The first lock that you
meet is a staircase just round the corner from the canal entrance. It is not
long until you enter the attractive park at Hanley. A few miles and you are out
of the town. Milton is well worth a stop and is the first obvious mooring spot out of Stoke.
The Miners Arms is an excellent basic pub serving a fine pint of Websters
Mild. Next door is a butchers where they sell a vast range of homemade pies.
Also in Milton is the excellent Millrace where Burtonwood Bitter and Forshaws
are served in top condition. Neither pub do food. The countryside gets prettier and prettier as you continue eastwards. Our favourite
mooring spot is on the aqueduct at Denford where we can admire the wonderful countryside.
A beautiful spot. The food at the Holly Bush, Denford just below is very good and the Ind
Coope Burton Ale is top notch. Draught Bass is also served.
The short trip to Leek was our favourite stretch of canal. There is only an industrial
estate at the end though and it is a good twenty minute walk to the Tesco. The bluebells
in springtime add to the magic. The Boat near Cheddleton is comfortable and serves a
good pint of Marstons Pedigree. We were very disappointed with the Black Lion at Consall
Forge, though I gather a change of owner has improved things. We couldn't fit under the
final tunnel and so walked the short distance to the terminus at Frogall. A nice picnic
area here.
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