Delightful Cruising On The Staff And Worcs Canal by:Cliff Bayliss

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From the Trent and Mersey to the Severn 46 miles away

, the Staffs and Worsc (Staffordshire and Worcester Canal) is a popular and varied canal.

Mostly rural, the canal a visits some lovely towns, and attractive villages with just a taste of commercial activity.

Great Haywood, with its beautiful towpath bridge, is as lovely a spot as you will find on the system.

We first visited Great Heywood in 1985. We were returning our Anglo Welsh boat after our very first cruise. It was cold, and wet, so didn't see a lot of the town.
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Our next visit was in 2005, in bright sunshine, with our share-owned boat, Stella and we stayed three days, and loved it

Anglo Welsh has its narrow boat hire fleet here, and there is now a mariner operating close by.

A delightful farm shop is alongside the junction. It's fun just to wander around and marvel at the variety of goods on offer there.

Great Haywood is a great place for walks. Cannock Chase, and Shugborough Hall and Museum both offer interesting and easily accessible areas for walking.

On the way to either, you are likely to come across Essex Bridge, probably the finest example of a packhorse bridge in the country. It's just near lock 73.

Cross the canal bridge at lock 73, and you are in Great Haywood.

There is Spa, Post Office, laundromat and two excellent pubs, the Clifford Arms, and the Fox and Hounds.

There are plenty of good moorings, and water, pump out is available at the Anglo Welsh base.

Heading out of Great Heywood is a surprise, as Tixall Wide is more like a lake, than a canal. Depending on who you listen to, this was built to improve the view from Tixall Hall, or it is a natural lake there before the canal was built.

Whatever the real story is, it's a unique bit of canal, with an array of waterfowl and birdlife ever present.

The gate house to Tixall Hall is still visible.

Cruising through the Penk Valley, the towns of Baswich and Wildwood slip by, their front gardens sliding right to the canal.

There are only 5 locks from Great Heywood and Penkridge.

We like Penkridge, it's an ideal town to explore on food.

There is a handy fruit and veg there, some great pubs, a Co Op, a couple of banks, and fab market held by the river on Saturdays and Wednesdays.

The Library has internet access. There is a handy shop up by bridge 86 as well, for last minute supplies.

It is a contrasting cruise through Otrherton and Rodbaston locks, with the busy m6 thundering beside you on one side, and a peaceful rural outlook on the other.

The canal leaves the highway, and once through Boggs, Brick Kiln, and Gaily locks, one is ready for a pause at Gaily Wharf.

The Roundhouse Canal Shop is located here, right by Bridge 79 that carries the A5, (Watling Street) over the canal.

A unique gift shop housed in the original round toll clerk's office, it is a well stocked with an array of gifts, canal ware and souvenirs. Plenty of moorings right down to bridge 78.

Viking Afloat has one of their narrow boat hire fleets here as well.

It is now a winding, lock free cruise past Hatherton Junction, where Hatherton Marina is located. Here, a bit of industry creeps in with a few gravel pits and chemical works briefly appearing.

But this is only temporary, as soon the welcoming Fox and Anchor appears, tempting a stop for the evening.

The much improved Fox and Anchor has a large outdoor area overlooking the canal.

The canal narrows at Pendelford, so be wary.

Autherly Junction is where we left the Staffs, to head up the Shroppie. The Staffs continues through the West Midlands avoiding Wolverhampton, while visiting Cookley, Kidderminster and concluding at Stourport on Severn.
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About the author

Cliff and Jenni Bayliss have been cruising the Canals of the U.K. since 1985.

As well as hiring boats from narrowboat hire companies, they were for many years part owners of their own boat stella.

Cliff and Jenni now run the site Great Canal and River Holidays.

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