Bridge 86 at Hack Green and there really is a “secret” nuclear fallout bunker mere yards away! (Author’s Collection).
Greetings and salutations from the Cheshire/Shropshire border of the UK, and an early morning 5 mile stroll beside the Shropshire Union Canal on Tuesday 28th June 2022. As you will see and hopefully enjoy after the following paragraph, this lengthy meander along a winding canal in central England will take us from Audlem to Baddington in the direction of Nantwich, via nine bridges, a flock of geese, a herd of cows, a secret nuclear fallout bunker and a well deserved carvery afterwards. I was celebrating! I’d found a secret nuclear fallout bunker! Don’t believe me?
Read on to find out.
By way of an introduction, this is somewhat of a bumper crop of over 40 images taken today as despite slightly misjudging the temperature and a particularly cold and blustery “Summer’s Day”, I rather enjoyed this stroll as it really showcased an open countryside surrounding the canal rather than the majority of my recent explorative walks that have been tree lined and constricted. Here you will see a snapshot of a typically open and green English countryside as well as some hopefully soothing and pleasing images from the canal itself.
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.
I sincerely hope you enjoy the lengthy virtual pictorial stroll of a rather lovely morning that follows:
Lock number 12 at Audlem and a rather pleasing start to our lengthy stroll beside the canal. This stretch is also known as “The Weaver Way” (Author’s Collection).
View along the “Cut” as we make our way through Audlem and the final 3 Locks of the 15 total throughout this small stretch of the Shropshire Union Canal (Author’s Collection).
Famous for its 15 Locks and also known as Audlem Mill (Author’s Collection).
(Author’s Collection).
Lock 13 at Audlem (Author’s Collection).
View from Lock 13 at Audlem and onward toward the final 2 Locks (Author’s Collection).
(Author’s Collection).
Lock 14 at Audlem (Author’s Collection).
I often include these stage posts or directional posts. Another pleasing throwback to a bygone age (Author’s Collection).
View from Lock 15 and the final from “Audlem Locks” as well as Bridge 79 or “Moss Hall” (Author’s Collection).
View from Bridge 79 or “Moss Hall” and a lengthy stretch of canal toward “Overwater” Marina (Author’s Collection).
Quintessential England (Author’s Collection).
“Overwater” Marina and a lengthy stretch still ahead before “Bennetts Bridge” or Bridge 80 (Author’s Collection).
Bridge 80 or “Bennetts Bridge” (Author’s Collection).
View from atop Bridge 80 (Author’s Collection).
(Author’s Collection).
For reasons unknown there isn’t a numbered bridge 81, so here’s 82 or “Coole Lane Bridge” (Author’s Collection).
View from “Coole Lane Bridge” toward a disused section of railway bridges narrowing the canal ahead (Author’s Collection).
“Rail Bridge” or 82A before a lengthy stretch toward Bridge 83 (Author’s Collection).
Bridge 83 at “Coole Pilate” and another lengthy stretch of the canal ahead (Author’s Collection).
View from atop Bridge 83 (Author’s Collection).
I made some new friends! On my way to “Mickley Bridge” or Bridge 84 (Author’s Collection).
Bridge 84 or “Mickley Bridge” (Author’s Collection).
View from beneath Bridge 84 and yet another lengthy stretch of the Shropshire Union Canal (Author’s Collection).
With Bridge 85 or “Burrows Bridge” ahead, I got lucky with another “Perfect Timing” moment (Author’s Collection).
Bridge 85 or “Burrows Bridge” (Author’s Collection).
View from Bridge 85 toward Hack Green and Bridge 86, but before you leave, take a walk a few hundred yards to the right of this picture and you’ll find a “secret” nuclear fallout bunker! (Author’s Collection).
Yes. A nuclear fallout bunker that is so secret they have a sign on the canal! (Author’s Collection).
Hack Green Lock and Bridge 86 ahead (Author’s Collection).
I was in need of a rest, so captured this rather pleasing image as I did so (Author’s Collection).
View atop Bridge 86 toward the second Lock at Hack Green (Author’s Collection).
All you’d wish to know on the “secret” nuclear fallout bunker! (Author’s Collection).
Battered, weathered and beautiful (Author’s Collection).
The final Lock at Hack Green before another lengthy stretch of canal to Baddington (Author’s Collection).
Another pleasing “Perfect Timing” moment (Author’s Collection).
Our final destination on our long stroll, Baddington, and “Baddington Road Bridge” or more simply Bridge 88 (Author’s Collection).
View from atop Bridge 88 and another lengthy 3 mile stretch to Nantwich Junction. This particular walk is pencilled in the calendar before the Summer is out (Author’s Collection).
Oh come on! I was celebrating! It’s not every day you find a “secret” nuclear fallout bunker (Author’s Collection).
Thanks for reading. I sincerely hope you’ve enjoyed this pictorial stroll on an overcast, blustery and colder than it looks English Summer’s morning and if so, can I perhaps point you to the recently published and complimentary editions in this series of walks along the Shropshire Union Canal linked below?
