The Shropshire Union Canal

An excellent canal shop at Autherley junction. Note that the water point and especially the sani station are some way up the canal. At Brewood, the Bridge is on the canal and serves Burtonwood Bitter. A walk down to the village is well worth it. Flowers everywhere and a good selection of  beers (Theakstons XB, Pedigree, Mansfield and one or two guest guest beers) at the Swan. 

Wheaton Aston is famous for selling the cheapest diesel (Bridge 19) on the whole canal system. Gas, oil etc are also sold. Gnosall has a good Bakery cum supermarket with the deservedly famous "Wrights" pies. Find it on the left side of the road from bridge 34. Walk beyond the small shops on the right which seem to be up for sale. The two pubs in the village serve Banks's plus Marstons (Boat) and Directors (Navigation).
 

In typical Shroppie style more green cuttings and even a telegraph pole in the middle of a bridge. The Anchor at High Offley is a wonderful  unspoilt pub serving Wadworth 6X straight from the cask and plenty of conversation from the boaters who use it. A pretty and tiny canal shop at the rear of the pub. 

There are fine views of the Wrekin along this next stretch. Take your time through the dark and dank Woodseaves cutting. You can pass boats along most of its length, just take its steadily and be thankful you are not walking.

At Market Drayton, we find the beer better than the pubs which tend to the garish. The Jack Hanby's Inn formerly the Star is a noisy pub, serving the excellent and local Hanby ales - Drawell and a seasonal beer. On the opposite side of the road the Stafford Court hotel serves a fine pint of Mansfield and Banks's Bitter. The Sunday carvery is recommended.  Other than that there are plenty of good shops. We were pleased to find that the market is almost as good as Rolt found it. It virtually takes over the whole town. 

The canal is very green and atmospheric north of here. Very peaceful. Audlem and Adderley locks are gentle and easy to operate though a couple of top gates are in need of re-setting. Look out for local produce on sale near the top of the Audlem flight. Audlem is wonderful Cheshire village. It is nice to find bendy roads and shops that still close in the afternoon! Plenty of fine little shops. Try the little coffee shop that sells the redoubtable Wrights pies, local eggs and good bread. Thankfully we found the Combermere Arms open and serving a good pint of Theakstons BB. Audlem gets the "Most unusual placed Sani Station" award. I wonder if the diners of the Shroppie Fly sitting under that sign of blue bucket realise just what is in those strange cartridges that are being lifted off those narrow boats. Undeterred we had an excellent meal (inside!) and a good pint of Wadworth 6X. Boddingtons and Flowers OB also served. Good Marstons beers at the Bridge next to an excellent canal shop. Excellent mooring  just below bridge 78. 

The Cheshire scenery is magnificent, perhaps this explains why there are so many boats moored up at Nantwich. At the viaduct, a ten minute walk you to Nantwich town centre where there are good shops and a covered market. On Welsh Row which runs below the canal aqueduct there is a feast of good pubs and eating places. The Black Lion is a must, serving four Weetwood ales plus a guest. A magnificent and atmospheric inn. The is a good pint of Lees Bitter at the Wilbraham Arms. The Oddfellows serves a decent pint of Burtonwood bitter and Top Hat. 

Past the Llangollen junction, The Barbridge Inn is a large Brewer's Fayre type pub. The handpumps are a pleasant sight and the Cain‘s Bitter is in good form. There is usually a guest ale. Food is good. At Barbridge, there is a nice little chandelry and a pub, the Jolly Tar which serves Marstons Pedigree and Flowers Original in good condition. Past the junction with the Middlewich, the canal opens up and locks are wide and very slow to fill. In particular, Beeston Steel lock has queues as only one boat at a time should use it. The restriction has been put in place as paired boats have been snagging on the jutting out steelwork. Good, attractive mooring at Calveley. The Davenport Arms is a friendly local serving Boddys, Cains and a guest. It is well worth mooring above, not below Beeston Stone lock to stock up with the home made preserves, pies etc that are sold from the lock cottage. The Shady Oak has mooring for a couple of boats and is more attractive on the outside that in. Very cold, Theakston BB and a couple of national brewery guest ales are on offer. Food is average. 

No locks but the three miles of moored boats at Huxley do a good job in slowing you down. Good mooring close to the Old Trooper at Christleton, a Beefeater serving Boddys, Pedigree and a guest ale in good condition. If you are planning to visit the boat museum at Ellesmere Port, look out for a money off voucher in the foyer of the pub. There is a sani station at Hoole Lane lock but the chances are, you won't have time to use the water point as you'll be holding up a queue of traffic. In Chester, most folk go through the staircase locks and moor up in the town arm where there is a single water point (!) and a sani-station. An alternative is to moor up close to but not under the city walls just after the winding hole. This is a good spot to get close to the shops and we had no trouble there. Plenty of good pubs. Our favourites are the Albion in Albion Street which is best got to via the city walls. Turn left from the canal and just keep walking. The unspoilt city pub is "family unfriendly" has "no fry ups" and superb Taylors Landlord, Cains Bitter and a guest. Wonderful food is served under candlelight before 8pm. Closer to the canal are the pricey Old Hawkers bar with 10 or so guest ales and opposite the much cheaper Mill House Hotel with another 10 or so real ales at very reasonable prices. 

Progress northbound out of Chester is slow as the waterway is shallow and weedy. As you make your way north, the scene becomes industrial. At Ellesmere Port, it is best to go down the two locks and moor overnight in the museum basin itself. Make sure you allow time to do the admission fee justice. An excellent museum. There is a security gate with a secret code that can be used to allow you back in or there is a BW key locked door at the front but as the two pubs near the basin are so bad, I recommend you enjoy a drink on your boat.