Beeston to Tattenhall (Shropshire Union Canal)

Beeston Iron Lock

We are moving on again today and the sun was shining as we set off to the Iron Lock.  Although this is a double lock, you are strongly advised to use it one boat at a time as it has iron plates jointed diagonally to get over the problem of unstable sand below it and narrows at the bottom.

Coming into Beeston Iron Lock

In Wharton Lock

Nice view of Beeston Castle from the lock

We went in the lock and was soon out and on our way.  The next lock we came to was Wharton’s lock.  There are lovely views here of Beeston Castle which stands 500ft high on a sandstone cliff above the Cheshire Plain.  It was built in the 1220s and was once a royal castle.  It is now a ruin but a tourist attraction and we shall visit the castle on our return from Chester in a couple of weeks.  You can also see Peckforton Castle which is a hotel.  I had to fill the lock first before Kev took the boat in and then a boat was coming up so I had some help from the lady off that boat.

Beeston & Peckforton Castles

Butchers in Tattenhall

We chugged on for a couple of miles and moored up at Tattenhall in the visitor moorings outside Tattenhall Marina.  Our friends John and Sharon and Smuggler the dog are in the marina blacking the bottom of their boat, so after lunch we walked over to see them, but unfortunately they weren’t there, but hopefully we will see them this evening.

We walked up the road to the village of Tattenhall, it is quite a walk.  There is a couple of pubs, a Spar, some restaurants and a Butchers.  We went in there and got some bacon which he cut off the block for us to the thickness we wanted, that is always great when they do that.

Play Area at Cheshire Farm

Our Ice-Creams

We had a wander around then headed back down the road and walked to Cheshire Ice-Cream Farm.  When we were here a couple of years ago, it was just an ice-cream parlour, a field with a few animals and a small play area for the children, well it is now massive with all sorts of play areas and things for kids to do, a huge ice-cream parlour, a couple of shops, more animals than before and lots of sitting areas, they must have spent millions doing this. 

Cheshire Farm Entrance

The place was heaving, there was thousands there and we had to queue 20 minutes for an ice-cream but it was well worth the wait, they have 50 flavours to choose from.  I had Salted Caramel and Raspberry Ripple and Kev had Mint Choc Chip and Mango Passion Fruit.  It was a lovely sunny warm afternoon so just right for ice-cream!

After we had eaten our ice-creams, we had a wander around and then walked down the road to the marina and down the footpath back to the canal and the boat.

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

Moored at Tattenhall