I've got very behind with my posts recently and have many places we've visited over the last few weeks to report on not least our visits to Stafford Castle and to Cresswell Crags. In lieu of not getting to see the sea yet this year we have found ourselves drifting towards walks around lakes and along canal sides especially in the warmer, sunnier weather we've been experiencing. On Saturday morning we walked along a stretch of the Shropshire Union Canal from the Staffordshire Wildlife's nature reserve at Loynton Moss and along the canal towpath as far as the Anchor Inn and back. Firstly, however, I'm going to share some photos taken on some of the walks we've done over the last two or three weeks.
Reflections on the Caldon Canal at Consall Country Park in the Churnet Valley
One side of the station platforms hangs over the canal
More reflections - of the bridge over the canal
and of a moored canal boat
Reflections of boats on Rudyard Lake
I've probably told you in a previous post
that Mr and Mrs John Lockwood Kipling
named their son Rudyard
because of their love of this lake and this part of the world. The couple met at Burslem here in the city when John Lockwood Kipling worked on the front of the Wedgwood Institute about which I wrote a post here. Rudyard Kipling's mother was born Alice MacDonald and was one of four daughters of a Methodist Minister. Her sister Georgiana married the artist Sir Edward Burne-Jones.
On such a sunny day as the one we chose to walk on
I can see why they and so many other people over the years have loved this place and often return again and again.
Swans on the River Trent
Which flows close by the Wolseley Centre
the headquarters of the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust.
At one of their reserves, Loynton Moss, near Woodseaves, you can follow a path through woodland down to the towpath of the Shropshire Union Canal.
It was so quiet and peaceful down on the towpath. There were buzzards mewling above our heads, thermalling high in the sky, yellow butterflies fluttering around the bright celandines on the bank side and we saw the iridescent blue of kingfishers darting in a straight line down the canal.
Spring seems to be finally with us at last!
Some lovely photos and lovely places you have visited. We haven't been able to enjoy a proper day out in the nice weather yet, too much to do or think about at the moment - but I hope to get out soon. I'll look forward to your next posts, especially Cresswell Crags - somewhere we've been wanting to, and saying we will, visit for years but we still haven't been.
ReplyDeleteI lived for over 20 years less than 6 miles away from Cresswell but only ever visited the Crags a few times since I've been older. My cousin worked there for a while. We had a good look around the new visitor centre and walk near the caves but didn't go in as we were on a time limit to wend our way home to Stoke. I hope you get to visit soon:)
DeleteOh it all looks so peaceful - I love being beside water myself - interesting stuff about the Kiplings too.
ReplyDeleteI always find the history of places and the way they influenced people quite fascinating - the canal walk in the last photos was particularly peaceful.
DeleteWhat a lovely walk. I could look at the view in your first picture - or just your first picture if needed - all day! xx
ReplyDeleteThank you Amy - it was a very atmospheric day! A little sun, lots of reflections in the water and the woodsmoke from the house chimneys:)
DeleteOh I so enjoyed this walk Rosie. There's something about walking near water and canal towpaths are my favourites, so peaceful and relaxing. I'd never associated Rudyard Kipling with the lake, how interesting.
ReplyDeletePatricia x
Thank you Patricia, mostly the towpaths are peaceful and full of wildlife too with just the occasional boat chugging quietly by:)
DeleteGorgeous photos. I used to work for British Waterways and love canal walks. I really must pick up on a few this year that we've not done for a while. I'm planning a trip to Cresswell Crags this year too - but I want to go down the caves so we'll need to organise it. And I tend to be more of a spur-of-the-moment type of person!
ReplyDeleteThe presentation and facilities at the crags have altered so much over the last few years - the new visitor centre is very impressive - we walked by the caves but didn't go in this time. It is ages since I've been in one of them, there were a couple of school parties in when we visited using the downstairs education rooms but I expect you would have to book if you wanted to go in the caves:)
DeleteGorgeous wish we had some canal walks near us, they are always so peaceful, even the ones in London some of which I have walked in the past.
ReplyDeleteI would love to walk some of the London canals! I expect there would be so much to see:)
DeleteLovely photos of water and reflections. I love being and walking by water, too. I can understand why some people choose to spend so much time on a canal boat - it's such a relaxing environment.
ReplyDeleteThat is interesting about the Kiplings. I didn't realise that Rudyard was related to Edward Burne-Jones
I've just worked out that Edward Burne-Jones would have been Rudyard Kipling's uncle by marriage - I think:) I've enjoyed watching the tv programme on More4 with Timothy West and Prunella Scales on their canal boat - fascinating to see the different canals:)
DeleteI can see why you love walking by canals and lakes. Your photos show the tranquility of such places that attract the wildlife and people who want to find time to relax on the water or by the towpaths. The house jutting out into the lake looks interesting.
ReplyDeleteYes, there is a story about that house on the lake I've seen it somewhere but can't remember - I think it was built as a holiday home for someone of note in the area. The canal was more peaceful that the lake:)
DeleteLovely walks, always nice to be near water. Thank you for the info on Rudyard Kipling, I had no idea.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed the walk, Janet - it is interesting about the Kiplings isn't it?:)
DeleteLove the images. We're lucky to have the canals but something we miss out on as a family. We'll have to rectify that after seeing your photos.
ReplyDeleteI always love the walk down to the Caldon canal from the country park and it is a lovely walk down on the towpath and sometimes you see the steam trains pass by too:)
DeleteLovely photos and how great to be able to walk by the canal.That would just suit me.Our problem here in North Wales is finding flat walks.Interesting info on Rudyard Kipling.I am a big Bourne Jones fan.
ReplyDeleteThe walks at Trefor near Llangollen are interesting and you can walk to the aqueduct - the path is very narrow though - i chickened out halfway over and turned back as there was a party of Japanese tourists coming towards me and I couldn't see how we could safely pass by:)
DeleteThank you. Always a pleasure to accompany you on your walks. This one was especially nice.
ReplyDeleteThank you too and thank you for visiting. Glad you enjoyed the walk:)
DeleteWonderful photos Rosie. I like how the reflection of the bridge in the water makes a perfect circle! x
ReplyDeleteI love that reflection too and it does make a circle - sometimes clearer than others:)
DeleteLovely photos - I enjoyed going on the walks with you! X
ReplyDeleteThanks, Abby - glad you enjoyed the walk:)
DeleteSpring is here, and you are certainly making the most of it! I know what you mean about walking next to water. It's where we go when we need to clear our heads, like today as it happens. I love to see the birds too.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you had a lovely day out, Jessica - the last walk we took on the Shropshire Union Canal was so very quiet and peaceful. I remember saying all we need now is to see a Kingfisher and a few moments later we saw one darting along:)
DeleteI love the canal views Rosie. I have fond memories of a walk that I took with my sister and family along the Leeds-Liverpool canal. There is something very calming about the slow pace on a canal and I like to see all of those colourful narrowboats.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
Marie x
There is always so much of interest on the canals - either the wildlife or the industrial heritage. It does seem to be a very relaxed way of travelling and indeed living on those narrowboats:)
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