Consall Forge and then back up the Caldon

Oakmeadowford Lock

The wooded Churnet Valley near Consall Forge

Steam train passes Densie's moorings at Consall Forge

Two postings today as we had no interenet connectivity yesterday..

Wednesday 6th August
We left Cheddleton in bright and sunny weather  at 10am, descended the two Cheddleton locks, Wood's Lock and Oakmeadowford Lock where the canal joins the River Churnet for a mile. Since leaving Cheddleton the scenery has been delightful as the canal makes its way along the wooded Churnet Valley beneath the Peak District hills.  Further interest was provided by the Churnet Valley Railway which follows the canal and was running a steam engine passenger service that day.

We reached Consall Forge, a small remote settlement with an excellent pub, the Black Lion, and a Churnet Valley Railway station. We intended to spend the night there but carried on for half a mile to a winding hole where we could turn the boat before returning to Consall Forge at lunch time to moor near where the river leaves the canal.

After lunch on the boat we took a short steam train journey to Froghall 3 miles further down the canal and caught the next train back 20 minutes later.  In the evening we enjoyed a meal and drink at the Black Lion.

Thursday 7th August

We are now on our way home.  The return to Cheddleton was again very pleasant and we were lucky to catch several sightings of kingfishers, or perhaps the same kingfisher being chased up the canal by the boat.  The route took us up the Hazelhurst Locks to Endon where we filled up with water and moored half a mile further on.