3 mile stroll in the sun to the intersection with the Llangollen Canal
“Celebrating the restoration of the Nantwich embankment”. Image captured on a beautifully sunny Friday 8th July 2022 (Author’s Collection).
This edition of my faintly ridiculously titled “Summer Project” is part one of two, with the second part detailing the return three mile journey to beautiful Nantwich and a fresh, as yet unseen, set of captured images from a beautiful walk in the rays of the sun.
Beautiful Nantwich (beautiful, beautiful, beautiful Nantwich) was seen as a rough and ready 2/3rds way marker of my wanting to walk the entirety of the Shropshire Union Canal, and so I’ve started the final third with a three mile amble to the beginning of another canal, and another “Summer Project” for perhaps another Summer full of 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*
Bridge 92 or “Nantwich Junction Bridge” and our departure point north toward Chester and ultimately Manchester but here, three miles, and the merging with the Llangollen Canal.
View from atop Bridge 92 and south toward ultimately Bridge Number 1 and the Stop/Lock of Autherley Junction as the Shropshire Union Canal merges with the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. This is nearly 40 miles away and I’ve walked them all this Summer. Twice!
View from atop the winding Bridge Number 92 at Nantwich heading in our direction north and the three miles to the merger with the Llangollen Canal.
A final look back south at the magnificence of Nantwich and yet another piece of the canal jigsaw I’d return to in a heartbeat.
A “Perfect Timing” moment with which to commence our three mile amble north.
Departing beautiful Nantwich.
A final reminder from Nantwich and do please say a hearty hello to “Evelyn Ann”.
A strangely quirky and different style of canal bridge here at Acton. Bridge 93 or simply “Acton Bridge”.
All you needed to know about Nantwich and the “Cathedral of South Cheshire”.
Just so you know where you are! On the approach to the top of Bridge 93 at Acton.
View from atop Bridge 93 at Acton and a reluctant teenage roof rider who refused to wave at the silly man taking pictures from the middle of the bridge!
Onward north from Acton and yet more pleasantly bending stretches of the canal lie ahead.
Bridge 95 or “Henhull Bridge” a square ugly designed bridge, but another different canal bridge from the standard archway type found elsewhere on the canal.
View from atop Bridge 95 at Henhull and the next continually winding stretch of canal ahead.
Bridge 96 or “Corne’s Bridge” straight ahead and another quirkily pleasing alternative bridge to the archway type so prevalent throughout the waterways.
View from atop Bridge 96 and two gently curving stretches of the “Cut” to go before we reach our destination.
A “Perfect Timing” moment as we approach Hurleston Locks just after this bend in the canal and a straight leading to a magnificent bridge with THE most beautiful of views.
Bridge 97 or “Hurleston Roving Bridge” and a choice lays ahead. Straight on and further north to Chester and ultimately Manchester. Or left, and the commencement of the Llangollen Canal.
View from atop Bridge 97 and heading in the beautifully English framed direction from whence we came. One of my favourite images (of many) from this afternoon’s amble beside the canal.
View from atop Bridge 97 as “Hyack” navigates a departure from the Llangollen Canal and begins heading north in the direction of Chester/Manchester.
Another favourite image captured this morning, and a morning that turned into the afternoon right about the point I arrived at this juncture. The bright and sunny afternoon was about to get even more beautiful.
North, South or West?
The Stop/Lock entrance to or departure from, the Llangollen Canal and the first, or fourth, of the Locks at Hurleston.
A beautiful “Perfect Timing” moment as a canal boat leaves Hurleston Lock Number 3.
One of the four cheery and welcoming volunteers who man these Locks during the peak months of the year.
Another favourite image captured this afternoon with the rushing of water into Lock Number 3 and Locks 2 and 1 ahead and up the bank giving fantastic views of the surroundings to this little piece of blissful heaven.
Lock Number 2 and the final climb to Lock Number 1 adjacent to the small white building straight ahead.
Please allow me to introduce you to Tony (standing in the doorway of the white building adjacent to Lock Number 1). We had quite the conversation but I can’t top his opening comment to me of “Not a bad way to spend an afternoon, is it?”. Beautifully and succinctly put.
Lock Number 1 at Hurleston Locks, and the beginning of the Llangollen Canal.
A gorgeous view from in between Lock Number 1 and onward west, snaking alongside and intertwining with the border with Wales.
Quite the view from Lock Number 1.
…and from Number 2!
A final look back and “Perfect Timing” moment of a quite perfect morning and afternoon.
A final view north from Lock Number 4 at Hurleston Locks.
A final view south and the decision is yours to take.
A final view of a little piece of tranquillity as you traverse the waterways of central England and I hope you’ve seen a little of what I fell in love with.
Your humble narrator at another set of Locks, this time the Grindley Brook “Staircase” Locks near Whitchurch, 10 or so miles along the Llangollen Canal from it’s beginning in Hurleston. Pictures taken by my beautiful teenage son as I introduced him to another stroll beside a canal in the sunshine, 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:
