A Few Days Moored at the Terminus of the Ashby Canal

Saturday 28^th July

Cheese Sale

We had a bit of rain early morning but it was sunny when we got up, very blustery though and lots of cloud around.

Alpaca Farm

Pgymy Goats

We are off to find the Pumpkin farm this morning as they have a cheese sale. We walked back up to the park, across there and out onto the road and a short walk along there brought us to the farm and the cheese sale which they hold once a month.

Cute Donkeys

Alpacas

The cheese is sold by John and Hannah Ltd. Their award cheese is sourced from Joseph Heler, Laurels Farm, Cheshire where it is traditionally handmade on open tables.  Part of the milk used to make the cheese is sourced from Hannah's family dairy farm in Stanton, Burton upon Trent.  

Lazing in the Sun!

Currently both John and Hannah are at university studying Agri-Business and Veterinary Medicine and running their enterprise to help financially support themselves so that they are not relying on student loans and also to promote British produce.  John's parents own the Pumpkin farm which his dad also called John run and before that his grandfather ran the farm also called John.  The lady who runs the Alpaca Farm told us they are known in the village as Big John, Little John and Baby John!

You could try the cheese first, so obviously we did and then we bought some as it was really nice.

We then walked back up the road and carried on through the village to the Alpaca farm.

Wool Shop

There is a cafe which is a timber building and lovely inside, there is also a wool shop.  We had a drink and a sandwich in the cafe. They also have a small holding with donkeys, Angola and pygmy goats, chickens, a pig and obviously Alpacas.  They have made several paths so you can see all the animals, we had a wander around and met all the animals, they make a small charge but it was well worth it.

Cafe

The lady who runs the farm was really friendly and we had a nice chat, she told us they have only been going for 8 months which seemed to us amazing as the cafe was really busy and lots of people walking around, they have obviously made a good name for themselves in a short period of time.  They also have lots of plans for the future so hope it keeps growing for them.

Alice having a mud bath!

We went back into the cafe for tea and scones, then walked back down the road and back to the boat doing a few caches on the way.

In the afternoon we had some rain, but just showers really not constant rain.  We were going to have a BBQ tonight but rain and wind has stopped play so we will save that for another day.

Sunday 29^th July

Mile Marker at Terminus

Walking the old canal bed

We are staying put today and just as well as it was blowing a hoolie and raining.  That went on for most of the day, but it did brighten up for a bit, so we went out for a walk.

Present End of the Ashby Canal

We walked along to the very end of the canal where we reversed to the other day, then walked up the dry bed of the canal, it was a bit sticky underfoot as it is clay but good to do.  We got back to the boat and it rained quite hard at times.

We just chilled out for the rest of the day.  Tomorrow we are off on the bus to Ashley de la Zouch but we have to walk to Measham first to get the bus so we have to be up early in the morning.

Monday 30^th June

Ashby de la Zouch

We got up early and set off along the towpath to the end of the canal and then walked on the footpath through the field and out onto the road and after a bit of a walk we were in Measham.  We were a bit early for the bus so we went in the cafe and had a drink.  Then it was time to get the bus, so we walked to the bus stop and the bus soon came along.

Alleyway in Ashby

Castle Ruins

After about a 20 minute bus ride, we were in Ashby. It is a really nice town, plenty of shops, cafes and pubs and an indoor market.  There are several alleyways which lead to courtyards with shops and cafes, really pretty.

St. Helen's

There is Castle ruins in Ashby so we walked up to find it.  Unfortunately it was closed but we could see it from the path.  There is a nice church near the Castle, St. Helen's.  It was constructed in around 1474, but in 1878-80 was widened, creating two side aisles and giving it the square shape it has today.

The church was open, so we went in for a look, it was very nice inside and big, lots of pews.

We then walked back to the shops and had a good wander around.  We found a cafe in one of the courtyards for lunch and very nice it was too, we both had a ploughman’s followed by a freshly made scone with jam and cream.

Ploughmans Lunch

After lunch, we had another wander around and went in one of the pubs for a drink, it looked just like  a Wetherspoons but the bar maid said it wasn't and when we paid for the drinks, we knew it wasn't!!

Where the Candle Maker used to be!

We found a nice Butchers and Bakers and a plaque on one of the buildings saying where the Candle Makers used to be!

It was then time to get the bus back to Measham.  We had a half hour wait for the bus back to Snarestone.  Then a short walk along the canal and we were back at the boat.  It was a good day out to Ashby de la Zouch, a very nice small town.

We care staying here again tonight and also tomorrow then setting off back down the canal on Wednesday.