A pictorial stroll along the Shropshire Union Canal
The halfway marker for the 3 mile stroll along the Shropshire Union Canal between Norbury Junction and Gnosall. Or the quarter way mark if, like me, you’re turning immediately round to beat a fading evening light (Author’s Collection).
With the doom like predictions here in the UK of severe incoming thunder and lightning storms that would seem to signify the end of our summer (before the next one starts), we were also seemingly requested to be “very, very frightening me” and so rather than continuing with this dry lament at our kingdom of fear or indeed the ruining of Queen’s epochal song for every era, I escaped from reality, opened my eyes and looked up to the skies to see a very unthreatening couple of hours ahead. So I tackled yet another small stretch of the Shropshire Union Canal, and from two of my favourite spots I always visit, if only for a brief moment of time.
This time and on this evening of 23rd June 2022, I enjoyed the full six mile round trip, in just under two hours and just before the final light of the evening was extinguished. Suffice to say the thunder and lightning didn’t arrive and although I rather hoped some lightning might make an appearance (as well as for some interesting pictures!), I’ll take the good fortune of keeping dry and safe as well as thoroughly enjoying my late evening stroll.
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 “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.
Introduction: I first fell in love with Norbury Junction nearly two decades ago now and the location will forever hold a special place in my heart. I was ignorant of the delights of Gnosall until a decade ago but I’d never walked the three mile stretch between these two gems, and this evening I did. The mile or so stretch between these two popular stopping off points was a little disappointing as it’s a long stretch of “The Cut” that doesn’t make for walking or tourist interest, plus it was a little overgrown and unkempt. Regardless, the starting and turning back points of Norbury Junction and Gnosall never fail to impress and they certainly didn’t this evening, thunder and lightning or not.
A dozen or so human beings met.
A dog befriended.
A poodle puppy named “Lilly” who didn’t want to be my friend!
Oodles of proud parental ducks and their ducklings!
Oh, and a heron the size of a Jurassic age Pterodactyl!
All images captured on 23rd June 2022 and from hereon in I will only provide a minimal colour commentary to well over 30 images that I hope you will thoroughly enjoy.
Our starting point of Norbury Junction and the view from Bridge 38 and onward to Gnosall (Author’s Collection).
View from Bridge 38 in the opposite direction toward to Nantwich, via the beautiful Tyrely Locks, Market Drayton and Audlem (Author’s Collection).
“The Junction Inn” public house at Norbury Junction (Author’s Collection).
Not a bad starting point and not a thunder cloud or lightning strike on the horizon! (Author’s Collection).
Bridge 38 and onward to Tyrely Locks (Author’s Collection).
View from the walkway bridge as you depart Norbury Junction on foot and here “The Dry Dock” (Author’s Collection).
Reflections. Reflections. So many pleasing reflections (Author’s Collection).
Now leaving Norbury Junction and onward to Gnosall (Author’s Collection).
Norbury Junction is rightly a very popular spot (Author’s Collection).
The beginning of a mile and a half or so of a long and winding “Cut” (Author’s Collection).
Bridge 37 ahead and a rather pleasing image captured this evening (Author’s Collection).
See above comments! (Author’s Collection).
View from Bridge 37 and halfway toward Gnosall (Author’s Collection).
Bridge 36 and a welcome to the outskirts of Gnosall (Author’s Collection).
Bridge 35a and a quirky bridge best seen from the opposite direction. See images that follow shortly on our return journey (Author’s Collection).
On the approach to the first of two public houses here in Gnosall (Author’s Collection).
Bridge 35, “The Navigation Inn” public house and a rather lovely immediate memory and favourite image captured from this evening (Author’s Collection).
(Author’s Collection).
View from Bridge 35 and back from whence we came (Author’s Collection).
But first a view from Bridge 35 and onward to our final destination in Gnosall (Author’s Collection).
Bridge 34 and “The Boat Inn” public house as we reach our turning point in Gnosall (Author’s Collection).
Bridge 34 beside “The Boat Inn” public house (Author’s Collection).
View from Bridge 34 and onward to Autherley Junction via Wheaton Aston and Brewood (Author’s Collection).
View from Bridge 34 and the starting point for our return journey (Author’s Collection).
Back toward Bridge 35 and another favourite image captured this evening (Author’s Collection).
A particularly pleasing image captured beneath Bridge 35. “The Navigation Inn” is to your right as well traverse the journey back to Norbury Junction (Author’s Collection).
An eerily strange image from beneath Bridge 35a (Author’s Collection).
Not a great image but considering the amount of stinging nettles I clambered through and endured to bring you this picture from atop Bridge 35a, it’s only fair you should view it here! (Author’s Collection).
Part of the long and uninteresting stretch of the canal on the way back to Norbury Junction with Bridge 37 just visible in the distance (Author’s Collection).
View from atop Bridge 37 and the beginning of the last mile or so as we approach Norbury Junction again (Author’s Collection).
Disused Lock/Gate and the final stretch on the outskirts of Norbury Junction (Author’s Collection).
Another pleasing image captured from another pleasing canal stroll (Author’s Collection).
Reflections on a return to beautiful Norbury Junction (Author’s Collection).
From the bridge on the left you can see the “The Dry Dock” from picture 7 above, “The Junction Inn” public house straight ahead, Bridge 38 to your right and the formal boating yard further to the right. You’ve arrived back in Norbury Junction, a place I’m forever reluctant to leave (Author’s Collection).
Thanks for reading.
I sincerely hope you’ve enjoyed this pictorial ramble along the Shropshire Union Canal and if so, please do consider taking a peek at these recently published articles from differing parts of the canal and all captured this week toward the end of June 2022:
