Willington to Swarkestone (Trent & Mersey Canal)

Passing Mercia Marina

We are on the move today and I was pleased to see that the sun was shining.  We went over to the services and filled up with water and got rid of rubbish then set off along the canal.

In Stenson Lock

We went past the entrance to Mercia Marina and on along we went, under a couple of bridges and then we were at Stenson lock.  This is a big double lock and I was pleased to see that there were volunteer lock keepers working the lock.

And down we go

Sharing Stenson Lock

There was a boat in front of us with three chaps on and they didn’t seem to have a clue what to do, there was a lady on the side who was giving them instructions but she didn’t help them just told them what to do!

A boat was coming up so we waited for him to come out the lock and Kev and the other boat came in.  The lock keepers said I could get on as they would do the lock, that was a novelty for me being inside the lock and not having to do anything.

Out of Stenson lock we go

It's a deep lock, but they emptied it slowly and down we went.  The lock keeper asked us if we wanted to go out first and we said yes so when the gates opened, out we went with the other boat following.

Heron taking off as we go past

We went on along the canal, past The Ragley Boat Stop pub where there are nice moorings, we are going to stop there on the way back and we went on for another mile or so and then we were at Swarkestone.  We moored up in a nice open spot a bit before the lock and a short arm which is all that remains of the old Derby Canal.  We hadn’t moored up five minutes when there was a short sharp shower, so that was lucky!

Restored Crane on Canal

We had lunch then went out for a walk down to the lock.  We went back to the boat to watch the Grand Prix Qualifying. When that was finished, we went out again for another walk.  On the towpath there was a restored Crane.  The Trent & Mersey Canal Society have restored it.

Swarkestone Bridge

We walked to the lock then went down the lane to the right under the railway and up to the main road.  We crossed over and went down a lane which led to the Church.  Unfortunately it was locked so we walked on and came to the River Trent where there is an 18-C five-arch stone bridge over the main channel of the river.   An elevated causeway then carries the road on stone arches all the way across the Trent’s flood plain to the village of Stanton by Bridge.  It was at Swarkestone that Bonnie Prince Charlie, in the rising of 1745, gave up his attempt for the throne of England and returned to his defeat at Culloden.

Swarkestone Chruch

Elevated Causeway

We then walked up to the road down a lane across another road and there was a Garden Centre much to Kev’s dismay!  He doesn’t like Garden Centres but we seem to keep finding them on this trip!  We went in and had a look around and went for a coffee in the restaurant.

We then carried on walking up the lane over the railway again and to the next bridge and down onto the canal, along the towpath and back to the boat.  We had a light shower when we were out walking but it didn’t really come to anything until we got back to the boat and a while after the heavens opened and it rained heavily but not for long and then the sun came out again.

We are staying here tonight and tomorrow, then heading back up the canal.

Moored at Swarekestone