Walking along the Stretton Aquaduct ....

While out walking along the Shropshire Union Canal, we walked up to the Stretton Aquaduct that passes over the A5 / Watling street road, which is the old Roman Road. 
 

The Stretton Aquaduct was designed in 1832 by the famous Scottish engineer Thomas Telford.   This info from Wiki 

The aqueduct has five sections, each 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m) long, held together by bolts and supported by six cast iron arch ribs, each in two sections and joined at the centre of the arch.^[2] It was cast by William Hazledine of Shrewsbury.^[2] The trough is 21 feet (6.4 m) wide with an 11 feet (3.4 m) wide channel of water and a towpath on either side.^[2] The Staffordshire blue brick abutments have stone dressings.^[3]

During 1961–62, the road under the aqueduct was lowered by about 4 feet (1.2 m) to allow taller vehicles to pass underneath.

We pass under it often on the A5 where the road was lowered to allow for taller trucks to use it. When passing along the road, you sometimes see a canal boat but not too often so travellers do not always realise what the purpose of it is. 

However, it is a fabulous walk both ways - to Brewood or to Wheaton Aston. We are blessed with these lovely spaces to enjoy. I hope you have enjoyed this too, 

Dee 🚶‍♀️🛳️🌉 🌳🪾

Come for a beautiful Sunday canal walk ...

 

The Shropshire Union canal winds it way through our county going north & south of us. It was an important water way, moving good around safely, especially fragile wares from The Potteries. 

It is an important tourist route with hire boats using it & taking advantage of local pubs when they tie up for the night. 

My choice of a Sunday walk - the canals nearby & we choose a section we had not walked previously, though we had walked part of it. 

Green bathing is a term now used to apply to spending time in nature & the cuttings along our canals are often deep & this time of the year they are bathed in green light from the trees along the cuttings. 

What absolute bliss to walk the canal path from Wheaton Aston to the Stretton Aquaduct that the A5 / Watling street traffic passes under.  It is a highpoint & is a great walk. 

We turned back at the Aquaduct instead of carrying on to Brewood, a walk we do quite often but our car would have been in several miles away. 

A heron followed along, perching on what looked like an abandoned canal boat, perhaps that is his preferred roosting place. We encountered the same heron further down when he moved up the opposite bank to a high spot. 

The boat yard was an interesting view - canal boats have to have their metal hulls inspected every few years 

They have to be repainted 'blacked' to keep them water tight. 

There were some moored up that were in bad order, going nowhere. However the boat yard was busy with a boat hull being sanded. 

These spaces are beautiful & functional, we passed a few other walkers & several runners who were enjoying the tree shade along the canals. 

I hope you have enjoyed the walk with me, thank you for visiting, 

Dee  🚶‍♀️🛳️🚤🪾🌲🌳

Autumn beauty along the canals ...

Our county is blessed with the Shropshire Union Canal that gently crosses it at various points. It is one of my favourite pastimes to wander along these often hidden spaces that wind through some deep cuttings before passing houses, fields with animals or towns on their watery way. 

With the most beautiful Autumn colours deepening this year, I suggested a walk along a strip I have visited many times.

Tyrley Locks is a pretty walk along the canals where 5 locks drop or raise boats on their journey. 

What makes this walk special is the deep cutting with interesting rocks & soil that is exposed by digging out the canal. It was muddy underfoot because of some recent rain but our sturdy walking boots did well. 

The autumn colours did not disappoint with a thick carpet of leaves underfoot & more falling gently all the time on our walk. There is a sense of calm, of peace, of clearing your mind when out in nature. This is important time for me, to just be ...  

A very elegant grey heron appeared several times along the canals, staying on the side furthest from us while being cautious & curious. 

A passing canalboat was glad of the offer of help with the final lock so hubby helped with the lock gates to lower the boat on its way to Nantwich. 

We enjoyed a chat with the boating couple & their gorgeous dog. 

We had spent a week on a canal boat a few years ago with Ms M & her family so had an idea how to work the gates etc. 

On returning to the canal bridge at the basin by the top lock, I noticed a cottage for sale. However, the voice of reason did not join in my enthusiasm. 

I wonder what it would be like living right next to a canal & having a prime seat on canal life? 

Would it be cold in winter & busy in summer when boat hire is at its peak or would the fascination be the key to enjoying it? 

I won't know but it is nice to think about it. 

Thank you for stopping by, it is always appreciated.

Dee ⛴️🪾🌳🍁🍂

Strolling along the lush canals ...

 Everything is glorious & green with summer lushness & hedgerow flowers bursting in to bloom. 

The fields are golden yellow & the sight of harvests is evident all about our county. 

Today, my choice of a Sunday stroll was to visit the canals which snake through our county of Shropshire & Staffordshire. I treated the Godsons to a special trip on the same canals some years back, in midwinter. In winter, the canals take on a mystical view with ice & frozen water. 

They were the highways of times gone by, carrying goods around & especially the delicate pottery from the many potteries in our counties. This pottery from Coalport & Stoke on Trent was world famous & the waterways helped to move it about. 

Our canals have many interesting trips like this afternoon tea last September.  Summer is beautiful along the canals with green leaves & light filtering through the canopy of leaves.

Today it was just the local one with a deep cutting & a long tunnel that give beautiful views on both sides. 

The tunnel is long & it gets dark towards the middle before emerging at the side with elegant strands of ivy draping over the tunnel. 

As we approached the tunnel, 3 sets of canoeists were making their way towards the tunnel, a boat going the same way, hung back for them  & then an approaching boat had to pull up for the 3 canoes to safely transverse the tunnel. 

Voices echo in the tunnel & then the throb of the approaching boat reverberated around the stone & brickwork. 

We walked back to the spot where the boats moor up & I am always impressed by the handpainting details on boats. Many have solar panels on the roof now & their plant boxes are briming over with herbs, tomatoes & more. A reminder of autumn is evident with firewood stacked on top - it can be cold on the water & most of the boats have a woodburning fire in them. 

A lovely time in nature, enjoying the feeling of space along the canals. It is the little things in life that reset us ... 

Thank you for stopping by, for subscribing, liking or sharing the blog, it is much appreciated. 

Dee ☔️🪴🚙🚣‍♀️