Froghall and Leek

It was a little later than usual when we set off today, just after nine o'clock! We continued down towards Froghall - just after leaving the river, the canal is overshadowed by the Churnet Valley Railway station where one of the platforms overhangs the canal.

At the last lock there is a warning that craft over 65 feet have to turn here whilst below the lock there is a profile gauge for the short Froghall Tunnel, just before the final basin. Unfortunately, although we would be able to turn, we would not pass the tunnel.

We moored at the final winding hole and walked down to the basin. As we remarked in our blog four years ago when we last visited here, it is puzzling, to say the least, why so much effort was put into restoring the first Uttoxeter Lock and making the mooring basin since so few boats are able to access it. Amusingly, the mooring pontoons are marked 24 hours only!

After looking around - there is a restored boat that operates trips (presumably at weekends) and is sufficiently low to pass through the tunnel. The former warehouse is a reminder of how important this place was at one time, limestone and coal came down from the quarry at Caldon Low and nearby mines.

We retraced our route back up the locks to Hazlehurst Junction where we made a sharp turn onto the Leek arm. This arm is much shorter and has no locks, but is very green and rural.

However, just before the end there is a short tunnel. This tunnel collapsed not long ago and the new section can easily be seen as distinct from the original stone lining.

Christine and Andrew walked to the end whilst Mike turned the boat around. Andrew continued into town to look for a paper but found all shops were by now closed for the day.

At Endon we stopped to use the services, including filling our water tank before continuing back towards Stockton Brook. After extended discussions we finally decided on a plan that will deliver Andrew to Stoke station tomorrow so that he can recover his car parked at Anderton whilst we continue down through the city to meet up with him later. This meant that we could stop for the night with still a reasonable run into Stoke tomorrow morning.

16.1 miles - 9 locks