A morning return to Wheaton Aston

Shropshire Union Canal, Friday 23rd June 2023.

Shropshire Union Canal, Friday 23rd June 2023.

This is why I return to Wheaton Aston as often as I can! Friday 23rd June 2023 (Author’s Collection)

With an hour or so to kill before treating myself to “Asteroid City” and Wes Anderson’s latest film at the cinema, I decided to stay relatively local and return once more to the small Staffordshire village of Wheaton Aston on the border of neighbouring Shropshire and a stopping point on the Shropshire Union Canal. I’ve returned here many times since I first visited here properly last Summer and the walks undertaken to and from here can be found within both last Summer and this year’s strolls to date. Last year I headed north on the canal and some picturesque countryside escapes you’d never come across unless you were following the canal and this year I finally completed the walk to and return from beautiful Brewood (pronounced Brood) whereby you are only a hop, skip and a canal jump from the southern most tip of the Shropshire Union Canal.

Today, as always, was full of “Hello’s” and “Good Morning’s” from fellow towpath walkers and pleasure boaters, with one particular exception. You see, whenever there is a canal lock or set of locks along a stretch of canal you invariably find a wide turning circle for those boaters who don’t fancy tackling the canal lock system. However, one such boater decided to turn his canal boat in the narrow track of the main canal and simply became stuck at a 90 degree with his bow/stern rigidly rubbing against either a fellow boat on one side or the canal on the other. With great whirring of engines and expelling of diesel fumes, this poor boater wasn’t going anywhere, much to the amusement of the growing crowd on “Tavern Bridge”. So much for the peace and tranquillity of life on the canals!

No such hassles here so kick off your shoes and rest those weary feet and I hope you enjoy this pictorial stroll from the Shropshire Union Canal on the morning of Friday 23rd June 2023.

Welcome to Wheaton Aston and Bridge Number 19 of the Shropshire Union Canal known as “Tavern Bridge”. if you look after the fourth boat on the right you’ll see a turning circle. When I returned half an hour later, a canal boat straddled the canal and was “stuck” and going nowhere fast!

Anyone want any Red Diesel? View from “Tavern Bridge” heading north west and into the heart of the 66 miles of the Shropshire Union Canal.

Reflections from Wheaton Aston and the canal heading south to Brewood and ultimately Autherley Junction and the end/beginning of the Shropshire Union Canal.

Still heading south but with the inclusion of “Tavern Bridge”.’

In case you were lost! The three main and beautiful junctions or stopping points that encompass the southern most part of the Shropshire Union Canal.

View from Bridge Number 20 of the Shropshire Union Canal or “Dirty Lane Bridge”, heading north.

Return view as we enter central Wheaton Aston once more.

Please say hello to “Carpe Diem” and the approach to the lock at Wheaton Aston.

After safely navigating the lock, “Whisky Mist” now heads for Bridge Number 18 of the Shropshire Union Canal or simply “Wheaton Aston Bridge”.

View from “Wheaton Aston Bridge” as “Whisky Mist” heads south toward Brewood and ultimately Autherley Junction.

A final return view from the lock and the short walk back to central Wheaton Aston and “Tavern Bridge”.

Thanks for reading. Please feel free to visit my “UK Travel” library here or alternatively, here are my three most recently published articles from this Summer of 2023:

Locks, Locks and more Locks, on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal
21st June 2023.medium.com

Ironbridge Regatta, 25th June 2023
A pictorial stroll beside the River Severn.medium.com

Pictorial stroll from Bratch Locks to Stourton Locks
15th June 2023.medium.com