A New Purpose

Over time, commercial use of these waterways declined. The coming of the railway and eventual popularity of motor vehicles meant that canals generally became redundant from their original purposes, and instead became a place for leisure.

The canal network, with its towpaths, remain to be enjoyed today as scenic walking and cruising routes. Barges remain widely used, though they now serve a more recreational purpose and are a popular method of vacation.

In the city of Stoke of Trent, where our Staffordshire course is based, you can enjoy walking pretty stretches of the city’s two canals - the Trent & Mersey, and its smaller branch, the Caldon. As they weave through the potteries and kilns, you will get a real feel for the area’s unique past.