Friends Visiting and Wrenbury to Marbury - Llangollen Canal

Our Bar Nibbles

Friday 7^th to Sunday 9^th June

Friday – Kev did some work in the morning and I walked up to the shop, I took the footpath across the field to the Church and I had to walk through lots of cows all sitting down by the path, I was a bit nervous but they didn’t move as I passed them, so that was good.  I got a few things at the shop then walked back the road way and it started to rain again.  We went to The Dusty Miller pub for lunch and jolly good it was too, we then just chilled out for the rest of the day.

In the Cotton Arms

The Cotton Arms

In The Dusty Miller

The Dusty Miller

Saturday – John, Sharon and Smuggler came to visit us by car and we had coffee on the boat then went to the other pub The Cotton Arms for a drink and bar nibbles, they did four nibbles for £10 and what good value and quality they were, we had a lovely lunchtime with good food and great company, this is also a very nice pub.  We then said bye to John, Sharon and Smugs, it was lovely to see them again.  

We chilled out for a bit, then in the evening we walked up to The Dusty Miller where we met our friends Jane, Malcolm, Sheila and Tony and we had a brilliant evening eating good food, drinking gin and chatting and laughing.  They all came back to the boat after for a drink then we waved them goodbye for now, it was great to see them all again and will no doubt meet up again soon.

Me operating the lift bridge

Going through the lift bridge

Going through the next lift bridge

Coming into Marbury Lock

Today (Sunday), we are moving on a couple of miles as after two rainy days, it is actually dry and the sun was out.  I walked up to the lift bridge and when I saw Kev coming along, I put my key in the control panel, went across the bridge and put the barrier down, then back to the controls and pushed the button to open the bridge, once fully open, Kev chugged through and I shut the bridge and lifted the barrier, it’s not a very busy road so we only held up a couple of cars.

Marbury Church

We chugged on along the canal and came to the next lift bridge but this one was open so we just chugged through.

Big Mere

On we went and soon we were approaching Marbury lock, there was a boat coming down so I gave the chap a hand and then he kindly waited for Kev to come in the lock and shut the other gate for me then went on his way, very kind of him, there are some nice people about.

Inside the Church

The Mere and the Church

We were soon through the lock and moored up a little way from the lock.

The Pulpit

We walked up the lane to the small village of Marbury.  

Sign by the Pulpit

Marbury Church

The village became known as Marbury in 1260 and means “the burg by a lake”, the burg being the Anglo Saxon fortified manor.  This village is renowned for its lakes or meres, formed when water filled the numerous glacial depressions.  We went to have a look at the church, St. Michael’s.  There had been a christening but was finished so we went inside, it is lovely.  The pulpit is the oldest in Cheshire and dates from the 15^th C.

The Swan

Our Bar Snacks

The church stands on top of a small hill overlooking Big Mere, it is such a lovely setting for a church but the tower has developed quite a lean.

There is a pub called The Swan opposite the church which was closed for a few years but has been refurbished and extended to a very high standard, so we decided to stop there for refreshments.  They did bar snacks along with main meals, so we had four bar snacks and crispy duck and pancakes and it was all really good, another lovely pub with good food and friendly service.

Outside seating at the Swan

We walked back to the boat down the other road which took us to Bridge 24 and then along the towpath back to the boat. We did have a shower while we were walking back but nothing too much.

We are staying here tonight and then heading to Grindley Brook tomorrow, hopefully in the dry as although it was dry this morning, it has now gone very dark and is raining hard again, so much for Summer!

Moored up!