Nantwich to Hurleston Junction (Shropshire Union Canal)

Yesterday (Tuesday) we stayed put and walked into Nantwich and did some food shopping and had a look around the shops. There was a small outdoor market and also the indoor market was open so we had a look around there.

Nantwich Aqueduct

We then went for lunch in the Book Shop where they have a café, it is a really good place.  As the sun was shining we sat outside.  We then walked back to the boat and just chilled out. 

Going over the Aqueduct

Nantwich Basin

Today, we are on the move, so we set off along the canal, over Nantwich Aqueduct and stopped at the services to fill up with water, get rid of rubbish, etc., then on we went past Nantwich Basin, once the terminus of the isolated Chester Canal from Nantwich to Ellesmere Port.  When the canal was first authorised in 1826, Telford intended to bring it from Hack Green across Dolford Park and straight into Nantwich Basin, but the owner of the park refused to allow it and forced the company to build the long embankment right around the path and the iron aqueduct over the main road.  Today, the old canalside cheese warehouses are still in existence and there is a boatyard and a hire base here.

Me and Peter Rabbit

It was a glorious sunny hot day, lovely for a chug along the canal.  After a couple of miles we came to Hurleston Junction, this is the junction with the Llangollen Canal.  We moored up in the visitor moorings just before the junction.

Which should I Eat First!

We had lunch, then went for a walk up to Bridge 3, then took the footpath through the fields which took us to Snugbury’s Ice-Cream Farm.

Snugburys

They have a huge straw sculpture of Peter Rabbit in the field, so we went down to have a look at him, he is magnificent.

We then went into the shop and got ice-creams.  I had Salted Caramel and Damson and Slow Gin and Kev had Mint Choc Chip and Honey and Ginger and all flavours were delicious.

Lots of lovely flavours

We sat in the grounds to eat them and watch the world go by.  It was quite busy, mind you it is ice-cream weather at the moment.

We walked the short way back down the busy main road and stopped off at a farm to get some free range eggs, they had several different sizes and some trays of smaller eggs at £2.50 a tray so we bought one of them and carried them back very carefully to the boat.

We are staying here tonight and moving on tomorrow.

Moored at Hurleston Junction