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Autherley Junction · 3–4 nights

Autherley to Market Drayton

Village stops, wooded cuttings and a market-town turnaround. A compact escape with plenty to enjoy along the way.

Find a holiday Follow the journey

Fuel included

Your narrowboat holiday

Your trip at a glance

Start from: AutherleyShropshire Union
Time aboard: 3–4 nightsVaried cruising
Cruising time: 24 hrsApproximate total for the suggested trip
Locks on the route: 12
Distance: 53 miles

Times and figures are planning estimates from our route guides. Cruising stages are flexible, not fixed daily destinations. Confirm your itinerary with us.

Make time for the good bits

A few highlights along the way

A quick look at places to explore and food stops across the whole trip. Tap a card to open the details.

Places to visitMarket Drayton · Brewood · Norbury JunctionExplore these stops

Market Drayton
A place to pause and explore along this itinerary.
Map & reviews
Brewood
A place to pause and explore along this itinerary.
Map & reviews
Norbury Junction
A classic Shropshire Union junction for a waterside pause.
Map & reviews

Google scores are published snapshots checked on 11 October 2026, not live ratings. Scores are shown only where verified; follow the source or open Maps for the latest reviews. Check opening times and walking access before setting off.

Pubs & restaurantsThe Hartley Arms · The Red Lion, Market Drayton · Boat Inn, GnosallExplore these stops

The Hartley Arms ★ 4.6/5 · Google
A food or drink stop listed on this route.
Map & reviews · Rating source
The Red Lion, Market Drayton ★ 4.6/5 · Google
Joule’s brewery tap in Market Drayton.
Map & reviews · Rating source
Boat Inn, Gnosall ★ 4.4/5 · Google
Pub beside the Gnosall canal corridor with a beer garden.
Map & reviews · Rating source

ONE STRETCH AT A TIME

Let your holiday unfold.

Follow the water, find your favourite stops and make room for the moments in between. These stages show the order of the journey; spread them across your holiday at a pace that suits your crew.

Stage 1 · Settle aboard
Autherley to Wheaton Aston

Settle aboard and follow the Shropshire Union past Brewood towards Wheaton Aston.
Stage advice & stopping tips
After your handover, take time to get comfortable with the boat and controls. Ask the base to suggest a realistic first stop.
Pubs & food
Food stops in Brewood — Pubs or restaurants are listed in this area; explore the village or town for a stop. Access: Bridge 14. Find on map
Bridge Inn — Canalside pub at bridge 14; operator lists boat mooring points and a dog-friendly bar. Access: Bridge 14. Dogs welcome in the bar; mooring space is not guaranteed. Visit website Find on map
The Hartley Arms — Pub, Restaurant. Access: Tavern Bridge (19). Find on map
Coach and Horses — Pub. Access: Tavern Bridge (19). Visit website Find on map
Places to visit
Chillington Hall — Gardens, Historical Structure. Access: Port Lane bridge (10). Visit website Find on map
Brewood — Explore this village along the route. Access: Bridge 14. Find on map
Wheaton Aston Visitor Moorings — Explore this village along the route. Access: Canalside. Find on map
Shops & essentials
Supplies in Brewood — Listed local facilities: newsagent / convenience store. Access: Bridge 14. Find on map
Spar Shop, Brewood — Newsagent / Convenience Store. Access: Bridge 14. Find on map
Doal Food & News — Newsagent / Convenience Store, Post Office. Access: Tavern Bridge (19). Find on map
Spar Shop, Wheaton Aston — Newsagent / Convenience Store. Access: Tavern Bridge (19). Find on map
Moorings & cruising

Suggested stop area: Wheaton Aston. Choose a permitted visitor mooring and check local signs, stay limits and available space on arrival.
Current waterway notices · Mooring guidance · Water and boat facilities
Stage 2 · A town to explore
Wheaton Aston to Market Drayton

Cruise through Gnosall and Norbury, then work the approach to Market Drayton.
Stage advice & stopping tips
Make Market Drayton a pause in the journey. A little time ashore can be as memorable as the cruise itself.
See the suggested stopping area on a map
Pubs & food
Gnosall Heath — Fish and Chips, Newsagent / Convenience Store, Post Office, Pub. Access: Boat Inn Bridge (34). Find on map
Boat Inn, Gnosall — Pub beside the Gnosall canal corridor with a beer garden. Access: Boat Inn Bridge (34). Operator says well-behaved dogs are welcome throughout the pub. Visit website Find on map
The Navigation Inn, Gnosall — Village pub with food, canal views and a beer garden. Access: Gnosall Bridge (35). Operator advertises dogs welcome; check permitted areas before visiting. Visit website Find on map
Gnosall Fish Bar — Fish and Chips, Takeaway. Access: Gnosall Bridge (35). Find on map
Junction Inn, Norbury — Food and local ales beside Norbury Junction. Access: Canal Towpath. Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome in the bar and beer garden. Visit website Find on map
The Anchor Inn, High Offley — Pub. Access: Canalside. Find on map
The Wharf Tavern, Goldstone — Pub, Restaurant. Access: Goldstone Bridge (55). Find on map
Food stops in Market Drayton — Pubs or restaurants are listed in this area; explore the village or town for a stop. Access: Newcastle Road Bridge (62). Find on map
The Red Lion, Market Drayton — Joule’s brewery tap in Market Drayton. Access: Berrisford Canal Aqueduct. Visit website Find on map
Places to visit
Market Drayton — Explore this town along the route. Access: Newcastle Road Bridge (62). Find on map
Shops & essentials
Gnosall Heath — Fish and Chips, Newsagent / Convenience Store, Post Office, Pub. Access: Boat Inn Bridge (34). Find on map
Gnosall Express — Newsagent / Convenience Store. Access: Boat Inn Bridge (34). Find on map
Supplies in Market Drayton — Listed local facilities: off licence. Access: Newcastle Road Bridge (62). Find on map
Asda, Market Drayton — Supermarket. Access: Bridge 62. Find on map
Norbury Wharf services — Boatyard service candidate at Norbury Junction; service menu and opening times still need direct confirmation. Access: Norbury Junction; contact the yard for visitor access and service availability.. Visit website Find on map
Moorings & cruising
Suggested stop area: Market Drayton. Choose a permitted visitor mooring and check local signs, stay limits and available space on arrival.
Norbury Wharf services — Boatyard service candidate at Norbury Junction; service menu and opening times still need direct confirmation. Access: Norbury Junction; contact the yard for visitor access and service availability.. Visit website Find on map
Current waterway notices · Mooring guidance · Water and boat facilities
The kettle is on. The view has changed. This is your time to slow down.
Stage 3 · Village time
Market Drayton to Brewood

Turn for home, revisiting the countryside with a new view from the other direction.
Stage advice & stopping tips
Step ashore in Brewood for a village wander and provisions before getting comfortable aboard.
See the suggested stopping area on a map
Pubs & food
The Wharf Tavern, Goldstone — Pub, Restaurant. Access: Goldstone Bridge (55). Find on map
The Anchor Inn, High Offley — Pub. Access: Canalside. Find on map
Junction Inn, Norbury — Food and local ales beside Norbury Junction. Access: Canal Towpath. Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome in the bar and beer garden. Visit website Find on map
Gnosall Heath — Fish and Chips, Newsagent / Convenience Store, Post Office, Pub. Access: Boat Inn Bridge (34). Find on map
Boat Inn, Gnosall — Pub beside the Gnosall canal corridor with a beer garden. Access: Boat Inn Bridge (34). Operator says well-behaved dogs are welcome throughout the pub. Visit website Find on map
The Navigation Inn, Gnosall — Village pub with food, canal views and a beer garden. Access: Gnosall Bridge (35). Operator advertises dogs welcome; check permitted areas before visiting. Visit website Find on map
Gnosall Fish Bar — Fish and Chips, Takeaway. Access: Gnosall Bridge (35). Find on map
The Hartley Arms — Pub, Restaurant. Access: Tavern Bridge (19). Find on map
Coach and Horses — Pub. Access: Tavern Bridge (19). Visit website Find on map
Food stops in Brewood — Pubs or restaurants are listed in this area; explore the village or town for a stop. Access: Bridge 14. Find on map
Bridge Inn — Canalside pub at bridge 14; operator lists boat mooring points and a dog-friendly bar. Access: Bridge 14. Dogs welcome in the bar; mooring space is not guaranteed. Visit website Find on map
Places to visit
Wheaton Aston Visitor Moorings — Explore this village along the route. Access: Canalside. Find on map
Brewood — Explore this village along the route. Access: Bridge 14. Find on map
Shops & essentials
Gnosall Heath — Fish and Chips, Newsagent / Convenience Store, Post Office, Pub. Access: Boat Inn Bridge (34). Find on map
Gnosall Express — Newsagent / Convenience Store. Access: Boat Inn Bridge (34). Find on map
Doal Food & News — Newsagent / Convenience Store, Post Office. Access: Tavern Bridge (19). Find on map
Spar Shop, Wheaton Aston — Newsagent / Convenience Store. Access: Tavern Bridge (19). Find on map
Supplies in Brewood — Listed local facilities: newsagent / convenience store. Access: Bridge 14. Find on map
Spar Shop, Brewood — Newsagent / Convenience Store. Access: Bridge 14. Find on map
Moorings & cruising

Suggested stop area: Brewood. Choose a permitted visitor mooring and check local signs, stay limits and available space on arrival.
Current waterway notices · Mooring guidance · Water and boat facilities
Stage 4 · Homeward stretch
Brewood back to Autherley

Estimated cruising time
2h

Enjoy the final stretch, allowing enough time for your agreed boat return.
Stage advice & stopping tips
For the final night, plan a mooring that leaves a manageable cruise to base. Use the return time agreed in your booking and handover.

Pubs & food

No named food stops are listed for this stage. Ask the base team for local suggestions and check opening times before setting off.

Places to visit

Enjoy the scenery along this stretch. The base team can suggest places to explore nearby.

Shops & essentials

No supply stops are listed for this stage. Stock up before setting off and ask the base team about nearby shops.

Moorings & cruising

Suggested stop area: Autherley. Choose a permitted visitor mooring and check local signs, stay limits and available space on arrival.
Current waterway notices · Mooring guidance · Water and boat facilities

THE LITTLE THINGS MAKE THE HOLIDAY

More than a journey.

A boat that feels like yours.

Your own kitchen, a comfortable place to sleep and a new view outside. Explore the classes and choose the layout that works for your crew. Equipment varies by boat.

Explore our boats

Leave room for doing less.

Coffee on deck. A towpath walk. Supper as the light changes. A route gives your holiday direction; the best moments often happen between the stops.

Bring your favourite people.

Share the steering, work a lock together and make the evenings your own. Full handover training helps you settle into life aboard.

A LITTLE PLANNING, A BETTER HOLIDAY

Before you cast off.

Use this guide to find your kind of holiday. We will help you check the practical details for your dates, boat and crew.

How much cruising should we expect?

This short-break route needs purposeful cruising. Choose a nearer turning point if you would prefer shorter days. Locks, queues, weather and stops ashore all affect the time you need. Allow a margin for returning the boat.

Do we have to follow every stop?

No. These are suggested stages, rather than reserved moorings or a fixed day-by-day schedule. Choose suitable permitted moorings and agree your return time with the base.

How do we check the route before travelling?

Check current navigation notices and plan your daily cruising before departure. Check CRT notices · Open CanalPlan

Can you help us choose?

Tell us your dates, who is travelling and whether you prefer quiet cruising or an active adventure. Ask our team

START MAKING MEMORIES