Arriving in Audlem on the Shropshire Union Canal

Sunday, 21 March 2010 21:18

Audlem is a lovely village in walking distance of the Shroppie

The Audlem flight of locks is a well maintained flight with plenty of opportunities to stop and moor in some of the lower pounds. After our night below Lock 2, we continued on down to Audlem.

Snows Bridge (77) from Lock 7

It was a wet trip and we needed our waterproofs to keep dry. We last went down this flight of 15 locks at the end of March last year - clickety click. On our way down this time we passed Terry (T. R. Boathandling) on narrowboat Shropshire Lass.

The restored stable by Lock 10 is still in good shape

Below Lock 11 is the beginning of the Audlem moorings. 48H visitor moorings are on the right and permanent moorings on the left. We were surprised that there were a few gaps on the latter, usually they are full. Later that evening we learned the reason why!

Looking back at the moorings in the pound below Lock 11

Below Lock 12 and Audlem Bridge 78 is the famous Shroppie Fly pub. Beside it is Audlem Mill, now a craft shop and art gallery. The Bridge Inn by the bridge has a good reputation but both this and the Shroppie Fly seem to exist in harmony!

We moored opposite the Bridge Inn on the 5 day moorings. The towpath side has 24H visitor moorings and the BW facilities alongside the Fly. This is a favourite spot of ours! Back near the bridge there is a satellite TV signal and it is a little away from the business of the area around the wharf. We shall stay for a bit - we enjoy the village, the area and the Folk night at the Fly on Monday evenings!

Moored on the 5 day moorings

It is very quiet at the moment, there are only a few boats passing through the flight. No doubt it will become rather more busy nearer Easter! We spent the evening in the Shroppie Fly with a friend from the Canal World Forum "Wrigglefingers" (aka Jill) who was scouting the area out! It was from Jill that we learned the story of the permanent moorings.

Shroppie Fly

They had a live band, Roadhouse (late 60s music) and after a nice meal we listened for a bit before Jill left. I left soon after as I needed my bed, but John stayed for the rest of the set

When the new Marina, Overwater, just before Bennetts Bridge (80) was agreed, BW withdrew the in-line moorings below Lock 11. The village of Audlem protested and they were reinstated. Meanwhile some of the boats moved off. Now they are returning, we hear, at lower mooring fees than before! That explains the gaps!

Overwater Marina is due to open soon and looks as if, given time, it could be a nice place to be if a Marina is your "thing".

Marina from towpath (click for larger version, as usual)

Marina from Bennetts Bridge