Doorstep Adventures: A Sunday stroll along the Canal

I’m terrible for this. A free weekend inevitably sees me pack up my kit and head straight from work to the hills on Friday night for a couple days walking & wild camping. What’s the problem with this you may ask, and there isn’t one really, but it means that that I tend to take the place I live for granted. Sure, I don’t step out of my door to be met by a mighty peak or venture into a vast wilderness beyond the gate where I can walk for days without bumping into anyone but this doesn’t mean that there aren’t loads of lovely places brimming with wildlife in and around my area that I have yet to discover.

It happened that I had two weekends in a row where the Sunday was free so I decided to go somewhere new in and around where I live. The aim was also not to have to drive anywhere, or at least no more than ten minutes. Looking at the map I decided to follow the waterways in the area, one being the River Dee and the other the Canal.

And so, the first Sunday I looked at the maps to see how far I could walk down the Shropshire Union Canal and whether I could follow it all the way to Nantwich. It seemed perfectly doable and I reckoned I could get all the way to Nantwich in about 5hrs. Here I would then get the bus back home.

Of I set with a small rucksack with a couple of bits of kit and my lunch, closing the front door behind me as I made my way to the point where I could pick up the canal tow path.

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Straight away I was met with the sight of the waterways and some bright and beautiful canal boats and barges, each adorned with their own individual names. This is a particularly busy part of the canal with people out on the tow path enjoying Sunday strolls and family bike rides, thus creating a lovely, easy-going atmosphere. I walked along passing ducks and moorhens eagerly waiting for snacks from passers-by, eventually entering part of the canal where people’s gardens met the water's edge.

I looked on in envy at each of these beautiful gardens that had direct access to the canal, some with decked areas where they could sit and watch the water world go by, many with small rowing boats tied up. The ones with the fire pits and chimineas were my favourite! After watching a cat try to stalk a few ducks that were hanging around one of the garden (unsuccessfully I might add) I was met with part of the path that had a tree overhanging, causing a bit of an obstruction. At this point I could see another person approaching so waited to let them through. They actually did the same and very kindly let me go through first. Here we passed some pleasantries before engaging in a full-blown conversation about mountains, climbing, Snowdonia and books about mountains and climbing. Who would have thought that I would have met a fellow mountain and adventure enthusiast on a canal tow path, just by absolute chance?

iIt was rather serendipitous and we had the most fantastic and fascinating conversation stood there by the canal. The chap actually lived on a boat there so gave me lots of information about the wildlife he often sees. The thing was that before we knew it we had been stood there chatting for an hour and a half! After saying farewell I continued on, soon realising that I would probably not make it to Nantwich in time to catch a bus. This really wasn’t a problem as I had enjoyed our conversation so much so decided to press on and walk as far as I could by a certain time, to which I would then turn around and retrace my route back home.

As I passed the chap’s boat I kept an eye out for the kingfisher he said he usually sees. Lo and behold, a quick flash of electric blue and there it was, perched on a post on the other side of the canal.

I walked further passing more interesting gardens and a barge that was certainly made for me called 'Mountain Dreamer'. As I began to leave the villages the canal took an interesting change. It became very overgrown either side with the evasive Himalayan Balsam blocking the edge.

It suddenly began to feel rather wild, not where you would expect a boat to cruise past. Here the wildlife truly flourished and I nearly bumped into a Heron who was stood on the path ahead of me. He only decided to fly off as I approached giving me a spectacular view of his wing span as he headed down the canal.

Passing under bridges and walking parallel to farmland I suddenly spotted something poking out of the hedge. A first it just looked like a small plastic box but on further investigation it was actually a Geocache. Popping it back in its location I walked further along the canal until I spotted something rather unusual fluttering in the wind. Attached to a moored barge was a black flag with skull and crossbones! Pirates!

Approaching carefully so not to disturb the infamous Canal Pirates I could see that next to the barge was a cool little shed and a large canvas tent with structures made from willow inside. There also seemed to be a stone pizza oven type structure. This was a full living set-up and a sign pointed out that you could do willow weaving courses there. How fantastic, this pirate’s life was not at sea but more so at the canalside.

Walking further the canalside community increased with a row of barges on the other side moored up with their own little gardens (one featuring the biggest sunflower i have ever seen) and areas where they could sit outside watching the canals go by whilst having dinner.

I walked slowly by, waving hello to them and engaging in chat across the water. This water community was so intriguing and it was a lovely surprise to discover it on this stretch of the Shropshire Union Canal. Sitting on a bench having lunch I said hello to the passing barges, moving slowly across the water at a pace that is perfect to have a quick chat with those on board as they pass by.

Looking at my watch I realised that it was time to make a move back, so swung my rucksack on my back and off I set the way I had come, again saying hello to the waterside community and the Pirate. Back along the path, under bridges, watching the wildlife enjoy their surroundings I was soon back where I started on the tow path. Making my way back home I thought about all the things I had seen and experienced on my short walk down the canal that is so close to my home.

It is very easy to take for granted the things on your doorstep, especially with the lure of mountains and wild terrain. Let’s not forget though that there are so many places to discover that boast a different but equally fulfilling  experience. On that Sunday I was glad to have made the most of it.