Weston Upon Trent to Great Haywood (Trent & Mersey Canal)

Coming to Great Haywood Junction

Passing Great Haywood Junction

It was sunny again today as we set off from Weston Upon Trent along the canal, it was a really nice morning and the canal was lovely, very rural on this stretch.  Got to the lock and a boat was just coming out, so we went straight in, that was lucky!  Down and out through the lock and on along the canal to the next lock, a bit of a wait there as one was just going down, then one up, then it was our turn.  On along the canal, past the marina and then we were at Great Haywood, this is the junction with the Staff & Worcs Canal, past there and through the next lock which is not very deep and there is a café right on the lock.  We went on along the canal for a bit, under the bridge and the moored along there where it is very open and there are views of Shugborough Hall, a National Trust property.  

Going into Lock by Cafe

Chilled out for a bit, then walked back up to the junction and onto the bridge and went to the farm shop which is there.  It is a really nice farm shop and sells lots of lovely things.  There is also a café there now, it was being built the last time we were here, so we went in for a coffee, they have a balcony overlooking the canal, so we sat there and watched the boats go by.  It is a really nice café and reasonably priced.

Walked up into the village to the local shop/post office, then walked back along the canal to the boat.

Packhorse Bridge

Shugborough Hall

A bit later on, we went back up the tow path to the village, leading to Shugborough Park is a pack horse bridge(an ancient monument), it is really unusual and underneath it flows the River Sow.  We went for a cup of tea in the café by the lock, it is really nice just sitting there watching the boats coming and going through the lock. 

Walked back to the boat and just chilled out for the rest of the day.  We are off on a bus to Stafford tomorrow, so that will be good. 

Moored at Great Haywood