Canal, Staffs & Worcs Canal, River Severn.

Warwickshire Ring: 100kms; 93 locks; 12 days; Grand Union Canal, Birmingham & Fazeley Canal, Coventry Canal, Oxford Canal.

Leicester Ring: 155kms; 100 locks; 2 weeks; Trent & Mersey Canal, Coventry Canal, Oxford Canal, Grand Union Canal, River Trent.

Thames Ring: 250kms; 175 locks; 3 weeks; Oxford Canal, River Thames, Grand Union Canal.

South Pennine Ring: 70kms; 200 locks; 17 days; Rochdale Canal, Calder & Hebble Navigation, Huddersfield Canal, Ashton Canal.

North Pennine Ring: 185kms; 220 locks; 3 weeks; Leeds & Liverpool Canal, Aire & Calder Navigation, Calder & Hebble Navigation, Rochdale Canal, Bridgewater Canal.

Northern Ring: 355kms; 190 locks; 4 weeks; Aire & Calder Navigation, New Junction Canal, Sheffield & S.Yorks Navigation, River Trent, Trent & Mersey Canal, Bridgewater Canal, Leeds & Liverpool Canal.