Armitage to Fradley Junction (Trent & Mersey)

Spode Hall

Armitage Tunnel

It was dry again today, but a bit breezy as we set off along the canal, past Spode House and through the narrow bit which used to be Armitage Tunnel, the roof was removed in 1971 to combat the subsidence effects of coal being mined nearby and on along the canal through nice open countryside, past Handsacre which has a pub right on the canal side, this looks a nice area so we will stop here next time we go through here.  

Pub at Hansacre

On we chugged to Wood End Lock, a bit of a queue here so took a while to get through, then onto Fradley Junction.   We moored at the top before the locks, the moorings were full, so we managed to get in the side before the moorings although we could only get the front in, but that’s okay as long as we can get off one end of the boat. 

  

Nature Reserve

Paths in Nature Reserve

We walked down the canal to the café which is beside the canal, it’s a really nice café just before the pub.  We had lunch in the café.  There is a nature reserve here at the Junction, so we had a walk around there, its really nice.  Walked a bit further along the canal to the other café and had a cup of tea there sitting by the canal watching the boats go by. 

 

Walked back up to the boat, then chilled out for the afternoon.  Early evening, we walked down to The Swan pub on the Junction for a drink, sat outside as it was a nice evening, then back to the boat.  Probably chugging off tomorrow unless it is raining, then we will stay put.

Moored at Fradley