Froghall

Sunday and a late start for us.

When we came here before, the house on the right was up for sale. We did look at it online but it wasn't for us. The new owners are busy building an extension - looks like a lot of work!

The Old Dock House, the first home of Methodism in Cheddleton.

Services were held here weekly from the 1790s.

As we move forward the canal becomes more surrounded by trees and this area is known as Little Switzerland.

Looking back at the Black Lion, a pub with no road access. You can only get there by walking or cycling or by boat. Yet it's always busy.

Alongside the canal runs the Churnett Valley Railway and Consall Forge platform and waiting room are built overhanging the canal.

Fancy sitting in there?

The further you go the narrower the canal gets, particularly at Cherryeye Bridge. 

A couple of times it wasn't too clear which way you had to go and it felt as if you were steering through the bushes.

But in the end we got to Froghall. We had to turn round before the tunnel and basin because the tunnel was too low for us to get through. A shame as the basin was empty and there are nice moorings there.

The basin is actually at the start of the (now closed) branch to Utoxeter. 

Being lunchtime we repaired to Hetty's Tea Shop. Lovely Bentley parked outside.

And it was back to our new favourites, Staffordshire oatcakes. 

Froghall has been described as an outpost of industry since the advent of the canal fostered the growth of the Caldon lime quarries. And here are the old lime kilns.

Nothing could keep me away from the Churnett Valley Railway.

And the chance of seeing a steam loco. I say loco because this engine is American.