A beautiful sunny stroll along the Shropshire Union Canal
“Maple Leaf” and friend, on the winding outskirts of Nantwich, Friday 8th July 2022 (Author’s Collection).
This edition of my pictorial strolls beside a canal in the heart of central England is ostensibly a companion piece to the first article linked at the denouement of this one, and the same day return journey from a Nantwich that was far more beautiful than I had anticipated and a pleasing, quirky addition to my perfectly useless knowledge of the UK, as well as the not so secret nuclear bunker at Hack Green that is signposted both on the canal and from the roadside!
Secret?
Anyway, this Friday morning and long into a sun filled afternoon amble alongside a canal was quite beautiful and yet another tagged with a “favourite” label and a time of making memories I’ll remember very fondly.
There are over 40+ more images not previously shown in the companion piece and reverse journey linked below, and I hope you enjoy these virtual images as much as I did luckily capturing them on an energy zapping but soul reviving stroll in some glorious mid-day sunshine.
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, 8th July 2022*
Beautiful Nantwich and yet another canal destination that was as pleasingly picturesque as I hoped it would be.
A perfect moment for our departure from Nantwich.
It’s official. After starting from the middle of the Shropshire Union Canal and working my way both back and forth, south and north, I’ve finally reached the most northern part of this canal, completing roughly 2/3rds this Summer alone.
To commemorate the restoration and re-opening of the embankment here in Nantwich.
One final “Perfect Timing” moment before we leave Nantwich.
(1) Two final views from atop Bridge 92 at Nantwich Junction going north to Chester and ultimately Manchester.
(2) Two final views from atop Bridge 92 at Nantwich Junction going north to Chester and ultimately Manchester.
(1) Two final views from atop Bridge 92 going south to our destination as well as ultimately Autherley Junction on the outskirts of Wolverhampton.
(2) Two final views from atop Bridge 92 going south to our destination as well as ultimately Autherley Junction on the outskirts of Wolverhampton.
A laid back arrival to Nantwich as we depart!
I got lucky and couldn’t resist capturing this rather beautiful image as I finally departed Nantwich. It would have been “Nauti” not to!
Departing central Nantwich and a real indication of the bends in the canal that surround this old Cheshire market town.
Another pleasing “Perfect Timing” moment as we approach Nantwich Aqueduct Bridge.
Now captured having passed us on the way to Nantwich and another indication of the bends on this stretch of the canal.
Nantwich Aqueduct Bridge.
“A radical design” indeed, courtesy of Thomas Telford.
The oh so narrow and oh so beautiful Nantwich Aqueduct Bridge.
A rather pleasing image with which to bid farewell to central Nantwich.
(1) Two perfect and beautiful demonstrations of the bends in the canal as we finally depart the numerous berthing points leading out of Nantwich.
(2) Two perfect and beautiful demonstrations of the bends in the canal as we finally depart the numerous berthing points leading out of Nantwich.
It is indeed a duck’s life as we approach Bridge 91 or “Marsh Lane Bridge”.
Bridge 91, a disused canal arm/lock and a rather pleasing swan!
(1) Two “Perfect Timing” moments in a row at Bridge 91.
(2) Two “Perfect Timing” moments in a row at Bridge 91.
With Bridge 90 or “David’s Bridge” in the distance, this is a particular favourite image from this afternoon’s sunshine filled stroll beside the canal.
A Bridge with a view onto the epitome of quintessential central England.
(1) Two more “Perfect Timing” moments, this time at Bridge 89 or “Redripes Bridge”.
(2) Two more “Perfect Timing” moments, this time at Bridge 89 or “Redripes Bridge”.
View from atop Bridge 89 and another lengthy stretch of aqueduct leading to Baddington.
Bridge 88 or “Baddington Road Bridge”.
View from beneath Bridge 88 at Baddington and yet another long stretch of the “Cut” lies ahead before the Locks of Hack Green and our ultimate destination.
View from atop Bridge 88 at Baddington.
Canadian Geese (popular in the UK), cows ahead as well as a slight narrowing in the canal before a slight bend into Hack Green and the first of it’s two Locks.
Three miles after leaving Nantwich we have half a mile to go to our final destination, but not before Bridge 86 or “Hack Green Bridge” and the first of Hack Green’s two Locks.
View from beneath Bridge 86 toward the first of two Locks here at Hack Green.
View from atop Bridge 86 and the long stretch ahead the culminates at the just visible Bridge 85 in the long distance.
Bridge 85 or “Burrows Bridge” and apparently there’s a “secret” nuclear bunker around here somewhere.
View from atop Bridge 85 and onward south to the fifteen Locks of Audlem Mill and the five Locks of Adderley and Tyrley that sandwich Market Drayton, all walks covered in previous editions in this series. Anyway, I hear there’s a secret nuclear bunker around here somewhere. Any ideas?
Does this help?
Or perhaps this one?
The not so secret nuclear fallout bunker at Hack Green.
The old and new in the grounds of Hack Green.
The officially secret nuclear fallout bunker of Hack Green.
One of a small number of replica exhibits on display in the reception area of the secret nuclear bunker.
Your humble narrator, setting the controls for the heart of the sun in his Pink Floyd t-shirt at the “Staircase” Locks of Grindley Brook, 11th July 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:
