Shropshire Union Canal from Barbridge

Saturday 27 August 2022 9 miles

Donna, Tracey, Jane and Hilary

A lovely day with the sun shining.

We parked at Barbridge, on the Old Chester Road.

We joined the Shropshire Union Main Line by going over the bridge and onto the towpath. It was a short walk to the turning onto the Middlewich Branch of the Shrophire Union Canal. It was very warm in the sunshine.

Along the canal we passed under the Winsford Road by the Venetian Marina and a train passed on the railway line as we walked towards it. We continued along the canal to the next bridge. As we walked along this stretch of canal a few spots of rain came down.

Up the steps and over two stiles we crossed the bridge leaving the canal behind and following the path south. We crossed over the railway line, when we came to the junction we crossed straight over then turned right when we came to Station Road. We were about to pass St Oswald's Church, Worleston, but noticed that there was a bench outside so we decided that was the best place to sit and have our lunch. It was after 12 o'clock!

We had a wander around the church as Hilary thought there might be an owl box there, but we couldn't see one, especially with all the leaves are still on the trees. As we were just about to leave a gentleman arrived in his car and asked if we wanted to see inside the church. It is beautiful inside with the pale stone setting off the darker wood in the roof. We had a chat by the door, there are not enough people who attend the services or volunteer to look after the church. That creates problems, the people in the village want a church, but don't help.

A short way along Church Lane we came to the end of the houses and found the path across the fields, There were some new wooden bridges crossing the stream. We got a bit lost around a pool where a man was fishing. It wasn't clear which way to go, but eventually we realised that we had gone too fat right on the path to the pond rather than bearing right towards the gate. Then we walked across the field to a gate and onto Poole Old Hall Lane. We continued until we turned left onto Wettenhall Lane. As we walked down the road I could see a stone bridge in the distance and hoped that was the canal bridge, it wasn't.

Part way down the lane we turned right onto Poole Hill Lane, there were some trees casting some shade, it was still warm and the shade under the trees gave some shelter and a bit of a breeze. We followed the lane until we came to the canal, the car park with boats in it looked as though we could get to the canal from there, but we couldn't get through the gate. So we walked around and went up the bank and onto the towpath of the Shropshire Union Canal.

We follwed the Shropshire Union back to Barbridge and the car. It was a relief to take off our boots as out feet were hot. 

There was a debate as to where we should go for tea and cake but as some of the local places closed at 4pm we weren't going to have time to order. As we were passing Snugburys Ice Cream Farm we turned in there. We were lucky that the queue wasn't too long. We had 2 x Elderberry and Rhubarb, 1 Lemon Cheesecake, and 1 Lavender and honey. We managed to find a place in the shade and sat on the grass enjoying our icecreams.