"Pearson's Canal Companions" have achieved cult status with canal users of all kinds. These lively, colourful and committed books are generally regarded as the most detailed, informative and down-right entertaining guides to the inland waterways.Each of the nine titles in the series covers a popular route or area with large scale and highly detailed maps accompanied by a wide ranging commentary, descriptions of waterside towns and villages, and itemised listings on eating and drinking, shopping, visitor centres, public transport and boating facilities. Of particular use to walkers and cyclists is the classification of towpath conditions into three grades. Considerable coverage is given to items of industrial archaeological interest. "The Four Counties Ring Canal Companion" covers the Trent and Mersey and Erewash Canals and other neighbouring routes such as the Staffs and Worcs Canal; Shropshire Union; Caldon Canal; and, Trent Navigation.