Weekend at Shenton - Ashby Canal

Saturday 4^th August

Shenton Aqueduct

We are staying put today so after breakfast we set off along the canal to the aqueduct down the steps and on to the road.  Just up from there is Aqueduct Farm which has a farm shop but it wasn't open so we went on along road and would try again on our way back.

Inside the Church

Shenton Church

Lots of Antiques

We came to the Church and went to see if it was open, it was so we went in for a look around, it was quite small but very nice and had some lovely windows.  We then walked on down the road and turned right and there was another farm there, called The Stud Farm which also had a small farm shop but is only open Friday and Saturdays 9am to 1pm.  It was open so in we went, they had fresh lamb so we bought some chops and also pork sausages.

They do their own charcuterie so we bought some salami and chorizo.

Cafe at Whitemoors

Not far along the road was Whitemoors Antiques which we visited on our way up the canal, it is such a nice place, they have all these units, containers and rooms full of antiques, and you can just browse at your leisure and there is a reception where you go to pay, such a great idea as you can just browse to your hearts content and there is no one waiting to pounce on you as soon as you go in the door.

More Antiques

We had a wander around, I have been looking for a hand held dressing table mirror for some time and would you believe it, we found one, it was in a set with a hair brush and clothes brush which I don't want but the whole set was just £2!  What a bargain, so I bought it and the two brushes can go to the charity shop.

Me and the Steam Engine

There is a nice cafe in the grounds so we had lunch there.  We both had ham ploughman’s, the ham was home cooked and jolly good it was too.

After lunch, we had another wander around, then set off back to the boat.  Near the church, there was an art gallery with a cafe so we popped in there to have a look.   The first farm shop was open so we went in and we bought some King Richard sausages so hopefully they will be nice.  We then walked on down the road back to the boat.

Steam Engine

We chilled out for a while, then walked down to Shenton Station to the battlefield line as we were going for a trip on it and guess what the steam engine was running, it hasn't been able to run for 6 weeks because of the hot weather and it has only been diesel so we were dead lucky.

Old Carriages

The train came into the station, then the engine uncoupled and went down the line, the guard went down the platform and changed over the points by hand, then the engine hooked onto the front of the train.

We boarded the train and off we went along the track.  Its a five mile journey stopping at Market Bosworth station then ending at Shackerton.

Guard Changing the Points

Great Sign on Platform at Shackerstone

We had about 20 minutes at Shackerstone before our return journey, so we got off the train, had a look in the shop, then got an ice cream, then got back on for our trip back.

We left Shackerton Station and back along the track to Shenton.  It was great fun as they use old carriages but they were very comfortable and it was great it was steam, we couldn't have timed it better.

We then headed back to the boat.  We then just chilled out, but we really enjoyed our day and especially the train ride.

Sunday 5^th August

It was already very hot when we got up, but the side of the boat on the towpath was in the shade, so Kev did some sanding as he wants to get this side painted now.  I did a few chores, we then had lunch and in the afternoon we walked up to Shenton station, across the track and onto the battlefield walk. 

We followed the path and came to King Richard's well where he is supposed to have taken his last drink before the battle with Henry Tudor.  There was a cache nearby so we looked for that and we found it.

King Richard's Well

Speckled Wood Butterfly Came to Visit

We then walked on up to the Heritage centre and had a cup of tea in the cafe then got an ice cream and sat in the shade.

We then walked up to the sun dial which again was showing the correct time and down the hill and back to the station, a nice circular walk.  There was another cache near the station and we went to find that and we got that one as well.

Off down the road we went and back to the boat.  It has been really hot today so we won't be doing much more this evening, just chilling out in the shade then tomorrow morning, we are on the move.