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Day

From/To

Miles

Time

Locks

Notes

Day 1.

Gailey Wharf
(Viking Afloat)

To
Coven

Gailey Wharf

To

Coven
(Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal)

 

 

5

 

 

2 hr

 

 

0 locks

A nice gentle start to your break, that gives you a straightforward lock free run to the village of Coven. The Fox & Anchor (01902 798786). Along the way you will pass Hatherton Junction, which is where the Hatherton Branch of the canal ran off to the coal fields of Cannock.

Day 2.

Coven

To

Norbury Junction

Coven

To

Autherley Junction
(Shropshire Union Canal)

To
Norbury Junction

 

 

3

 


16

 

 

1 hr

 


6 hrs

 

 

0 locks

 


2 locks

The first part of today's journey sees you cruising down the Staffs and Worcs Canal to Autherley Junction, where you turn very sharply right, to enter the Shropshire Union Canal. Be careful at the turn, as there is a 'stop lock' at the entrance. It is another 8 miles before you encounter another lock! Glorious countryside and pretty villages feature along this canal. The villages of Brewood (pronounced 'Brood')or Wheaton Aston both are attractive lunch time stops. (The good news is that you will be returning this way, so you can get to visit both!) Norbury Junction is the planned overnight stop.

Day 3.

Norbury Junction

To

Gnosall

Norbury Junction

To
Tyrley Wharf
(Market Drayton)

To
Gnosall

 

11

14

 

3 hrs

4 hrs

 

0 locks

0 locks

Not quite as bad a day as it may appear. The trip to Market Drayton is very simple but there is a flight of 5 locks just a mile before the town. We find that most customers choose not to descend down through these locks and so you can turn in the winding hole at the top of the flight and head back to Gnosall (pronounced 'Nosall'). If you have made an early start, you may well want to stop for lunch on the way back at the excellent Wharf Tavern (01630 661226) at Goldstone Wharf. Gnosall Heath is tonight's stop, but you are of course welcome to spend a second night at Norbury Junction.

Day 4.

Gnosall Heath

To

Hatherton Junction

Gnosall

To
Autherley Junction

to
Hatherton Junction
(Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal)

 

13

6

 

5 hrs

2 hrs

 

2 locks

0 locks

An easy day heading back to towards Gailey. A popular idea is to aim to visit the delightful village of Brewood for lunch. One hour's cruising from Brewood, brings you to Autherley Junction where you turn left, back onto the Staffs & Worcs Canal. Most customers on this route choose to finish the day mooring in at Hatherton Junction Misty's (01902 790570). It is just a gentle 40 minutes from here back to the base in the morning, so you can avoid a last minute rush!

Day 5.

Gailey Wharf
(Viking Afloat)

Hatherton Junction

To
Gailey Wharf

 

2

 

40 min

 

0 locks

The last morning and the boat needs to be returned by 9.00 am and vacated by 9.30 am So if you can get under way by 8.00 am you should manage this without any undue panic.