Guide to Cruising the Shropshire Union Canal on Charter Hotelboat Willow

Shropshire Union Canal:(Adjacent canals can be viewed with the above links)
The ‘Shroppie ’, as it’s known, is actually an amalgamation of earlier canals - the Birmingham & Liverpool Junction Canal which ran as a narrowbeam canal north from the Staffs & Worcs to Nantwich in Cheshire, where it met the wide beam Chester canal, continuing the route north to the attractive roman walled city of Chester and then on to link with the Mersey at Ellesmere Port.


Looking north and downhill on the attractive Audlem lock flight.	Adderley - by tradition, balance beams on the Shroppie have been painted grey and white rather than the usual black and white.	The Tyrley lock flight cut into sandstone bedrock - very attractive.	The northern end of Woodseaves cutting - 1.5 miles long - narrow - deep - stunning.

It is almost as if the two canals are still separate. The Chester part is typical wide beam canal and, southbound, the change to narrowbeam at Nantwich seems quite dramatic. When compared with the Trent and Mersey or the Staffs & Worcs canal, the Shroppie is a young canal. The newer building techniques are very evident, with long embankments and deep cuttings, and locks arranged closely in flights. The most prominent lock flight is at Audlem - the locks are well maintained and set in an attractive rural setting. Just north of the flight, the Shroppie passes over the River Weaver (tiny here compared with the navigation further north). Audlem itself is also pleasant for a wee wander.


The cutting just north of the Shebdon Embankment - note the stop gate, there to be closed to prevent catastrophic water loss should the embankment breach.	From 1911 to 1961 milk powder and cocoa crumb was transported to and from this Knighton factory and Cadbury's main factory at Bournville (south of Birmingham).	Norbury Junction.	Bridge 37 just north of Gnosall Heath.

South from Market Drayton the Shroppie becomes very attractive. Although not having as many locks as Audlem, the Tyrley flight of five are set in sandstone outcrops - one of the prettiest lock flights in the country. Some of the deep cuttings such as Woodseaves and Grub Street are particularly attractive on this section of the Shroppie. Not forgetting some panoramic views from impressive embankments. The canal is rural for almost all of it’s length southwards to Autherley where it joins the Staffs & Worcs - but with Brewood as a charming little canalside town on the way - again well worth a saunter.


From within the Cowley Tunnel at Gnosall.	Start of another pretty Shroppie cutting - here at Wheaton Aston.	Lapley Wood near Brewood.	Stop lock at Autherley Junction, where the Shroppie joins the older Staffs & Worcs canal.

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