The Ragley Boat Stop to Willington (outside Mercia Marina) Trent & Mersey Canal

Cafe by Stenson Lock

We are on the move today so we left The Ragley Boat Stop behind and chugged on our way.  It was a really nice place to moor, lots of birds singing in the trees and ducks, etc. on the canal.  There was one duck which I think had fallen in love with us as she stayed by our boat just gazing up at the windows, it was quite funny, we did feed her a couple of times, so really that’s probably why she hung around, not that she had fallen in love with us, but it sounded good!

We chugged on along for about a mile and we were at Stenson Lock.  This is a wide and deep lock but there are lock keepers on this lock so that really helps.  We had to wait for a boat that was going up and then we thought a boat was coming down but they were going to turn around in the winding hole just before the lock so we emptied the lock.  They then realised the winding hole was too small so they would have to come through the lock to the next winding hole so they then had to wait for us to come up the lock.

Waiting below Stenson Lock

In Stenson Lock

The lock keepers helped me open the gates and Kev brought the boat in.  The lock keepers then filled the lock very slowly and up the boat came and soon we were out the lock and chugging on our way.

We went under a few bridges and we moored up just before the footbridge across the canal and the entrance to Mercia Marina.

View of our boat from Footbridge

We had lunch then went for a walk over the footbridge and into the Marina, we had a look around the shops and then had a coffee in the Boardwalk café/bar.  We then sat for a while in the Marina watching the world go by, had an ice-cream then walked back to the boat.

We are staying here tonight then we are off into the Marina tomorrow as we are leaving the boat there for a few days as on Thursday we are off to Ely to stay with our good friends Geoff and Sue and on Saturday Geoff and Kev are off to Silverstone for the British Grand Prix.  We are really looking forward to seeing our friends and Kev can’t wait to go to Silverstone.  We will be back to the boat on Tuesday.

Moored at Willington outside Mercia Marina

Swarkestone to The Ragley Boat Stop (Trent & Mersey Canal)

All turned around and on our way

Chugging back up the canal

Lovely reflection in the water

We are turning around today and heading back up the canal, so we set off early down the canal to just before the lock and turned around there in the old Derby Canal Arm which is now a Boat Club.  There was a couple of boats waiting to go down the lock and one coming up but they were filling the lock very slowly so it didn’t affect us turning around and Kev did it very well as usual, the chap on the towpath waiting to go down the lock said to Kev “You have done that before haven’t you” and Kev said yes but not here.  I think the chap was impressed and would have given Kev at least a 9 if he had a score card to hold up!

Pub Sign on the Moorings

Once turned around, we moored up at the water point to get water and get rid of rubbish.  Once that was done, we headed along the canal, it was a lovely sunny morning and really warm for once!

We were only going less than two miles and soon we were at our destination, The Ragley Boat Stop.  It is moorings at the bottom of a pub garden, they are really nice.

The Ragley Boat Stop Pub

We went up to the pub for lunch, it was really nice inside but as it was so warm and sunny we sat outside in the large garden.  We had their lunch menu which was £3.99 for one course and there was quite a choice.  If you had this menu, then there was a selection of puds for £1 each!   The main menu was very reasonably priced as well, a good cheap and cheerful place.  The food was very good especially for the price and the service was good, they were very friendly.

We are staying here tonight then heading back to Willington tomorrow.

Moored at The Ragley Boat Stop

Willington to Swarkestone (Trent & Mersey Canal)

Passing Mercia Marina

We are on the move today and I was pleased to see that the sun was shining.  We went over to the services and filled up with water and got rid of rubbish then set off along the canal.

In Stenson Lock

We went past the entrance to Mercia Marina and on along we went, under a couple of bridges and then we were at Stenson lock.  This is a big double lock and I was pleased to see that there were volunteer lock keepers working the lock.

And down we go

Sharing Stenson Lock

There was a boat in front of us with three chaps on and they didn’t seem to have a clue what to do, there was a lady on the side who was giving them instructions but she didn’t help them just told them what to do!

A boat was coming up so we waited for him to come out the lock and Kev and the other boat came in.  The lock keepers said I could get on as they would do the lock, that was a novelty for me being inside the lock and not having to do anything.

Out of Stenson lock we go

It's a deep lock, but they emptied it slowly and down we went.  The lock keeper asked us if we wanted to go out first and we said yes so when the gates opened, out we went with the other boat following.

Heron taking off as we go past

We went on along the canal, past The Ragley Boat Stop pub where there are nice moorings, we are going to stop there on the way back and we went on for another mile or so and then we were at Swarkestone.  We moored up in a nice open spot a bit before the lock and a short arm which is all that remains of the old Derby Canal.  We hadn’t moored up five minutes when there was a short sharp shower, so that was lucky!

Restored Crane on Canal

We had lunch then went out for a walk down to the lock.  We went back to the boat to watch the Grand Prix Qualifying. When that was finished, we went out again for another walk.  On the towpath there was a restored Crane.  The Trent & Mersey Canal Society have restored it.

Swarkestone Bridge

We walked to the lock then went down the lane to the right under the railway and up to the main road.  We crossed over and went down a lane which led to the Church.  Unfortunately it was locked so we walked on and came to the River Trent where there is an 18-C five-arch stone bridge over the main channel of the river.   An elevated causeway then carries the road on stone arches all the way across the Trent’s flood plain to the village of Stanton by Bridge.  It was at Swarkestone that Bonnie Prince Charlie, in the rising of 1745, gave up his attempt for the throne of England and returned to his defeat at Culloden.

Swarkestone Chruch

Elevated Causeway

We then walked up to the road down a lane across another road and there was a Garden Centre much to Kev’s dismay!  He doesn’t like Garden Centres but we seem to keep finding them on this trip!  We went in and had a look around and went for a coffee in the restaurant.

We then carried on walking up the lane over the railway again and to the next bridge and down onto the canal, along the towpath and back to the boat.  We had a light shower when we were out walking but it didn’t really come to anything until we got back to the boat and a while after the heavens opened and it rained heavily but not for long and then the sun came out again.

We are staying here tonight and tomorrow, then heading back up the canal.

Moored at Swarekestone

DayOut in Derby

We are staying put in Willington as the weather forecast was not too good for today so we are off to Derby by train.

Statue of Florence Nightingale

Market Hall in Derby

We set off to the train station which is about a 5 minute walk from where we are moored and got the train to Derby which only took about 10 minutes.

It is a short walk from Derby train station to the centre and all the shops.  There is a huge shopping centre which is on three floors so we had walked through there and then headed to the Cathedral Quarter which is has a pedestrianised area and some small streets and lots of old buildings and independent shops.  It is a nice area so we browsed around there for a bit and then went to have a look in the Cathedral.

Derby Cathedral

There had been a service there in remembrance of the Battle of the Somme, but that was finished by the time we got there.

Cathedral Quarter

The Cathedral is really nice inside but very modern compared to a lot of Cathedral’s we have visited.   We had a look around then walked back to the shopping centre and went up to the second floor which was the food floor with lots of different choices of meals and a huge area with seats for you to sit and eat your chosen food.  We opted for Chinese today which was really good.

Cathedral Quarter

Suitably fed, we had another wander around the shops then walked back to the train station to the get the train back to Willington.  Unfortunately our train was delayed, but it eventually came along and we were soon back to the boat.

It had been dry all day but shortly after we got back, we had a heavy rain shower, but then it went over and it was a nice evening.

We are staying here tonight and are moving on tomorrow.