A week up the Caldon Canal

We've spent a lovely week up the Caldon & are now back at Engine Lock where we were last Sunday. It's all a bit remote up there, edging into the Peak District, so apart from a couple of brief moments out walking when we've been on the top of a hill, we haven't had a signal, either phone or 3G.


We spent a couple of nights at Cheddleton both on the way up & back. It has an interesting Flint Mill that was used to grind flint (funnily enough) for use in the production of Earthenware pottery. There is no local flint, it was all brought in first by pack horse & then canal to be ground using water power, then steam power for use in the local potteries.



Cheddleton Flint Mill, run by volunteers, was open for visitors on our way back.

 Cheddleton is also the end of the line for the local historic railway. We'd been following the disused lines since Engine Lock, the tracks have been left in place as they are trying to extend the distance over which the old diesel & steam trains are used. However, apparently the locals have objected to the reopening of the line beyond Cheddleton.

End of the line - Cheddleton Station

Autumn is definitely here & we regretted our initial mooring spot under a tree.

camouflage!

On to the end of the canal at Froghall. It was a bit disappointing. We'd forgotten the fact that although it's a very remote location, it's also the site of a huge copper wire factory. Or at least it used to be. The majority of the site has been flattened, apart from a huge chimney that was apparently saved from demolition at the last minute. According to our source (a local from Stoke) the first Transatlantic communications cables were produced here. Part of the works are still in operation, which was part of the problem as they made a real racket that went on all night. Still, the old basin beyond the low Froghall tunnel was still worth a visit. We're way to high to get through that, so had to walk around the outside.

Froghall basin

Heading back down the canal we again passed through a particularly significant bridge for us. It's called the Cherry Eye Bridge (number 53) & is a very unusual shape. During our previous trip on the hire boat, whilst passing under this bridge Jack, our notorious black lab, decided that he'd get back on the boat having been walking along the towpath with me & V. He put his front paws on the boat & as Simon slowly crawled through the bridge, he told jack to get the rest of himself on pronto. He told him several times, but as usual with jack, he did his own thing. The consequence was a loud splash, an upside down Labrador & 4 paws sticking out of the water! I dragged him out & he was fine, in fact he probably quite enjoyed himself!

The Cherry Eye Bridge, or Jack's Bridge as we call it.

We'd passed by Consall Forge on our way up without stopping. This is the site of another of the historic railway stations that literally borders the canal...... it's a bit of a tight squeeze, as in fact are large parts of the canal & most of the bridges!

the canal goes right beside the platform

Consall Forge station

On Friday we saw carriages being pulled by an old diesel engine called 'Captain Charles' (one of the first batch of Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon built Type 3s ordered in 1957) & moored up at Consall Forge overnight in the hope of seeing a steam train or 2 on Saturday. It worked as we saw the steam train go past a couple of times. It stopped at the station near to our mooring & as it pulled away it made an awesome noise. We'd better get our anoraks out......

Captain Charles crosses the Caldon at Consall Forge

The steam train leaving the station

A lot of the woodland around the area is owned by the RSPB & on Friday afternoon I'd taken my bins for a wander up into Chase Wood. It was quite a steep climb up & I saw few birds, although it was a lovely walk. Then I came out near the top of the path & was suddenly surrounded by birds, more Nuthatches than I could shake a stick at,  several Treecreepers & Great Spotted Woodpeckers, and loads of Coal Tits& Goldcrests. It was fab. The views back down the Churnet valley were pretty spectacular as well

View down the Churnet Valley

The weather on Saturday was glorious so we decided to take V for a walk up into Chase Wood. This was a bit of a different style of walk. The only birds we saw & heard were pheasants, which Vera had great fun chasing! We did keep reminding her that she's nearly 15, but she was acting like a 5 year old. She hadn't had as much fun in ages. I don't expect that the pheasants would agree.