Branston to Willington (Trent & Mersey Canal)

We are moving on today to Willington and it was dry with sunny spells as we set off and abit windy.

Going into Branston Lock

Chugging past Shobnall Marina

We soon came to Branston Lock which is only 3ft deep so didn’t take long to get through there and on we went along the canal.  Under a few bridges and past Shobnall Marina where there are visitor moorings to go to the Marstons Brewery.  We chugged past Shobnall Fields which are in Burton-on-Trent and was the site of a IWA Festival a few years ago which we went to by car, its now nice to come here by boat.   We smelt the hops from the beer making as we chugged through. 

In Dallow Lock

Murial at Dallow Lock

We then came to Dallow Lock which is also a shallow lock and each side of the lock was a murial depicting beer barrels, barges, etc, it was really good and no graffiti on it, so that was good.

We stopped at Horninglow Basin to use the services.  It took an age to fill the tank with water as it piddled out, we could wee faster!!

Going over the River Dove

We then chugged on over several aqueducts, some small and one a bit bigger which was over the River Dove.

Another mile or so and then we were at Willington and we pulled in just under the bridge by the winding hole to moor.  A boat was just pulling out so we were going to have their space when they had gone.  An old chap on his boat using the services which were opposite to where we had pulled in shouted to me that we would fit in a space further up, I said we don’t want to go there and he said he indicated that we couldn’t moor by the winding hole as wide beamed boats often turned there, I said to him we were waiting for the boat to go behind us and then we would pull back into their space but what I wanted to say to him was “you concentrate on what you are doing, go back inside your boat and don’t interfere in what other people are doing”, but of course I didn’t as I am too polite for that!!

Broadwalk at Mercia Marina

We moored up, then went to find the Train Station which was just a short walk from where we were moored, then we walked up the road to Mercia Marina.  It was about a 10 to 15 minute walk.  We wanted to go and have a reccy as we are leaving the boat in Mercia Marina next week for a few days while we go to Ely to see our friends and then Kev and Geoff are off to Silverstone for the Grand Prix.

It is a nice marina and has a broadwalk with shops and a café and bar and also has lodges within the marina, but we didn’t think it had the same feel or was as nice as Barton Turn Marina which we visited recently.

We had a walk around and then went for a cup of tea in the café and sat on the terrace overlooking the marina.  We went into the office to find out what time we can bring the boat in and they said they are open at 8.30am so we said we will go in around 9am.

Black Swan

We walked back to the canal then went to the small shop near the Train Station.  We then had a walk along the towpath to see if there were any moorings near the entrance to the marina and there was so that was good.

Near where we are moored there is a black swan, it seems to live near the winding hole and it came right up to the boat when I fed it.  What an unusual sight to see a wild one as we have only ever seen black swans at Slimbridge, not in the wild before.  Apparently there used to be two but now there is only one, not sure what happened to the other one, but really lovely to see.

We are staying here tonight and also tomorrow as we are off to Derby on the train so looking forward to that.

Moored at Willington

Days out to Burton-on-Trent and Lichfield

Tuesday 28^th June

We are staying put today and we are off to Burton-on-Trent on the bus.

Burton Indoor Martket

The sun was shining as we set off for the bus stop, through the Water Park and up the road past the shops to the main road, about a 10 to 15 minute walk.  We were catching the X12 bus and they do a bus ticket called a two stop ticket to Burton for £3 each.  Basically it’s a return ticket, but you don’t have to use the second ticket on the same day, you can use it on another day and also going the same way if you want.

Brown's where we had lunch

The bus came along and after a short bus ride we were in Burton.  We had a look around the shops, then went to the National Brewery Centre but didn’t do a tour as they were only twice a day and when we got there we were in between the times.

We then went back to the shop and went in a place called Brown’s and had lunch.  They did two meals for £6.99, we both had gammon steak, chips and peas, it was real good value and also we had lime and soda to drink and the girl who served me said I don’t charge for cordial so they were free!

National Brewery Centre

Langan's Tea Rooms

The sun shined all day so we had another stroll around the shops then went for a coffee in Langan’s Tea Rooms which were in a beautiful building, we thought it was going to be olde worlde and posh but it wasn’t, it was okay though.

We got the bus back to Branston and walked back to the boat.  Burton-on-Trent is a nice place and worth a visit.

Wednesday 29^th June

It was raining when we got up this morning and the forecast was not good all day, so we decided to stay put and get the bus to Lichfield.

Lichfield

We walked up to the bus stop. We were catching the X12 again, it goes along the A38 to Lichfield so doesn’t take very long.  They do a bus ticket called a Duo for £7 for both of us.  It is a two stop ticket for two people, very good value. 

Dr Johnson's Birthplace Museum

We got to Lichfield and were walking around and came across The Birthplace Museum  of Dr Samuel Johnson.  The house was built in 1707-8 for Samuel’s parents Michael and Sarah.  It served as both the Johnson family home and Michael’s bookshop.  Samuel was born in the large room on the first floor in September 1709.  He left Lichfield in 1737 to find work as a writer in London and published his Dictionary of the English Language in 1755.  He became one of the greatest celebrities of his day.

Gin Menu

Our Gins

We had a good look around the house, it was really interesting.

 

We carried on walking around the shops and then came across The George Hotel which was advertising a Gin Menu so of course we had to go inside and try one.  I had Haymans Old Tom Gin and Kev had  Death’s Door, they were both really lovely.

We then went to Lichfield Cathedral and had a look around.  It really is a lovely Cathedral.  It was then time for a bit of lunch so we went to the Faro Lounge and Tapas, which was absolutely delicious.

 

Tapas Lunch

Lots of Spires in Lichfield

Suitably full, we had another walk around. The weather was not very good and it kept raining on and off so before we went to catch the bus, we went for a coffee and a toasted tea cake at The Tudor tea rooms in a really old building which has been a family business since 1935 and the tea cakes are made to Granny Burns-Mace’s secret recipe and the lady who served us, it was actually her granny and I must say they were really yummy.

Lovely windows in Cathedral

Lichfield Cathedral

We then caught the bus back to Branston and the sun was actually out when we got off the bus and had stayed out ever since so that is good.  Let’s hope its dry tomorrow as we are on the move.

Barton Turn to Branston (Trent & Mersey Canal)

Bunny on Towpath

Coming into Barton Turn Lock

The sun was shining as we set off today to Branston Water Park, a couple of miles along the canal. We got to Barton Turn lock and a boat had just come out so the lock was set for us, it is not a very deep lock so we were soon through here and we stopped below the lock to get water.

We then chugged on along the canal and just before Bridge 36 we pulled in to get rid of rubbish at the rubbish disposal point. 

We squeezed through this bridge hole

In Tatenhill Lock

Soon we were approaching Tatenhill Lock where a boat had just come up and another was just coming up, so we waited our turn and in we went.  There were another two boats waiting to come up so quite a queue was forming.  This lock is only 3’ 7” so doesn’t take long to empty and fill.

 

We went on a bit further and moored in the visitor moorings beside Branston Water Park.

Branston Water Park

We had some lunch then walked up the canal to the bridge where there is a pub called The Bridge, we walked up onto the road and down past some houses and into the Water Park.  

Sitting in the Water Park

Branston Water Park is a 40 acre lake edged with a path which gives you the opportunity to explore the surrounding woodland, wetlands and meadows which are home to a variety of wildlife and plants.  This site has been created by the East Staffordshire Countryside Project.  There is also a café in the park and there are paths leading to it from the towpath.

We had a good walk around the park, its really nice and there are benches dotted about. We stopped for a coffee in the café then walked back to the boat.  There was a little robin who was very tame and came near us when we were sat having our coffee.

Friendly Robin

Entrance to Water Park from canal

We then walked up the other way up to Branston lock as someone had told me there was a path there which led to a Morrisons and a retail park.  We walked past the path first but then we found it on the way back, but it was all around a field then under the A38, quite a trek so we decided not to bother and walked back to the pub then down the road and into Branston village where there is a few shops including a Co-op, a Chemist and a Fish & Chip shop.  This village is the original home of Branston Pickle before production was moved to Bury St Edmonds in 2004.

We walked back to the canal via the Water Park.

We are staying here now for a couple of days and are going to catch the bus to Burton-on-Trent tomorrow.

Moored at Branston

Alrewas to Barton Turn (Trent & Mersey Canal)

Cormorant watching over River Trent

In Alrewas Lock

We are on the move today and it was sunny when we set off, it had rained in the night but all gone by the time we set off.  We stopped at the water point just before the lock.  

It didn’t take long to fill up with water and I walked down to the lock.  There was a chap there and he had started to fill the lock then walked away, I thought he was just one of those people that like to help but in fact he was on a boat that was coming along the canal, but they let Kev out and said it was okay for us to go first.

Passing where the Trent meets the canal

Passing the weir

When you go through this lock you are on the River Trent for a bit as it joins the canal here and there is a sign on the lock to tell you if it is safe to go through as after heavy rain fall this bit can flood, but the sign said normal conditions and the marker by the lock was in the green so that was good.

Leaving Wychnor Lock

This lock is not very deep so we were soon through there and onto the river section, there is a huge weir just up from the lock but there was no flow today and the water was like a mill pond, safely past the weir and on along this stretch we went under a few bridges and soon we came to Wychnor lock which marks the end of the river section.  There was a boat coming out so that meant the lock was set for us and soon we were in, down and on our way again.

Waterfront Pub in Marina

Along we went, this stretch of canal is very straight and then we were going past Barton Turn Marina. This is a big marina with shops, a pub, a farm shop and a Thai Restaurant.  We want to have a look around here we so moored up just before the next lock.  This area is called Barton Turn and that is probably because many years ago, when there were few roads and no canals in the Midlands, the only reasonable access to the village of Barton-Under-Needwood was by turning off the old Roman road, Ryknild Street, hence, probably, the name Barton Turn.

Craft Market in Marina

We walked up to the lock and up the road and into Barton Turn Marina.  It is a lovely place and also has three lakes which you can walk around.

Inside Farm Shop

Waterfront at Marina

We went to the Waterfront first where there is a lovely pub and some shops including a great farm shop.  We had a look around there, we actually didn’t buy anything but we will be coming back up this way so will get a few things then.  There was also a craft market by the water so we had a browse around there and right down the end is a Cinema showing all the new films out and also they do live Theatre and another café/bar.   They really have thought of everything, it is probably the best marina we have been in.

 

We walked back down and had a coffee in the coffee shop by the water, it was certainly busy, there was people everywhere, then we walked around the three lakes, they are really nice and there are benches dotted about to sit and while the time away.

Lake at Marina

Moorhen family

We sat on a bench for a bit watching a family of moor hens, there were some small babies and some older ones and the older ones were feeding the small ones.

We walked back to the boat and shortly after it began to rain, so that was lucky.

We are staying here tonight then off a bit further tomorrow.

Moored at Barton Turn