Caldon Canal

The Caldon Canal is a minor branch of the better known Trent and Mersey Canal, running from Stoke-upon-Trent towards Leek and Uttoxeter. Access to the towpath is easy as it is just North of Stoke railway station and Stoke is a very easy train ride from Derby. Although the first part of the ride is on a good quality surface the canal does not reach Uttoxeter and that approach is not easy from Cheddleton, although the Churnet Valley Railway would be a useful link on the days that trains run.

Starting the ride at Hanley.

An excellent surface to the path - route 550 of the National Cycle Network.


A relic of the days when the canal went all the way to Uttoxeter. It no longer does.

A minor road passes over the canal and this electrically powered lift bridge is actuated by a key which boaters carry

A nice pub here, unfortunately on the far side of the water.

Lucky indeed are the residents of these houses whose lovely gardens slope down to the water's edge.

And some of them have their own boats moored alongside.

Another lift bridge,
.

Information sign on the towpath.

                                             Very deep locks with commensurate gates of the order of 18 feet high.

                                                      Stockton Brook

The canal forks here with one branch going to Leek and the other towards Uttoxeter.

The Hollybush Inn,  an excellent place to stop for food.......................

.............. or a pint.

This grim looking building is Cheddleton Station where you can take a train ride towards Uttoxeter.

Or you have good choice of on-road routes.

From here on the canal towpath is not so good.

Although the scenery is quite nice.

Tamworth to Derby (Canal Ride)

Canal towpaths offer many advantages to the cyclist: no motor traffic, no hills (except where there are locks), beautiful scenery, much wildlife, lots of boats, great waterside pubs, and you cannot get lost.  By comparison the disadvantages are minor: the paths are often narrow and the  surfaces  poor, so care needed especially at the many low arched bridges. Beware of angler's gear especially extra long fishing poles but bear in mind that both anglers and boaters pay to use the waterways and we cyclists go for free. Boaters are much more friendly towards cyclists than are anglers, the former often being cyclists themselves and you will see many boats carrying bikes.

This route is the pretty way to cycle from Tamworth back home to Derby, a distance of some 35 miles almost entirely on three canals: the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal, The Coventry Canal and the Trent and Mersey Canal.  The train will whisk you to Tamworth from Derby in a little over 20 minutes, at minimal cost.

Thus

Bike on train for the fast run to Tamworth.

First sight of the canal at Tamworth, a  one and a half mile road ride from the train station.

                                                        Head in a westerly direction.                             

Fazeley is a canal junction with the Birmingham leg to the left and our route straight on to Fradley

                                                    The Sweetie Boat, a moblile sweet shop..

Arriving at Fradley Junction where we meet the Trent and Mersey Canal. Right to Alrewas and Burton. Left to Rugeley.


 

The Swan Inn at Fradley, reputedly the most photographed pub in England. Well, here's yet another picture of it!

Besides the Swan Inn there are a couple of alternative eateries at Fradley.  All serve excellent food at reasonable prices.

                                                        Chocolate box cottage at Alrewas.

The Trent and Mersey Canal runs Northwards to Burton on Trent and Willington just South of Derby from where it follows the River Trent which it joins at Sawley on the Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire border. The towpath is not good for cycling apart from the stretch between Swarkestone and Weston upon Trent which is part of the National Cycle Network.