Caldon Canal

Since our last post on August 10th we progressed south down the Trent and Mersey Canal and last Friday August 11th we completed the 2926 yard Harecastle Tunnel.

After mooring at the southern end overnight we continued South picking up our next turn onto the Caldon Canal at Stoke on August 12th.
Today, Thursday August 17th we’re moored just short of bridge 28 on our return journey back towards the Trent and Mersey main line.
The Caldon Canal – or, more correctly, the Caldon Branch of the Trent and Mersey – was designed as an outlet on to the canal system for the Caldon limestone quarries near Frogall. It was opened as a single branch to Frogall in 1779, tramways being constructed to bring the vast quantities of limestone down from Caldon low quarries a couple of miles to the east. Eighteen years later the Caldon’s owners, the Trent and Mersey Canal Company decided to build a secondary branch from the Caldon Canal to Leek. When you approach Hazlehurst the canal divides. One stretch heads towards Leek the other to Frogall. When you first turn onto the canal at Eturia your first thoughts are ‘my god we’re are we heading’ the area is very built up and should I say very ‘uninviting’ in parts but once bridge 19 is reached the canal breaks out and becomes more rural. Trust us it’s well worth it! We chose to complete the Leek stretch first crossing the main line over a large aqueduct and the scenery was breathtaking. After completing the 130yd Leek tunnel only a small stretch of this section remains so we turned back thru’ the tunnel and moored overnight at a beautiful and idyllic spot within a lagoon.
Returning to Hazlehurst we turned to complete the Frogall stretch, this time navigating under the aqueduct which 2 days ago took us up to Leek. The main line to Frogall is superb and mostly enclosed by steep and thickly wooded hills, totally unspoilt! We passed Cheddleton where the Churnet Valley Steam Railway (pictured...) begins it’s journey down to Frogall, the canal actually runs within yards of Consall station. Here we moored for 2 nights next to the lime kilns and explored the area spending the whole of Wednesday riding the train. This morning prior to torrential rain and thunder we set off on the final length turning at Flint Mill Lock and mooring back at Consall. We then completed the final stretch of canal by cycle. Frogall tunnel is only 4ft 4 inches high and cannot be taken by Quidditch.
Well that’s our week on the Caldon. The canal itself is a difficult one to navigate, low bridges, very shallow and narrow in places and takes good skills when passing other boats. The scenery at the top end of both stretches is breathtaking, the best so far. Totally unspoilt and you definitely get a sense of being completely cut off from the rest of world. 10 out of 10. Tomorrow, Friday 18th we continue heading back towards the T and M main line.