Caldon Canal - Leek Arm

Wednesday 1 August

We had spent Tuesday night moored in the basin at the start of the Caldon Canal where there is a bronze statue of James Brindley, an engineer who surveyed the line of this canal in 1772.  the moorings are next to the CRT facilities and outside the industrial museum and visitor centre  We felt safe here, and enjoyed an indian take away from a local restaurant 'Mirchi'.

Etruria Moorings and James Brindley statue

Through the first locks and under an electric swing bridge we went.  Until you reach the village of Milton, it is built up and run down in places and we would not have felt safe to moor.  Milton is a great village with two supermarkets, a chemist, book shop, florists, Chinese take away and a lovely butchers/bakery where we purchase our lunch of yummy pork pies! Moorings with rings here.


Delicious!

   Mooring up for the evening on the summit pound after climbing the Stockton Brook Locks, we went on an evening walk to the local village  of Stanley enjoying a pint in the Travellers Rest pub and walking back through the fields to the mooring.  

Thursday 2 August

After using the  CRT facilities at Park Lane, we headed on the Leek branch which winds through wonderful countryside and is really picturesque.  The  canal was narrow in places and shallow and as it is fairly busy at the moment due to the closure of some canals, passing other boaters (which you always seem to meet on bends) is good fun!

Leek Tunnel

We went through the Leek Tunnel and made it to the end of the navigable canal, but unfortunately there were no spaces to moor, so we returned back to moor not far from Hazlehurst locks to start our journey on the Froghall Arm tomorrow.