Gnosall to High Onn

Another stroll along the Shropshire Union Canal

Another stroll along the Shropshire Union Canal

“The Boat Inn” public house, Bridge numbered 34 and our starting point for this 3 mile stretch of the Shropshire Union Canal (Author’s Collection).

This edition of my tomfoolery and exploration of the Shropshire Union Canal in the heart of the English countryside takes us from Gnosall to High Onn via ten canal bridges and roughly a three mile stretch of the commonly known “Cut”. The 24 images that follow were all captured on a pleasingly ironic Friday 24th June on an occasionally and pleasantly sunny day and from hereon in, I’ll nominally add just some brief colour commentary to the images and leave them for you to enjoy this virtual stroll beside the canal.

First, 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. On with the pictorial show!

Our starting point is Bridge 34 (Boat Inn Bridge) with the public house itself just out of shot to the left of the picture (Author’s Collection).

View from atop Bridge 34 and back toward Gnosall (Author’s Collection).

View from atop Bridge 34 and our onward journey to High Onn (Author’s Collection).

The first of the day’s “Perfect Timing” moments as we approach Cowley Tunnel (Author’s Collection).

From inside Cowley Tunnel and a lengthy stretch of the “Cut” toward Cowley Bridge (Author’s Collection).

Slightly distorted but I adore this “Perfect Timing” image (Author’s Collection).

Obstruction in the road! Bridge 32 (Cowley Bridge) ahead (Author’s Collection).

Cowley Bridge and onward to Cowley Double Bridge (Author’s Collection).

Bridge 31 and another pleasing image captured today (Author’s Collection).

From beneath Bridge 31 and the pair of pleasure boaters I followed for the majority of the stroll (Author’s Collection).

Another pleasing image from today’s stroll beside the canal (Author’s Collection).

(Author’s Collection).

Bridge 30 (Castle Cutting Bridge) ahead (Author’s Collection).

Another lengthy and straight stretch of the canal toward Wood Eaton (Author’s Collection).

Bridge 29 at Wood Eaton (Author’s Collection).

View from Bridge 29 and the utter joy of trampling over a mini forest of stinging nettles just to get this image! (Author’s Collection).

Quintessentially England (Author’s Collection).

Bridge 28 (Oscote Barn) on the outskirts of Wood Eaton (Author’s Collection).

View from atop Bridge 28 and on toward Parks Bridge long into the distance (Author’s Collection).

Perfect timing at Bridge 27 (Author’s Collection).

The beautifully crafted “Turnover” Bridge numbered 26 straight ahead (Author’s Collection).

A favourite image from a favourite recent canal stroll (Author’s Collection).

View from Bridge 26 (Turnover Bridge) toward High Onn (Author’s Collection).

Bridge 25 ahead at High Onn with a small turning circle for a journey back from whence we came (Author’s Collection).

Thanks for reading. I hope you’ve enjoyed this brief sojourn along the Shropshire Union Canal and if so, can I perhaps direct you to these recently published complimentary articles too?

Wheaton Aston
And a Sunday evening stroll along the canalmedium.com

Norbury Junction to Gnosall
A pictorial stroll along the Shropshire Union Canalmedium.com

Audlem to Adderley via Audlem Locks
A pictorial stroll along the Shropshire Union Canalmedium.com