A pleasing Wednesday amble along the Shropshire Union Canal
At Lock Number 4 of a total of 5 at Adderley Locks (Author’s Collection).
This edition in my continuing series of strolls beside the Shropshire Union Canal is a companion piece to “A morning of perfect timings on the Shropshire Union Canal” and this article is the first of three recently published articles linked at the denouement of this particular pictorial amble along the canal.
This walk constitutes the completion of roughly 2/3rds of the entire Shropshire Union Canal and with my rough and ready calculations I have 20+ miles to go (or 40 as I always complete a “round trip”) of the 66 mile long stretch of canal or, in my case, an entire looping of the canal twice and approximately 132 total miles. This particular edition also completes the central stretch of the entire canal, leaving me to “top and tail” the remaining 40 total miles and as far north as Nantwich and Chester in Cheshire and ultimately through to Manchester, and south to Autherley Junction in Staffordshire. That’s one of the many beauties of this canal as it’s ostensibly in Shropshire but weaves its way beautifully across neighbouring county borders.
Here are your particulars:
Star Date:
6th July 2022
Route:
Having completed Audlem Locks to Adderley as well as the long stretch from Norbury Junction to Market Drayton in recent weeks, I had this 4 mile stretch of the canal missing from my memory notebook due to roadworks leading to Adderley and Audlem. So today was the day to start my amble from Market Drayton and the incredibly pleasing five Locks of Adderley 4 miles later, and here is the return journey.
Today’s stroll was a particular favourite of recent times and hence a bumper crop of photos. The weather was kind aside from a few rogue raindrops and whilst the sun rarely shone, I rather enjoyed capturing these images and I hope they entertain and please you in equal measure.
Map from Adderley Locks to Bridge 66. This walk takes us one bridge further to Bridge 65 or “Victoria Bridge”. Picture courtesy of and with thanks to www.hodnetanglingclub.co.uk
My disclaimer
As per my previous articles on the canals in the picturesque UK county in which I live, I don’t claim to have any experience of either a canal boat lifestyle or the inner workings and trials and tribulations of life on a houseboat/canal boat or narrow boat (whichever you prefer). I just find the peace, tranquillity and the quirky nature of an almost bygone way of existence and determination to live your life in this way, and in a floating house too, endlessly fascinating. I also bask and prosper in the sunshine, love the sights and sounds of canal life juxtaposed with the earthy nature and countryside that surrounds it, and simply discovering a new piece of the canal waterways puzzle never fails to raise a smile on my face. Guaranteed (Guaranteed) to receive oodles of smiles and “Hello’s” and “Good Afternoon’s” from the human beings you meet and watching dogs leap into a canal in search of a well thrown stick or ball can’t fail to amuse the child in all of us.
So much for all that.
*All images captured by me today, 6th July 2022*
View from beneath Bridge 72 or “Hawksmoor Bridge” and a perfect timing moment with which to commence our stroll beside the canal.
View from atop Bridge 72 and a perfect representation of the bend in canal leading to the first of Adderley’s 5 Locks as well as the quintessential English countryside that surrounds this picturesque stretch of the Shropshire Union Canal.
A favourite early image from this morning’s ramble along the canal.
The first of many “Perfect Timing” moments upcoming and after the first of 5 Locks at Adderley.
Say hello to “Silkwood” at the same Lock!
An empty and final Lock 5 at Adderley Locks as well as a higher view down toward the 4th Lock and Bridge 71 or “Massey’s Bridge”.
A higher view between the gates of Lock 5 and the short stroll ahead to both the next Lock and indeed Bridge.
The first of two closer up images of both Bridge 71 and Lock Number 4 at Adderley.
Just visible is a canal boat within Lock Number 4 before it descends to the level of the canal and through Bridge 71 at Adderley.
View from Lock Number 4 and the small bend in the canal leading to Lock Number 3 and Bridge 70 or “Wems Bridge”.
Lock 3 in action and Bridge 70 visible ahead.
A pleasing image captured this morning.
Bridge 70 or “Wems Bridge” and we approach the final 2 Locks of Adderley.
View from atop Bridge 70 and a brilliant representation of a busy morning on the Locks of Adderley.
View from between the gates of Lock Number 2 with the final Lock and Bridge 69 or “Adderley Wharf Bridge” just visible in the valley between the trees straight ahead.
A “Perfect Timing” moment, a favourite image captured this morning and a rather pleasing memory.
Around the canal bend from the above image and we approach both the final Lock and final Bridge of Adderley.
Another “Perfect Timing” moment at Adderley Locks with Adderley Wharf Bridge now clearly visible in the valley of the trees ahead.
Passing us in the direction from whence we came and the 5 Locks of Adderley. A very pleasing “Perfect Timing” moment.
(1) Four pleasing images from Bridge 69 or “Adderley Wharf Bridge” as we depart the eccentrically beautiful Adderley and some long straight stretches of the canal in the direction of Market Drayton.
(2) Four pleasing images from Bridge 69 or “Adderley Wharf Bridge” as we depart the eccentrically beautiful Adderley and some long straight stretches of the canal in the direction of Market Drayton.
(3) Four pleasing images from Bridge 69 or “Adderley Wharf Bridge” as we depart the eccentrically beautiful Adderley and some long straight stretches of the canal in the direction of Market Drayton.
(4) Four pleasing images from Bridge 69 or “Adderley Wharf Bridge” as we depart the eccentrically beautiful Adderley and some long straight stretches of the canal in the direction of Market Drayton.
Bridge 68 or “Adderley Lees Bridge” ahead.
I have a “thing” for reflections and there’s some rather pleasing ones here.
View from atop Bridge 68 and yet another favourite image captured this morning.
By my rough and ready calculations I’ve now “completed” 2/3rds of the Shropshire Union Canal with just the tops and tails or North and South of the canal to be thoroughly explored by Summer’s end.
Another straight stretch of the canal leading to Bridge 67 or “Betton Coppice Bridge” in the distance.
Bridge 67 or “Betton Coppice Bridge”
Passing us in the opposite direction but a pleasing image nonetheless.
View from beneath Bridge 67 and another lengthy straight stretch of the canal awaits.
Bridge 66 or “Betton Wood Bridge” before the very long and winding stretch of the canal on the approach to the outskirts of Market Drayton.
Passing us and onward from whence we came, but another visually pleasing “Perfect Timing” moment from this morning.
And soon after I was ambushed by not one or indeed the three dogs in the picture, but also the three that followed them!
I couldn’t resist including this. Posted on the approach to the outskirts of Market Drayton and the long final stretch leading to the final Bridge of our walk this morning. How does a canal boat go any slower?! I walk faster than they normally travel! Anyway, as a Radiohead fan I couldn’t stop singing their song “The Tourist” as I wearily approached the end of today’s stroll. “Hey man, slow down. Slow down. Idiot, slow down. Slow down”. All rather apt!
Civilisation again and the long final drag to Bridge 65 and the end of the morning’s stroll.
Destination reached after an hour’s stroll and a good 4+ mile amble along the Shropshire Union Canal.
View from atop Bridge 65 or “Victoria Bridge” and onward to Bridge 64 (Lords Bridge), central Market Drayton and a lengthy stretch of the canal already covered in previous editions in this series of articles.
And a cheap and cheerful carvery to finish. Go on, it was a lengthy walk. You deserve it!
Your humble narrator captured by his beautiful teenage son whom he cajoled and badgered into dragging him to the Locks of Audlem Mill at the end of June 2022.
Thanks for reading. I sincerely hope you’ve enjoyed this virtual stroll along a canal in the central beating heart of England and if so, please also consider these other recently published editions within this continuing series of articles:
