Easter '97 - Final Route Plan

<body text=#000000 bgcolor=#ffffff> <a name="top"> <p align=center> <h1>Narrowboat Holiday - Easter 1997<br> Final Route Plan<br></h1> <h3>(and if you believe that you'll believe anything)</h3> </p> <br> <table width=100% border=1> <tr> <th colspan=7><a name="day1">Day 1 - Saturday</th> </tr> <tr> <th>Waterway</th> <th>Location</th> <th>Bridge</th> <th>Miles</th> <th>Locks</th> <th>Hours</th> <th>Notes</th> </tr> <tr> <td>S.U. Middlewich</td> <td>Middlewich Junction</td> <td>32</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>Junction with T&M, which we're not actually going on due to stoppages.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>S.U. Middlewich</td> <td>Barbridge Junction</td> <td>1</td> <td>10</td> <td>4</td> <td>3.5</td> <td>Junction with S.U. main line. An interesting left turn, lots of boats around here.</td> </tr> <tr> <th colspan=7><a name="day2">Day 2 - Sunday</th> </tr> <tr> <th>Waterway</th> <th>Location</th> <th>Bridge</th> <th>Miles</th> <th>Locks</th> <th>Hours</th> <th>Notes</th> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.ftech.co.uk/~thewharf/shroppie.hts">Shropshire Union</a></td> <td>Barbridge Junction</td> <td>100</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Shropshire Union</td> <td>Hurleston Junction</td> <td>97</td> <td>1.5</td> <td>0</td> <td>0.5</td> <td>Junction with the <a href="http://www.pigpen.demon.co.uk/reflect.htm">Llangollen</a>.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Llangollen</td> <td>Wrenbury</td> <td>20</td> <td>8</td> <td>9</td> <td>3.5</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Llangollen</td> <td>Welshampton Br.50</td> <td>50</td> <td>23.5</td> <td>19</td> <td>9</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <th colspan=7><a name="day3">Day 3 - Monday</th> </tr> <tr> <th>Waterway</th> <th>Location</th> <th>Bridge</th> <th>Miles</th> <th>Locks</th> <th>Hours</th> <th>Notes</th> </tr> <tr> <td>Llangollen</td> <td>Welshampton Br.50</td> <td>50</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Llangollen</td> <td>Ellesmere Tunnel</td> <td>57</td> <td>3</td> <td>0</td> <td>1</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Llangollen</td> <td>Frankton Junction</td> <td>69</td> <td>6</td> <td>0</td> <td>2.5</td> <td>Here the line of the Llanymech branch continued south to Newtown where it joined the Montgomeryshire canal. Abandoned in 1944 the top 4.5 miles have been restored, with complete restoration scheduled for the near future.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Llangollen</td> <td>Chirk Aqueduct</td> <td>21</td> <td>14</td> <td>2</td> <td>4</td> <td>The little one, but you can apparently lean over the side and shout at the sheep below if you feel so inclined, sending them running across the border into Wales.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Llangollen</td> <td>Chirk Tunnel</td> <td>23</td> <td>14.5</td> <td>2</td> <td>4.5</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Llangollen</td> <td><a href="http://www.pigpen.demon.co.uk/aqueduct.htm">Pontcysyllte Aqueduct</a></td> <td>29</td> <td>19</td> <td>2</td> <td>5.5</td> <td>The big one with no edge! Don't look down if you don't like heights!</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Llangollen</td> <td>Llangollen</td> <td>45</td> <td>22.5</td> <td>2</td> <td>6.5</td> <td>As far up as we can go. From here on the canal becomes a narrow trough, as a feeder from the main reservoir.</td> </tr> <tr> <th colspan=7><a name="day4">Day 4 - Tuesday</th> </tr> <tr> <th>Waterway</th> <th>Location</th> <th>Bridge</th> <th>Miles</th> <th>Locks</th> <th>Hours</th> <th>Notes</th> </tr> <tr> <td>Llangollen</td> <td>Llangollen</td> <td>45</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Llangollen</td> <td>Grindley Brook S/c</td> <td>29</td> <td>22</td> <td>2</td> <td>9.5</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <th colspan=7><a name="day5">Day 5 - Wednesday</th> </tr> <tr> <th>Waterway</th> <th>Location</th> <th>Bridge</th> <th>Miles</th> <th>Locks</th> <th>Hours</th> <th>Notes</th> </tr> <tr> <td>Llangollen</td> <td>Grindley Brook S/c</td> <td>29</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Llangollen</td> <td>Wrenbury</td> <td>20</td> <td>6.5</td> <td>10</td> <td>3</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Llangollen</td> <td>Hurleston Junction</td> <td>1</td> <td>12.5</td> <td>19</td> <td>6</td> <td>Junction with S.U. main line.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Shropshire Union</td> <td><a href="http://www.cnbc.demon.co.uk/tourist.htm">Nantwich</a></td> <td>92</td> <td>14</td> <td>19</td> <td>6.5</td> <td>Large town, based on the salt industry.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>S.U.</td> <td>Audlem Wharf</td> <td>67</td> <td>19.3</td> <td>29</td> <td>9.5</td> <td>Moored right outside the Shroppie Fly. This pub has some rather twee features, like the old railway crane outside on the wharf, painted up to look as though it belongs on a canal and the bar shaped like a narrowboat. However the food is really good and imaginative and the pub runs a book exchange scheme resulting in one of the strangest selections of books to be found anywhere. Also sells Flowers' Original and doesn't object to appallingly bad pool players!</td> </tr> <tr> <th colspan=7><a name="day6">Day 6 - Thursday</th> </tr> <tr> <th>Waterway</th> <th>Location</th> <th>Bridge</th> <th>Miles</th> <th>Locks</th> <th>Hours</th> <th>Notes</th> </tr> <tr> <td>S.U.</td> <td>Audlem Wharf</td> <td>67</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>Leaving early to fill up with water.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Shropshire Union</td> <td>Adderley Wharf Bridge</td> <td>69</td> <td>4</td> <td>12</td> <td>2.5</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Shropshire Union</td> <td><a href="http://www.stargate-uk.co.uk/nsh/mdrayton.html">Market Drayton</a></td> <td>62</td> <td>7</td> <td>12</td> <td>3.5</td> <td>Pretty town with lots of black and white buildings. Home of gingerbread, although this isnÕt very apparent when you go there.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Shropshire Union</td> <td>Norbury Junction</td> <td>38</td> <td>18.5</td> <td>17</td> <td>7.368</td> <td>The old line to Shrewsbury used to lock down from here. BW blew up the aqueducts to prevent restoration plans, but it hasn't worked!</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Shropshire Union</td> <td>Stretton Aqueduct</td> <td>16</td> <td>27.5</td> <td>18</td> <td>10</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Shropshire Union</td> <td>Brewood</td> <td>14</td> <td>29</td> <td>18</td> <td>10</td> <td>A nice wharf at Countrywide Cruisers. This is a small place and quite pretty.</td> </tr> <tr> <th colspan=7><a name="day7">Day 7 - Friday</th> </tr> <tr> <th>Waterway</th> <th>Location</th> <th>Bridge</th> <th>Miles</th> <th>Locks</th> <th>Hours</th> <th>Notes</th> </tr> <tr> <td>Shropshire Union</td> <td>Brewood</td> <td>14</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Shropshire Union</td> <td>Autherley Junction</td> <td>1</td> <td>5</td> <td>1</td> <td>1.5</td> <td>Junction with the S&ampW. A most excellent stop lock with a fall of 6".</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Staffs. & Worcs.</td> <td>Aldersley Junction</td> <td>65</td> <td>5.5</td> <td>1</td> <td>1.5</td> <td>Junction with the B.C.N. main line. The route ascends 21 locks to Wolverhampton. Note this place as we're coming back down it.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Staffs. & Worcs.</td> <td>Bratch Locks S/c</td> <td>47</td> <td>8.5</td> <td>10</td> <td>4</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Staffs. & Worcs.</td> <td>Stourton Junction</td> <td>33</td> <td>18</td> <td>19</td> <td>7.5</td> <td>Stourbridge canal leaves to the east.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Staffs. & Worcs.</td> <td>Kinver Br.29</td> <td>29</td> <td>20.5</td> <td>22</td> <td>8.5</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <th colspan=7><a name="day8">Day 8 - Saturday</th> </tr> <tr> <th>Waterway</th> <th>Location</th> <th>Bridge</th> <th>Miles</th> <th>Locks</th> <th>Hours</th> <th>Notes</th> </tr> <tr> <td>Staffs. & Worcs.</td> <td>Kinver Br.29</td> <td>29</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Staffs. & Worcs.</td> <td>Cookley Tunnel</td> <td>22</td> <td>2.5</td> <td>1</td> <td>1</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Staffs. & Worcs.</td> <td>Kidderminster Br.16</td> <td>16</td> <td>5</td> <td>5</td> <td>2</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Staffs. & Worcs.</td> <td>Stourport</td> <td>0</td> <td>10.0</td> <td>10</td> <td>4.1</td> <td>The canal terminus where it joins the Severn. This was a purpose built town, designed as a port by Brindley after the residents of Bewdley told him to "take his stinking ditch elsewhere".</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Staffs. & Worcs.</td> <td>Kidderminster Br.16</td> <td>16</td> <td>15</td> <td>15</td> <td>6</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Staffs. & Worcs.</td> <td>Cookley Tunnel</td> <td>22</td> <td>17.5</td> <td>19</td> <td>7.5</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Staffs. & Worcs.</td> <td>Dunsley Tunnel</td> <td>31</td> <td>21.5</td> <td>22</td> <td>9</td> <td>We may actually manage to moor at an end of this to avoid blocking it, although the whole of this section is rather narrow.</td> </tr> <tr> <th colspan=7><a name="day9">Day 9 - Sunday</th> </tr> <tr> <th>Waterway</th> <th>Location</th> <th>Bridge</th> <th>Miles</th> <th>Locks</th> <th>Hours</th> <th>Notes</th> </tr> <tr> <td>Staffs. & Worcs.</td> <td>Dunsley Tunnel</td> <td>31</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Staffs. & Worcs.</td> <td>Stewponey Wharf</td> <td>32</td> <td>0.5</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Staffs. & Worcs.</td> <td>Stourton Junction</td> <td>33</td> <td>1</td> <td>1</td> <td>0.5</td> <td>Junction with <a href="http://birmingham.gov.uk/html/tourist_info/canals/canalduh.html">Stourbridge canal.</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Stourbridge</td> <td>Stourbridge</td> <td>15</td> <td>3</td> <td>5</td> <td>1.5</td> <td>Here the canal begins its ascent of the Stourbridge 16. There is a short arm into the town centre itself. The town is famous for <a href="http://www.woden.com/dudley/glass.html ">glass making</a> including <a href="http://birmingham.gov.uk/html/tourist_info/ryl_b_xtl.html">Royal Brierley</a>.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Stourbridge</td> <td>Delph Junction</td> <td>0</td> <td>6.5</td> <td>21</td> <td>5.5</td> <td>A head on junction followed by the Black Delph Nine. Now only eight locks following rebuilding.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="http://birmingham.gov.uk/html/tourist_info/canals/canalduh4.html">Dudley No.1</a></td> <td>Parkhead Junction</td> <td>14</td> <td>7.9</td> <td>30</td> <td>6</td> <td>The Dudley No.1 joins the Dudley No.2 one lock up the Parkhead flight.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Dudley No. 2</td> <td>Windmill End Junction</td> <td>10</td> <td>11</td> <td>30</td> <td>6.5</td> <td>The Netherton branch of the B.C.N. joins from the north. The main line continues down through Gosty Hill tunnel to Hawne basin and used to continue through the <a href="http://www.eeap.aston.ac.uk/pjb/lapal">Lapal tunnel</a> to join the W&B</td> </tr> <tr> <td>B.C.N. Netherton</td> <td>Netherton Tunnel</td> <td>0</td> <td>11</td> <td>30</td> <td>6.5</td> <td>3075yds</td> </tr> <tr> <td>B.C.N. Netherton</td> <td>Dudley Port Junction</td> <td>0</td> <td>13</td> <td>30</td> <td>7.5</td> <td>After passing under the old main line the Netherton branch meets the <a href="http://birmingham.gov.uk/html/tourist_info/canals/canalh.html">B.C.N.</a> new main line.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>B.C.N. Main Line</td> <td>Factory Junction</td> <td>26</td> <td>14.1</td> <td>33</td> <td>8</td> <td>Up the three locks to rejoin the old main line.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Dudley No.1</td> <td>Black Country Museum</td> <td>0</td> <td>15</td> <td>33</td> <td>8.5</td> <td>Safe moorings at the wharf behind the steel fence. Access by BW key, but not any more.</td> </tr> <tr> <th colspan=7><a name="day10">Day 10 - Monday</th> </tr> <tr> <th>Waterway</th> <th>Location</th> <th>Bridge</th> <th>Miles</th> <th>Locks</th> <th>Hours</th> <th>Notes</th> </tr> <tr> <td>Dudley No.1</td> <td>Black Country Museum</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>B.C.N. Main Line</td> <td>Factory Junction</td> <td>26</td> <td>1</td> <td>0</td> <td>0.5</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>B.C.N. Main Line</td> <td>Deepfields Junction</td> <td>50</td> <td>5.5</td> <td>0</td> <td>1.5</td> <td>The remains of the Wednesbury Oak loop are to the north, now terminating in a BW yard.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>B.C.N. Main Line</td> <td>Horseley Fields Junction</td> <td>69</td> <td>11</td> <td>10</td> <td>4.5</td> <td>The <a href="http://birmingham.gov.uk/html/tourist_info/canals/canalWE.html">W&E</a> winds off to the north here. A classic contour canal passing many collieries it used to join up with the Coventry canal. The top six miles are now shut and the canal is little used, but restoration work is underway on this through route. The canal will close again briefly when the wall which I built collapses and has to be taken out!</td> </tr> <tr> <td>B.C.N. Main Line</td> <td>Aldersley Junction</td> <td>88</td> <td>14.5</td> <td>21</td> <td>6.5</td> <td>After descending the Wolverhampton flight from industrial back to countryside we rejoin the S&W...</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Staffs. & Worcs.</td> <td>Autherley Junction</td> <td>66</td> <td>15</td> <td>21</td> <td>7</td> <td>...and then just soon leave it again to head up the S.U.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Shropshire Union</td> <td>Stretton Aqueduct</td> <td>16</td> <td>20.5</td> <td>22</td> <td>9</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <th colspan=7><a name="day11">Day 11 - Tuesday</th> </tr> <tr> <th>Waterway</th> <th>Location</th> <th>Bridge</th> <th>Miles</th> <th>Locks</th> <th>Hours</th> <th>Notes</th> </tr> <tr> <td>Shropshire Union</td> <td>Stretton Aqueduct</td> <td>16</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Shropshire Union</td> <td>Norbury Junction</td> <td>38</td> <td>9</td> <td>1</td> <td>2.5</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Shropshire Union</td> <td>Market Drayton</td> <td>62</td> <td>20.5</td> <td>5</td> <td>6.5</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Shropshire Union</td> <td>Audlem</td> <td>78</td> <td>26.5</td> <td>22</td> <td>10.5</td> <td>We manage to find ourselves moored here yet again for another meal in the Shroppie Fly possibly.</td> </tr> <tr> <th colspan=7><a name="day12">Day 12 - Wednesday</th> </tr> <tr> <th>Waterway</th> <th>Location</th> <th>Bridge</th> <th>Miles</th> <th>Locks</th> <th>Hours</th> <th>Notes</th> </tr> <tr> <td>Shropshire Union</td> <td>Audlem</td> <td>78</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Shropshire Union</td> <td>Hurleston Junction</td> <td>97</td> <td>8</td> <td>5</td> <td>3</td> <td>With the Llangollen.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Shropshire Union</td> <td>Barbridge Junction</td> <td>100</td> <td>9.5</td> <td>5</td> <td>3.5</td> <td>Straight on past the Middlewich branch down which we came. </tr> <tr> <td>Shropshire Union</td> <td>Chester Junction</td> <td>126</td> <td>25.4</td> <td>19</td> <td>9.6</td> <td>One hour each side of high tide it is possible to pass Chester Weir onto the Dee, however this involves use of a submerged lock gate and is a touch tricky, having seen the pictures of a boat which missed and got stuck. Clive says it's not as good as Fladbury though.</td> </tr> <tr> <th colspan=7><a name="day13">Day 13 - Thursday</th> </tr> <tr> <th>Waterway</th> <th>Location</th> <th>Bridge</th> <th>Miles</th> <th>Locks</th> <th>Hours</th> <th>Notes</th> </tr> <tr> <td>Shropshire Union</td> <td><a href="http://www.cheshire.gov.uk/tourism/history.htm">Chester</a></td> <td>126</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>Large walled city with lots of shops and other sights to see. For those who wish to do so there is the option to remain here all day.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Shropshire Union</td> <td>Backford Bridge</td> <td>133</td> <td>3</td> <td>0</td> <td>1</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Shropshire Union</td> <td>Ellesmere Port</td> <td>147</td> <td>7</td> <td>0</td> <td>2</td> <td>The terminus of the canal, ending in a junction with the Manchester Ship Canal onto which we're banned from going. However there is the boat museum (<a href="http://www.liverpool.com/wirral/places/boat.htm">1</a>/<a href="http://www.british-waterways.com/museum/ellesmereport/port1.htm">2</a>) to look round with loads of old working narrowboats and other exhibits.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Shropshire Union</td> <td>Chester</td> <td>126</td> <td>13.5</td> <td>0</td> <td>4</td> <td>Return to pick up anyone who elected to remain here for the day.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Shropshire Union</td> <td>Beeston</td> <td>107</td> <td>16</td> <td>9</td> <td>5.5</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Shropshire Union</td> <td>Bunbury</td> <td>105</td> <td>17</td> <td>12</td> <td>6.5</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <th colspan=7><a name="day14">Day 14 - Friday</th> </tr> <tr> <th>Waterway</th> <th>Location</th> <th>Bridge</th> <th>Miles</th> <th>Locks</th> <th>Hours</th> <th>Notes</th> </tr> <tr> <td>Shropshire Union</td> <td>Bunbury</td> <td>105</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Shropshire Union</td> <td>Barbridge Junction</td> <td>100</td> <td>2.5</td> <td>2</td> <td>1</td> <td>Back onto the Middlewich branch.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>S.U. Middlewich</td> <td>Middlewich Junction</td> <td>32</td> <td>9.5</td> <td>6</td> <td>4.5</td> <td>And finally back onto the T&M.</td> </tr> <tr> <th colspan=7>TOTAL</th> </tr> <tr> <th>Waterways</th> <th> </th> <th> </th> <th>Miles</th> <th>Locks</th> <th>Hours</th> <th>Notes</th> </tr> <tr> <td>11</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td>303.5</td> <td>233</td> <td>116</td> <td> </td> </tr> </table> <a name="bottom"> </body>