Stone (Trent & Mersey Canal)  to  The Great Northern Basin (Erewash Canal)

This is a trip of 60 miles, and 42 locks.

 

We’ll expect our guests to arrive about 1.30pm and after an introductory blah blah (and most probably a glass of something fizzy) we’ll depart Stone and put in an hour or so’s chugging (depending on the weather) before stopping for our 1st night together around Weston. 

 

The next morning (after a simple DIY breakfast), we’ll chug off and make our way through Great Haywood and Rugeley (probably for lunchtime) then aim to end the day after Handsacre – possibly around Kings Bromley Wharf.    Day 3 will see us work our way down Fradley locks to Alrewas  for lunchtime (possibly to include  visit to  either The George & Dragon or Crown Inn) – (or both)  and we’ll try and moor for the evening in Barton Under Needwood . 

 

Next morning, we’ll top up the water tank and use the refuse facilities at Barton turn before continuing on our North Easterly journey with a plan to end the day around Shobnal (Burton Upon Trent).

 

Day 5 sees us passing Mercia Marina at Willington  - perhaps stopping off to nip into Midland Chandlers… there’s ALWAYS something you need from there!   Today we’ll pass Barrow Upon Trent, Swarkestone and Weston on Trent before we tie up for the Night in Shardlow.

 

Next morning, we’ll be hoping the weather has been kind and the River Trent isn’t in flood conditions as we’ll pass through Shardlow Floodgates and navigate our way downstream through Sawley flood locks and then turn off the river at Trentlock for lunch at the start/end of the Erewash canal.  Our plan will be to chug our way through Long Eaton and Sandiacre – finally calling it a day around Gallow Inn Lock.

 

Our final day’s travel will see us pass through Ilkeston  (probably lunching around Cotmanhay) and our travels will end after Langley Mill Lock where we’ll seek out our final mooring at Eastwood in the Great Northern Basin.  Our guests will depart after breakfast the following morning  having completed a trip of 60 miles, and 42 locks.

 

*Given the Erewash is a new canal for ‘Ellis’ we might try and put in a few longer days earlier in the trip to give more flexibility to explore the surrounding area… that said, as we’re at the mercy of the levels of the river Trent, the timings may all end muddled anyway -  If the river goes into flood we may not be able to get beyond Shardlow within the timescale so guests are advised to factor this into their return travel arrangements as best they can.