Lovely Winter canal walk - Wolverhampton to Brewood

Finally - some sunshine! I hurried out to do this walk. I've wanted to do it for ages, but it's a shame to do such a lovely walk in poor weather: I wanted to savour it.

I started at the canal bridge on Oxley Moor Road, Wolverhampton. (WV10 6TX)

After about 200 metres, there's a left turn onto the Shropshire Union Canal. 

The sign says Chester, though the canal actually finishes at Ellesmere Port, on the River Mersey.

The first lock has a fall of only 6 inches: it's really a stop lock, preventing the free flow of water into the adjoining Staff and Worcs Canal

The winter trees had interesting colours of their own.

Traditional mileposts.

Wolverhampton Boat Club.

Looking back into the sunlight.

Pretty soon, the canal is in open countryside: I assume there must have been a bridge here once.

Ahead, the M54 bridge, and its thundering traffic.

  
But it's quickly back again to peaceful countryside.

The Shropshire Union Canal was built by Thomas Telford. In contrast to earlier canals, his were very direct, making use of embankments and cuttings rather than following the contours of the land. (See my walk at Wormleighton for the exact opposite in a canal).

Very straight!

Here's one of the many cuttings.

By the time I got to Chillington Bridge, the weather was getting duller. I climbed up to see the top of the bridge...

...actually not that interesting! I'd hoped to get a view of Chillington Hall

 Another cutting. 

At Bridge 12, I left the canal

There's an easy (but occasionally muddy) path across the fields to Brewood (or you can stay on the canal till the next bridge)

The path emerges into the centre of Brewood. The footpath sign says that this is part of the Staffordshire Way.

In the centre of the village is The-Mess Bistro (white building on the right) ...

...where I had home made fish finger sandwich and chips (also home made). Extremely nice. 

A wider view. There's a sign which says they made all their own cakes. They looked wonderful, but I had no room for them! 

Brewood is full of old buildings. 

And I love this distinctive one. (It's now luxury flats, I believe) 

Well , there we are. A really lovely walk - with a great tearoom at the end. Why not try it?

Today's walk: It's about 5.7 miles to Brewood from Oxley along the Shropshire Union Canal. On weekdays, there's a bus back to Oxley at about 4pm. However, I walked back as well. It took me two hours in each direction. I really recommend this walk - lovely scenery, open country, easy route-finding and good underfoot (just a couple of patches of mud)

Sheepwalks in the late afternoon

There was some late sun, so I grabbed an opportunity to do one of my favourite walks: on the Sheepwalks by Enville

The view over to Kidderminster near my parking spot

Sheepwalks Lane - very muddy from recent (prolonged) rain.

The first view you get when you climb the stile

The long shadows of the trees

Muddy sheep troughs

Misty Brown Clee in the distance

My long shadow on the right

 A hollow tree. 

The folly  - one of several on the Enville Estate

The late sun emphasises the red brick

There are posts to indicate the main footpaths

The view over towards Dudley

I love this scenery - the hills are so steep 

 Clent in the distance, wooded Kinver Edge on the right

The moon came out, so I turned back

A glorious golden sunset heralded my return to my car

Today's walk: I walked about 2 miles following the various paths, but you can adjust the distance to suit. There are fantastic views everywhere you go. And if you park at the top of Sheepwalks Lane (there's a space or two there for you) you don't even have to do any climbing - apart from over the stile

Llangollen and Chirk - a walk with two aqueducts

Who doesn't love an aqueduct? especially the spectacular ones on the Llangollen Canal.  This walk has two.

The bus from Llangollen dropped me just here by Chirk Aqueduct.

It's right next to a railway viaduct, but still pretty amazing.

From here, along the canal towpath straight into Chirk tunnel, walkable without a torch (luckily!)

The weather was better than the last time I came, when all was misty. 

Beautiful part of the world

Chirk Marina, crammed full of hire boats in winter.

But also a few private boats too. 

Another small tunnel

The view over to Froncysllte

Another viaduct, just visible through the trees

Amazingly, this is part of Offa's Dyke Long Distance Path. Though I don't suppose Offa used the towpath.

Then, the reason for the visit - the world famous Pontcysllte Aqueduct ( and a bit  of rain - well it's January, after all)

It's more than 100 feet down to the football pitch. And on a narrowboat, just that inch-wide side of the iron trough keeping you from that drop.

Great views east...

...and west.

From the other end - it's an extraordinary feat of engineering. Such a visionary thing to have have designed.

4.25 miles to Llangollen, then.

Trevor is also chock full with hire boats - but who can blame people for wanting to come here?

Another shower

But at least this time I can see the views

...down to the River Dee

Truly gorgeous countryside

Fantastic views

Lift bridge

I have only ever walked this last mile in rainy conditions: I'd love to show you a sunny picture

The River Dee, still swollen with the winter rains.

This is a fantastic, easy walk. 9 miles, but flat (obviously) with no problems navigating. It took less than 4 hours. Highly recommended. Cafe halfway, at Trevor. Plus one at Llangollen wharf, and plenty more in the town. What are you waiting for? Try it. I guarantee you won't be disappointed. Leave your car in Llangollen, and get the bus to Chirk (fairly regular service), then walk back.