How to get there - From M6 Motorway: Get off at Junction 17. Take the A534 Old Mill Road towards Sandbach. Turn right onto the A533 Newcastle Road for 0.8 miles, crossing over the motorway. Turn right onto New Inn Lane for 0.4 miles. Lock 57 is on your left.
For those with SatNav the postcode is CW11 4YB.
Get a map with driving directions to
start (enter the postcode of your starting point at A)
Suggested Launch Site - The launch site is Lock 57 Caf and Brasserie. This is private property so getting permission first is essential!
Lock 57 Cafe and Brasserie, The Canal Centre, Hassall Green, Sandbach, Cheshire, CW11 4YB, 01270 762266
The simplest place to launch and retrieve at this venue is from their fueling wharf that is just to the east of the lock (See photo). Permission is definitely required.
General
Description - The suggested trip is of 1.5 miles eastwards to the outskirts of Rode Heath. You have a short paddle though a quite attractive pound to begin with, then you reach a two locks staircase just east of Roughwood Farm where a portage is required. The banks on the south side of the canal are low, grassed and easy. The next pound that goes all the way to Rode Heath is also pleasantly rural. It is probably not worth going beyond the Rode Heath Lock as the pound above it is quite short and you end up doing more carrying than paddling. Bargain Booze is worth a short detour for ices down the lane by the lock.
If you do want to go a bit further, portage the lock and one more.The Broughton Arms (with pub food) is about a quarter of a mile along the next pound (
see map - For thos with SatNav the postcode is ST7 3RU). This could even be an alternative start (or end point if you are able to shuttle a car in advance) but I haven't tried it yet.
The Restaurant at Lock 57 is one of my regular haunts, so I may be biased. The food is good pub/bistro style that is freshly made for each order (see link on right for a menu). There is only a small team in the kitchen so this is not fast food. For those that like chocolate, the hot chocolate fondant is worth coming many miles to experience. Prices are reasonable and service is friendly. The only downside for me is the noise pollution - Signal Radio I believe.
