And Away...

A Little Time on Dry Land: Family, Castles and Rolo’s Big Adventure!

October 14, 2026

After arriving in St Leonards and settling back into life on dry land for a few weeks, we set about catching up with family and friends. Of course, no visit back to bricks and mortar would be complete without the annual round of doctor and dentist appointments — not quite as exciting as cruising the canals, but these things have to be done!

First stop was to catch up with our friend Helen over a lovely cup of tea, while Rolo wasted no time making a new friend of his own. Meet Finley! We’re beginning to suspect there’s a bit of a secret bromance developing between these two. There were definitely some very friendly vibes going on!

A Day Out at Bodiam Castle

On Tuesday, 30th September, we met up with Chris’s daughter, Stephanie, and spent the day exploring the beautiful Bodiam Castle.

Bodiam Castle is a stunning 14th-century moated castle near Robertsbridge in East Sussex, built around 1385 by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge. With its impressive towers, stone walls and moat, it looks like something straight out of a medieval storybook. Originally built during a time of fears of French invasion, it was designed both to provide defence and to show off its owner’s wealth and status. Today, it is cared for by the National Trust and remains one of the most picturesque castles in England.

It was lovely to spend some quality time together, exploring a little piece of Sussex history and enjoying a day out with family.

Showing Rolo the Sights

Thursday brought another spell of lovely weather, so we decided it was the perfect opportunity to take Rolo out and show him around St Leonards and Hastings.

Hastings is, of course, famous for its connection to the Battle of Hastings in 1066, when William the Conqueror changed the course of English history. Over the centuries, it developed into a busy fishing port and seaside resort, with its historic Old Town, castle ruins and traditional fishing fleet still giving it plenty of character today.

Next door, St Leonards-on-Sea was developed in the early 19th century by James Burton as a fashionable seaside resort. Designed to attract visitors looking for a little elegance and relaxation by the sea, it has grown into a place with its own distinctive charm, independent shops, lovely seafront and a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere.

We love spending time here. There is something special about slowing down, enjoying a stroll by the sea and simply taking life at a gentler pace. After all the cruising, locks and constantly moving on that come with life aboard And Away, a little time to relax and enjoy our surroundings is just what we need.

Rolo’s Big Day at the Vets!

Friday was a big day for Rolo — although we’re not entirely convinced he would agree with that description!

It was time for his little trip to the vets to be neutered. Poor Rolo! He went in as a happy, carefree chap and came out having had a rather unexpected alteration to his future plans. Let’s just say there won’t be any little Rolo lookalikes appearing on the canal network!

To give him credit, he took the whole thing remarkably well. He was soon back to being his usual self, although he was decidedly less impressed with the rather undignified lampshade he had to wear.

We’re not sure what offended him more: the trip to the vets, what had happened while he was there, or the fact that his new accessory made it rather difficult to investigate things properly!

Still, he soldiered on bravely, giving us plenty of those long-suffering looks that only a dog wearing a lampshade can manage. We suspect he was making it very clear that someone would be hearing about this later.

Saturday Markets and a Sunday Roast

Saturday was market day in St Leonards, and we were spoilt for choice with not one but two markets to explore!

The first was at St Leonards Church, right opposite our flat, while the second was just around the corner on Kings Road. Both were full of character, with a lovely mix of artisan crafts, delicious food, vintage clothing and all sorts of interesting finds. It’s always a pleasure to wander around these sorts of markets, supporting local makers and discovering something a little different. Having two right on our doorstep made it even better!

Sunday brought another lovely treat, as Helen and Jane came down to join us for Sunday lunch. And what a treat it was to have a full-sized oven and a proper kitchen to cook in again! After life aboard a narrowboat, where space is always at a premium, being able to prepare and cook a full Sunday roast felt like a real luxury.

Lunch was actually payment for a very important favour — Helen and Jane had kindly witnessed our wills. It’s one of those jobs that you know you ought to get sorted, but can so easily put off. We decided it was best to get all that grown-up paperwork taken care of, and now it’s done! We could enjoy our Sunday lunch knowing we’d ticked another important thing off the list.

All in all, it’s been a lovely few days catching up with friends, enjoying the local markets, spending time with family and making the most of life on dry land. And, of course, keeping Rolo entertained — even if he’s still recovering from his unfortunate encounter with the lampshade!

House Meetings, Castle Gardens and a Trip Down Memory Lane

Monday brought us back to a little bit of reality with a house meeting involving the other flat owners. Fortunately, we own the freehold to our building, so we’re able to manage things ourselves rather than having to go through a management company.

There is some roof work that needs doing, which is never welcome news when it comes to the bank balance! However, while it’s a bit of a pain and an expense, it’s nowhere near the headache and cost it could be if we had to deal with a management company on top of everything else. Sometimes, taking care of things ourselves really does pay off!

Sissinghurst Castle Gardens – Making the Most of Our National Trust Membership

Thursday saw us heading out for another lovely day with Stephanie, this time visiting Sissinghurst Castle Garden in Kent. We’re certainly getting our money’s worth from our National Trust membership!

Sissinghurst is one of England’s most famous gardens, created by writer Vita Sackville-West and her husband, diplomat and author Harold Nicolson, from the 1930s onwards. Set around the remains of an Elizabethan manor house, the gardens are divided into a series of distinct outdoor rooms, each with its own character, planting scheme and colour palette.

The White Garden is particularly famous, with its elegant white flowers and silvery foliage, while the beautiful rose garden and colourful borders make it a wonderful place to wander. The property also has a fascinating literary history, and visitors can explore parts of the historic buildings as well as the gardens. The site of Sissinghurst is ancient and has been occupied since at least the Middle Ages. The present-day buildings began as a house built in the 1530s by Sir John Baker.

It was another lovely day out, enjoying beautiful surroundings and spending time together. We may have to start keeping a tally of how many National Trust properties we manage to visit!

Old Friends, Old Haunts and a Little Climbing History

The weekend was all about catching up with old friends and revisiting some familiar places.

On Saturday, I met up with some of the girls (and their partners!) I worked with back in the 1980s at Brighton Technical College. Yes, the 1980s — which sounds absolutely horrifying when you say it out loud! It was wonderful to see everyone again, share a lovely lunch and catch up on everyones news.

On Sunday, we headed to Harrison’s Rocks, a place that holds a very special place in Chris’s heart. Chris spent much of his youth here, and both he and his parents were involved in teaching climbing in the area.

Harrison’s Rocks, near Groombridge on the Kent and East Sussex border, is a well-known climbing spot, with sandstone outcrops rising up to around 12 metres and hundreds of climbing routes. It has been a favourite with climbers for generations, and the area has a wonderful history of teaching and encouraging people to get involved in the sport.

Chris’s mum, Julie Tullis, was a remarkable woman in her own right. She was a pioneering mountaineer and filmmaker who became the first British woman to summit K2 in 1986, but tragically died while descending during a storm, along with four other climbers from several expeditions, in what was later termed the 1986 K2 disaster or the “Black Summer” of 1986. Her achievements and adventurous spirit remain an important part of climbing history.

It’s easy to see why this place holds so many memories for Chris. Returning to somewhere that played such a big part in his childhood, and remembering his mum’s incredible achievements, made it a particularly special visit.

Afterwards, we headed to the local pub, another place full of memories from Chris’s younger days. It was lovely to revisit old haunts and spend a little time reconnecting with the past.

Back to the Beach Before Returning to And Away

After a couple of rainy days, the weather has turned glorious again, so we’ve been making the most of it with more walks along the beach. Rolo is quickly deciding that the beach is his favourite place in the world — all that space to explore, all those interesting smells, and plenty of opportunities to make new friends!

Before long, we’ll be heading down to Devon for a quick visit to see my mum, before making our way back to And Away.

We’re looking forward to returning to the boat and seeing her improvements. But that’s not the only change waiting for us!

While the boat was out of the water, we had another job taken care of and we’re very excited to see how it all looks. We’re keeping that one under wraps for now, though — you’ll have to wait until the next blog to find out what we’ve added!

So, until next time, it’s a few more days of family, friends, beach walks and enjoying life on dry land before we swap our bricks and mortar for the waterways once again.

Happy boating, everyone! 🚤❤️🐾

If you fancy a few days away in St Leonards , we rent out our flat and you can find it here:

https://www.feefo.com/en-GB/reviews/awaze-imports/6a5a5bfd60b29cb082c4a9e8/customer-review-

Rolo’s Blog 🐾🐾

Favourite snoozing spot this week: The sofa!

Number of locks conquered: 0 !

New friends: Finley !!!

Training achievement: Not taking off my lampshade!

Treat rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Working the sympathy vote

As always you can view everything on our youtube channel

https://www.youtube.com/@nbandaway

Dont forget the Merch Store !

https://andaway.teemill.com

If you would like to support us , you can now buy us a gallon of diesel or a glass of wine !!!

https://buymeacoffee.com/nbandaway
Aqueducts, Castles & Craning And Away Out of the Water!

September 30, 2026

The last couple of weeks have been fairly quiet on board And Away. We’ve been taking things at a slower pace, gradually making our way towards Wincham Wharf, where we were booked in to be craned out for blacking — but more about that later!

One of the highlights was spending a very pleasant 48 hours at Bramble Cuttings, one of our favourite moorings on the Trent & Mersey Canal.

It’s a lovely little spot, tucked away on the off-towpath side of the canal, and feels surprisingly private. There’s room for around three boats, along with picnic benches and BBQs, making it a great place to stop for a couple of days and enjoy a bit of peace and quiet. Which we spent with our friends Ian and Steph aboard Paws for Thought. And while we were there, we had a lovely surprise.

William and Sheila came over to introduce themselves. They told us they are subscribers to our YouTube channel, which is always such a lovely thing to hear. Way back at the very beginning of our adventures, when we were at Oakwood Marina, William and Sheila had been moored in front of us. So, after all those miles and months on the waterways, it was rather special to bump into them again completely by chance.

It’s moments like this that make the boating community so much fun. You set off thinking you’re simply travelling from one place to another, but along the way you meet people, make connections and occasionally discover that your paths have crossed before.

But Bramble Cuttings has an interesting history too.

The site was originally a clay excavation pit. Clay was dug out here and used to “puddle” — essentially line — the bottom of the Trent & Mersey Canal to help prevent water leaking away. A small narrow-gauge railway was once used to transport the clay from the excavation area down towards the canal, and remnants of the old railway can still be seen around the site.

It’s hard to imagine that industrial activity when you’re sitting there today surrounded by greenery and listening to the birds!

The area we enjoy today was once overgrown and neglected, but in August 1998, British Waterways, now the Canal & River Trust, teamed up with members of the Broken Cross Boat Club to transform it into a little oasis for boaters.

Volunteers and club members cleared the dense brambles, gorse and hawthorn, using a mechanical digger to reshape and level the land. The result is the lovely little mooring we can enjoy today.

And we certainly did enjoy it.

After the hustle and bustle of locks, towns and cruising, there’s something rather nice about finding a quiet spot like this, firing up the BBQ and simply staying put for a couple of days.

Sometimes the best part of life on the cut is not going anywhere at all.

Northwich and a Day Exploring Wales

From Bramble Cuttings, we continued our journey towards Northwich, where we moored for a few nights on the aqueduct.

We had hired a car, so decided to make the most of it and have a day out exploring North Wales and the Welsh borders. And, as we’ve been thinking about where we might eventually put down some roots, there was another question lurking in the background…

Could we live around here?

First stop was the spectacular Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.

And I have to say… VERY impressive, but also VERY scary when you’re standing up there looking down! 😳

Built in 1805, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct carries the Llangollen Canal high above the River Dee. At around 126 feet (38 metres) above the river, it is the longest aqueduct in Great Britain and the highest navigable canal aqueduct in the world.

All very impressive — but did I mention that I don’t like heights? 😱

Standing on the aqueduct and looking down is definitely one of those experiences where your brain keeps reminding you exactly how high up you are!

From there we headed on to Chirk, through the beautiful Ceiriog Valley and on to Llangollen, taking in the scenery and, naturally, continuing our ongoing search for potential future homesteads.

The Ceiriog Valley is absolutely stunning. Rolling hills, winding roads, beautiful countryside and little villages — it certainly gave us plenty to think about.

We finished our day at the absolutely gorgeous Chirk Castle. 🏰

Chirk Castle dates back to the late 13th century and was originally built as a fortress as part of Edward I’s network of castles along the Welsh border. It later became the family home of the Myddelton family, who bought the castle in 1595 and lived there for more than 400 years.

The family eventually moved out of their remaining private rooms in 2023 as part of an agreement with the National Trust, bringing to an end more than four centuries of the castle being a family home.

It really is a fascinating place — a medieval fortress on the outside, a grand country house on the inside, with centuries of family history wrapped up in it.

And, of course, Rolo thought the whole thing was brilliant because apparently castles, aqueducts and Welsh countryside are all excellent places for sniffing. 🐾

And Away Goes to the Boatyard

On Monday it was time to move on to Wincham Wharf, where And Away was booked in to be craned out of the water for her blacking.

This is one of those jobs that is an important part of narrowboat maintenance, even if it isn’t particularly glamorous.

We are having the hull grit blasted to remove the old coatings, rust and any loose material before applying a two-pack epoxy coating.

The epoxy provides a tough, waterproof protective barrier between the steel hull and the water. Keeping the hull properly protected helps reduce corrosion and, importantly, prolongs the life of the boat.

While she’s out of the water, we’re also taking the opportunity to have a little bit of paintwork done, so hopefully And Away will come out of the yard looking as good as she did going in — possibly even better!

Of course, watching your home being craned out of the water on two lifting straps, seemingly 50 feet in the air, is stomach-churning to say the least!

We stood there watching as she was lifted, and I think there may have been a few moments when we held our breath.

Thankfully, And Away is now safely in the hands of the team at Wincham Wharf, and we know they take good care of her.

Rolo Takes to the Rails

With And Away safely tucked up in the boatyard, we headed down to St Leonards-on-Sea, where we have our one-bedroom holiday apartment,

https://bit.ly/4xTrKJB

Rather than drive, we decided to take the train all the way from Northwich. It involved three changes, plus a short trip on the Underground through London — quite a journey!

But there was one member of the travelling party who took it all completely in his stride.

Rolo.

He was absolutely amazing. The trains, the stations, the crowds and even the Underground didn’t faze him in the slightest. And, naturally, he managed to make plenty of new friends along the way.

We’re going to be here for a couple of weeks, catching up with friends and family, enjoying plenty of walks along the beach and generally making the most of our time by the sea.

Meanwhile, And Away is having a little holiday of her own at Wincham Wharf.

Hopefully, when we return, she’ll be freshly blacked, looking smart and ready for the next chapter of our adventure.

And who knows… maybe somewhere among those Welsh hills and valleys we explored, we might just have found a place that could eventually become home.

But for now, we’re still And Away.

Rolo’s Blog 🐾
Favourite snoozing spot this week: The car!

Number of locks conquered: 0 !

New friends: Fellow passengers on the trains. !!!

Training achievement: Still working on the getting distracted thing and not listening to mum and dad!

Treat rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ its been a good week !

As always you can view everything on our youtube channel

https://www.youtube.com/@nbandaway

Dont forget the Merch Store !

https://andaway.teemill.com

If you would like to support us , you can now buy us a gallon of diesel or a glass of wine !!!

https://buymeacoffee.com/nbandaway
Completing the Four Counties Ring | 110 Miles, 94 Locks & a Bilge Surprise

September 16, 2026

Friday, September 4th found us back in Nantwich, where we were lucky enough to catch the Nantwich Food Festival. There was plenty to tempt the taste buds, with food from all over the place alongside local crafts and stalls. Despite the slightly damp start to the day, the sun eventually came out and the festival was really well attended.

As is often the way when you’re out and about, we bumped into some familiar boating faces too. While visiting a coffee stall, we ran into Paul and Anthony from Narrowboat Dexter’s Star, as well as Phil from Narrowboat Rincewind. It was lovely to see Phil again and, even better, to finally meet Paul and Anthony in person. One of the things we’re really enjoying about this adventure is how many of our online boating connections have turned into real-life friendships.

On Saturday, September 5th, we left the Shroppie behind and cruised onto new waters for And Away — the Middlewich Branch. We moored up near Cholmondeston Locks for a few days and settled in.

While we were there, we tackled some boat jobs, including doing a bit of paintwork in preparation for having the boat blacked in a couple of weeks. We also tackled one of those jobs that feels like it should qualify for the Mammoth Olympics — putting away the summer clothes and getting the winter wardrobe out!

By the end of the week, we moved up to Middlewich town and moored just before the final lock onto the Trent & Mersey Canal. It was while we were here that I discovered we had a bit of a problem.

I jumped in the shower, turned on the water and… the drain pump wasn’t kicking in.

Uh-oh.

After a bit of investigation, we discovered that the shower waste water hadn’t been pumped out into the canal — despite us using aquatic-friendly shower products, of course — it had been happily making its way into the bilge of the boat instead!

Not exactly what you want to discover.

Thankfully, we’d caught it very quickly and it hadn’t been going on for long. Cue us soaking up the water in the bilge with sponges and anything else we could find.

The following day, Chris had the rather delightful job of taking the bedroom wardrobe apart so he could get to the water pump.

As it turned out, the problem was actually quite simple. The pump had become blocked, meaning it couldn’t do its job and the shower water was simply overflowing into the boat.

Fortunately, once we’d cleared the blockage, everything was back to normal. Crisis averted!

On Sunday, we moved through the lock and back onto the Trent & Mersey Canal, completing our Four Counties Ring.

That’s quite a milestone for us — 110 miles and 94 locks!

We’ve now found ourselves a rather sneaky little mooring right in the middle of Middlewich. It’s got a 14-day limit, is on the off-towpath side, and even has official CRT notices, so it’s all perfectly legitimate. Best of all, there are lovely wide-open spaces nearby for Rolo to run to his heart’s content.

So we’re going to make the most of it and spend a few days here before continuing northwards along the Trent & Mersey towards Northwich.

Our next stop will be Wincham Wharf, where And Away is due to be blacked by Narrowboats Ltd — the very same people we bought the boat from right at the beginning of this adventure. It feels quite fitting to be returning to where it all started, albeit with quite a few more miles and locks under our belts!

And, of course, there’s no escaping the fact that autumn is definitely starting to arrive. We’re seeing more rainy days, cooler nights and that unmistakable feeling that summer is slipping away.

Before long, we’ll be lighting the stove again, settling down for cosy evenings aboard And Away and enjoying the canals in their autumn colours.

Bring on the cosy season!

Rolo’s Blog 🐾

Favourite snoozing spot this week: Mum !

Number of locks conquered: 8

New friends: Lola, running wild in the field and stream !!!

Training achievement: Still working on the getting distracted thing and not listening to mum and dad!

Treat rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Mum and Dad have been slacking in my treat rations this week !

As always you can view everything on our youtube channel

https://www.youtube.com/@nbandaway

Dont forget the Merch Store !

https://andaway.teemill.com

If you would like to support us , you can now buy us a gallon of diesel or a glass of wine !!!

https://buymeacoffee.com/nbandaway
Chester, Lock Trouble and Retracing Our Steps

September 2, 2026

We spent a few wonderful days in the beautiful city of Chester, and what a delight it was. There is something rather special about arriving somewhere by narrowboat and finding yourself moored right in the heart of a city, yet still feeling as though you are tucked away in your own little world.

Chester certainly didn’t disappoint. From the ancient city walls and fascinating history to the wonderful shops and, of course, the famous Rows with their unique two-level shops and beautiful timber-framed buildings, there was plenty to explore. Our mooring was incredibly convenient — right in the centre of everything — but, despite being in the middle of a busy city, it was surprisingly peaceful and very safe. It made the perfect base for exploring on foot.

One of our favourite discoveries was St John’s Church, one of Chester’s oldest and most fascinating buildings. The church dates back to the late 11th century and stands on the site of the Roman Basilica, making it a place where Chester’s history really comes alive. The church has seen centuries of change, with parts of the medieval building still remaining today. The “dust to dust” coffin at St John’s Church in Chester is a rare medieval solid-oak coffin hollowed out from a single tree trunk, embedded high up into the stone wall of the ruined eastern chapels. Discovered by a sexton during grave-digging in the 19th century, it was placed into the masonry by order of the local rector, with the words “Dust to Dust” later painted inside in a Victorian Gothic style.

We also explored the remains of the Roman amphitheatre and found Minerva’s Shrine, a small rock-cut shrine dedicated to the Roman goddess Minerva. It is thought to date from the 2nd century and is one of those little pieces of history that you could easily walk straight past without realising what you were looking at and amazing that after nearly 2000 years it is still in its original position.

Then there was Chester Racecourse , The Roodee — The name Roodee comes from the Old English word “Rood”, meaning cross, and “Eye”, meaning island — essentially, the Island of the Cross.

And that leads to one of Chester’s strangest legends.

According to the story, a statue of the Virgin Mary supposedly fell on and killed Lady Trawst while she was praying for rain. The locals decided to put the statue on trial for murder.

Yes — you heard that correctly.

The statue was found guilty and sentenced to death.

After a few days of wandering around Chester, shopping, sightseeing and generally enjoying city life, it was time to turn And Away around and retrace our route.

Our plan was to head back towards Beeston Castle, where we had hoped to find one of those idyllic, scenic canal moorings. Sadly, the canal gods had other ideas and there was no room at the inn — or, more accurately, no suitable mooring!

And then came Lock 10.

What should have been a fairly straightforward lock turned into a rather long adventure. The lock was leaking so badly that, during the final four feet of filling, it was emptying almost as quickly as it was filling. We sat there for over an hour, wondering quite how we were going to get the top gates open.

Thankfully, a few very helpful gongoozlers came to our rescue. With their help, and a fair bit of patience, we eventually managed to get the top gate open and And Away through. Another canal adventure to add to the collection!

From there we continued back towards Barbridge, where we spent a few days before moving on to Nantwich. While there, we caught up with fellow vlogger Darren aboard Sloop John B, which was lovely. It’s always great to meet people we’ve chatted with through the boating and vlogging community and finally put faces to names.

And then, of course, the rain arrived.

Now, normally we’d be complaining about the British weather, but we’re actually rather pleased to see it. The canals have been desperately in need of some rain, so we’ll happily take a few wet days if it means helping to replenish the waterways.

There is a very good reason we’re retracing our steps rather than continuing off in a completely new direction. And Away needs to head back towards the Trent & Mersey Canal, via the Middlewich Branch, because at the end of September we are heading back to Narrowboats Ltd to have And Away lifted out for blacking.

So, for the moment, we’re enjoying a slightly slower pace around Nantwich. Between the rain, shopping trips, topping up the water and generally getting a few jobs done, we’re expecting to hang around here for another week or so.

Then we’ll turn And Away onto the Middlewich Branch, heading towards new waters and the next chapter of our journey.

Sometimes cruising the canals isn’t about constantly discovering somewhere new. Sometimes you have to retrace your steps, deal with a stubborn lock, wait for the rain and simply enjoy where you are.

And after Chester, a leaky lock and a few days around Nantwich, we’re quite happy doing exactly that.

Until next time… keep following And Away!

Rolo’s Blog 🐾

Favourite snoozing spot this week: Dad’s jeans ?????— 😳😂

Number of locks conquered: 11 🚢

New friends: Jane and Steve, subscribers to the You Tube channel. 🐾

Training achievement: Still working on the getting distracted thing and not listening to mum and dad!

Treat rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Another week, another adventure, and back on rural towpaths so i can run free!!!!

As always you can view everything on our youtube channel

https://www.youtube.com/@nbandaway

Dont forget the Merch Store !

https://andaway.teemill.com

If you would like to support us , you can now buy us a gallon of diesel or a glass of wine !!!

https://buymeacoffee.com/nbandaway
Narrowboat Adventures from Audlem to Chester: Locks, Markets and Canal Life

August 19, 2026

We left Adderley and made our way through the Audlem Locks – all 15 of them! Thankfully, it was a fairly smooth journey, and we eventually moored just south of Nantwich.

It was there that we came across something we hadn’t seen before: a narrowboat being pulled backwards by hand!

Naturally, we had to ask what was going on. The owners explained that the water levels ahead were so low that, rather than risk damaging their boat, they had decided to turn around and pull the boat backwards to a marina about a mile or so back down the canal.

Ummm… did we need to rethink our plans?

The following morning, we decided to do a little investigating before committing ourselves. We walked up to the next two locks at Hack Green and checked out the winding hole. To us, the water levels looked absolutely fine, but we wanted a second opinion. Luckily, we met another boater who was coming from the direction we were planning to travel.

According to them, the water levels were fine. The reservoir had recovered, and there was nothing to worry about.

Well, that was good enough for us!

Hello, Nantwich

On Saturday, August 8th, we continued on to Nantwich and found a lovely mooring just past the aqueduct. We were pleasantly surprised to find a few trading boats nearby too.

And, of course, we had to investigate!

We enjoyed a delicious pizza from Baked on Board, while Roland was treated to something a little more permanent – a beautiful handmade leather collar from Paul on The Leather Boat.

Nantwich has medieval origins and is best known for its historic salt production, which dates back to Roman times and helped the town grow in importance throughout the Middle Ages. The town was once one of the most significant centres for salt in England, with brine springs being used to produce and trade salt across the country.

Much of Nantwich’s character today comes from its impressive collection of timber-framed buildings, many of which date from the 16th and 17th centuries. These survived a major fire in 1583, which destroyed much of the town, leading to a rebuilding period that created the distinctive black-and-white architecture seen today.

Nantwich also played a role in the English Civil War, most notably during the Battle of Nantwich in 1644, when Parliamentarian forces lifted a Royalist siege of the town. This event is still commemorated locally as “Holly Holy Day.”

Nantwich is a lovely town, and we enjoyed it so much that it has now made our list of possible places to consider when we eventually start house hunting. We may only have been passing through, but sometimes you get a feeling about a place, don’t you?

Onwards to Barbridge… and a Floating Market!

After leaving Nantwich, we moved up to Barbridge, mainly because there was going to be a floating market the following weekend.

And we all know how much I love a market!

This particular market, however, turned out to be all about the treats – for Roland and me! I’m sure Roland would argue that his treats were the more important purchases, but I think we both did rather well.

Our First Experience of Wide Locks

We had another new experience to add to our narrowboating education — wide locks!

Up until now, most of the locks we had travelled through had been narrow locks, designed for just one narrowboat at a time. The wide locks were a completely different story and, if I’m honest, looked a little daunting at first!

Suddenly, there was all that extra space, along with the prospect of sharing a lock with another boat. We weren’t quite sure what to expect or how different the experience would be.

As it turned out, there was really nothing to worry about. We soon got the hang of it and found that sharing the locks with another boat worked surprisingly well. A little communication, a bit of teamwork, and before long we were wondering what we had been so worried about!

Like so many things we’ve encountered on this journey, the wide locks looked far more intimidating than they actually were. Once we’d done a few, we felt much more comfortable and were ready to continue on towards Chester.

A Different Kind of Narrowboat Life in Chester

On Tuesday, August 18th, we slowly made our way into Chester, where we are currently moored.

And what a completely different vibe it is!

Instead of quiet countryside, fields and the occasional village pub, we are right in the middle of a city, surrounded by bars, restaurants, history and the famous city walls. It certainly makes a change from our usual moorings.

We are planning to spend a few days here and are planning a walking tour of the city today, so keep an eye out for that in the next blog, in around two weeks’ time.

There may also be a new haircut involved… stay tuned!

And finally, we had rain last night!

Now, don’t get me wrong, the rain was very much needed. But I’m not entirely sure how I feel about having to jump up at midnight, in my pyjamas, to put the covers up!

Ah well… I suppose that’s all part of narrowboat life!

Rolo’s Blog 🐶🐾

Favourite snoozing spot this week: In the sun.

Number of locks conquered: 28

New friends: Too many to name!

Training achievement: Recall When he gets distracted !

Treat rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another week, another adventure, another collection of new smells, and amazing fields to run wild in!

Rolo has some new attire this week !! Let us know what you think??

As always you can view everything on our youtube channel

https://www.youtube.com/@nbandaway

Dont forget the Merch Store !

https://andaway.teemill.com

If you would like to support us , you can now buy us a gallon of diesel or a glass of wine !!!
Cruising the Shropshire Union Canal: Church Eaton, Gnosall & Market Drayton by Narrowboat

August 6, 2026

After finishing our last blog, we had a lovely surprise as Sonya and Tony aboard Brightside sailed past us. They also produce the vlog Same Ship Different Day, and it was great to finally meet them in person after following each other online.

In fact, we’ve been catching up with quite a few of our “social media” boating friends recently. We also met Phil Johnson from NB Rincewind (Locking Through Life), Gwen and Lee aboard Spooky (Facebook: Fibre and Tan), and Dee from Narrowboat Patricia May (Facebook: Dee Narrowboater). It’s one of the unexpected joys of this lifestyle—turning online friendships into real ones.

After leaving Wheaton Aston, we cruised on to Church Eaton, a delightful village with a wonderful community-run pub, The Royal Oak.

When the pub was threatened with closure, 34 local villagers came together in 2016 to buy it, ensuring it remained at the heart of the community. Today, it continues to thrive as a village hub, hosting fundraising events, social gatherings, and providing a welcoming place for locals and visitors alike.

In a time when so many traditional village pubs are disappearing, it’s heartwarming to see a community say, “No… this place matters.” ❤️🍺 Of course, we felt it was our duty to do our bit by supporting them!

While in the village, we also visited the beautiful St. Editha’s Church, parts of which date back to the 12th century. The church is full of history, and the magnificent stained-glass windows—including work by renowned Victorian artist C.E. Kempe—make it well worth a visit.

Our next stop was Gnosall (pronounced Nos-all—the “G” is silent). This attractive Staffordshire village has a long history dating back to Saxon times and grew around the historic canal and its coaching routes. Today it’s a friendly place with a good selection of local shops, cafés, and plenty of charm, making it an ideal stop along the Shropshire Union Canal.

From Gnosall, we made what felt like quite a long cruise for us, eventually reaching Shebdon Aqueduct. We found a lovely rural mooring surrounded by peaceful countryside… and absolutely nothing else! Sometimes those quiet, isolated spots are exactly what you need.

Our next destination was Market Drayton. We felt it had the potential to be a really lovely market town, although parts of it seemed a little tired and in need of some attention. One place that certainly didn’t disappoint was The Red Lion, the historic home of Joule’s Brewery.

The original Red Lion dates back to 1623, and when Joule’s Brewery was revived in 2010, the new brewery was built directly behind the pub. The site sits above the same mineral-rich aquifer that made the original Joule’s beers famous over 200 years ago.

One thing that really caught my eye was the brewery’s famous Red Cross trademark. Long before it became the internationally recognised humanitarian symbol, John Joule registered it as his brewery’s trademark in 1867, making it one of the oldest registered beer trademarks in the world.

Inside the pub is the incredible Mouse Room, featuring beautiful oak panelling crafted in the style of Robert “Mouseman” Thompson, complete with carved mice hidden throughout the woodwork. It even contains the only nodding mouse ever created by Mouseman—so keep your eyes peeled if you visit! 🐭

The wonderful “monk” paintings are another highlight. They aren’t actually monks at all, but portraits of the craftsmen who built the new brewery, painted by award-winning artist Andrew Tift. They’re depicted as monks as a tribute to the Augustinian monks who brewed beer in nearby Stone centuries ago. It’s a brilliant blend of history, craftsmanship, and a touch of humour.

We love discovering places like this, where every pint comes with a story.

As I write this, we’re moored near the bottom of the Adderley Locks, tucked away in another beautiful rural spot. Adderley village is very small with no shop or even a pub ! But it does have quite possibly the best book exchange I have ever seen !!

The Wi-Fi isn’t the best here, but perhaps that’s no bad thing. Sometimes it’s nice to disconnect from the internet and reconnect with nature instead.

Rolo’s Blog 🐶🐾

Favourite snoozing spot this week: On top of the Weed Hatch 🤷🏻‍♀️

Number of locks conquered: 11

New friends: Betty ! 🐕‍🦺

Training achievement: Greeting new dogs calmly — we’re getting there!

Treat rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another week, another adventure, another collection of new smells, and amazing fields to run wild in!

Rolo has some new attire this week !! Let us know what you think?? 😂

As always you can view everything on our youtube channel

https://www.youtube.com/@nbandaway

Dont forget the Merch Store !

https://andaway.teemill.com

If you would like to support us , you can now buy us a gallon of diesel or a glass of wine !!!
From Tixall Wide to the Shroppie: Stafford, Moseley Old Hall and Brewood

July 22, 2026

Our narrowboat journey continued from Tixall Wide, taking us through Stafford, Acton Trussell, Penkridge and Coven before we moved onto the Shropshire Union Canal — affectionately known by boaters as the Shroppie.

Along the way, we enjoyed time with friends, discovered fantastic markets and bakeries, visited historic buildings, took Roland on his first bus journey and found a village that might just have the exact village vibe I love.

Friends, Wine and Boating Stories at Tixall Wide

We continued our stay at Tixall Wide for a couple more days, and our friends Geoff and Pamela joined us on their boat, Merrow Song.

We spent a couple of lovely evenings sitting together on the towpath, sharing wine, boating stories and tales of our lives — including our move back to the UK from the United States.

This is one of the things we love most about life on the canals. You never quite know who you will meet, and before long, complete strangers can become good friends, sharing stories and experiences over a glass of wine beside the water.

Leaving Tixall Wide and a Very Important Message

On Friday, 10 July, it was time for us to move on.

We winded at Tixall Wide, filled up with water, emptied the rubbish and completed all the usual boating chores before heading back through the Wide.

We waved goodbye to The Grockles and continued towards Stafford, eventually mooring near Bridge 100.

It was here that we met a lovely young girl called Kasia and her dad.

Kasia had been learning at school about pollution in the sea and had created a poster to raise awareness. She wanted to share her message on the canal, so we were very happy to put it up on AndAway.

And her message is one we completely agree with:

Please — no rubbish in our canals!

The UK’s canals are such an important part of our countryside and communities, and keeping them clean is something we all need to take responsibility for.

Exploring Stafford

Over the weekend, we spent time exploring Stafford on foot.

We were really impressed with the town. There was a clear sense of civic pride, with lots of flowers, attractive public spaces, lovely parks and a farmers’ market to explore.

We enjoyed wandering around the town and discovering some of its historic streets and buildings.

While visiting Victoria Park, we also stumbled across Party in the Park. It was clearly aimed more towards children and families, but it was lovely to see the park being used and enjoyed by the local community.

It was one of those unexpected discoveries that make exploring a new town so enjoyable.

Acton Trussell and Historic St James’ Church

On Monday, we moved on to Acton Trussell.

This attractive Staffordshire village has a long history and retains much of its peaceful rural character. Surrounded by beautiful countryside, it is a lovely place to explore on foot.

We took a stroll around the village and visited St James’ Church, a beautiful Grade II listed building.

Parts of the church date back to the 13th century, with later additions and alterations from the 15th and 17th centuries. Like so many of the historic churches we have discovered during our travels, St James’ is full of character and provides a fascinating glimpse into the history of the local area.

From Acton Trussell, we continued cruising towards Penkridge.

Penkridge Market and a Fantastic Cake Shop

While in Penkridge, we had a chat with Ian and Cathy from NB Muddle Puddle.

They told us about a very good cake shop.

Now, anyone who knows us will understand that this information could not simply be ignored!

So, naturally, we paid a visit to Jaspers.

What a find!

Jaspers sells fantastic cakes, bread, sausage rolls and plenty more, all at incredibly good prices. It is exactly the sort of place you hope to discover when travelling around the canals.

So, if you find yourself in Penkridge, make sure you pay Jaspers a visit. You won’t regret it!

Penkridge also has a fantastic market, and I absolutely loved it.

It reminded me so much of the market in Maidstone that my mum used to take me to when I was a child. I have always loved markets, and this one brought back some lovely memories.

Naturally, I also made a few purchases.

And, as I wandered around, I couldn’t help thinking:

“No income tax, no VAT, no money back, no guarantee!” 😄

Our Visit to Moseley Old Hall

From Penkridge, we continued towards Coven and moored near The Anchor pub.

On Saturday, 18 July, we took the bus to Moseley Old Hall.

This was also a very special journey for Roland because it was his first ever bus ride.

And he was absolutely brilliant!

He took everything in his stride, made friends with the other passengers and seemed to enjoy the whole experience. Another new adventure successfully completed by our little travelling companion.

Moseley Old Hall and King Charles II

Moseley Old Hall is a beautiful timber-framed farmhouse with a fascinating connection to King Charles II.

Following the Royalist defeat at the Battle of Worcester in 1651, Charles II was forced to flee for his life. He spent six weeks hiding from Parliamentarian forces while trying to escape the country.

Moseley Old Hall was one of the safe houses used during his escape.

Charles stayed at the Hall for a short time and was hidden in a priest hole while soldiers searched the area. The house is filled with stories of secrecy, escape and royal intrigue, making it a fascinating place to visit. We found it fascinating to think we touched the same door he did , walked on the same floors that he had 375 years earlier !

We thoroughly enjoyed exploring the house and learning more about this dramatic chapter in British history.

And, of course, Roland behaved impeccably.

Cruising onto the Shropshire Union Canal

On Sunday, 19 July, we moved onto a new canal — the Shropshire Union Canal, commonly known by boaters as The Shroppie.

After stopping at Morrisons for a few essentials, we spent the night at Pendeford before continuing towards Brewood.

And what a lovely village Brewood is!

I may have found my village vibe.

Discovering Brewood

Brewood is full of character, with beautiful old cottages, historic buildings and a wonderful village atmosphere. (pronounced Brood!)

We enjoyed wandering around and exploring some of the village’s historic churches and buildings.

We started at St Mary and St Chad’s Church, parts of which date back to the 13th century. Inside are four incredible alabaster tombs belonging to the Giffard family of Chillington. The oldest dates from 1556, and the tombs include wonderfully detailed effigies of the family members — and even the children. It really is a remarkable glimpse into the lives of a powerful local family who remained Catholic through the Reformation and Civil War.

Then we visited St Mary’s Catholic Church, designed by the famous Victorian architect Augustus Welby Pugin and opened in 1844. The church has a fascinating history, including an ancient statue of the Virgin Mary which is said to have survived the destruction of Blackladies Chapel during the Civil War. The statue bears marks said to have been made by a sword and musket ball — and local tradition tells of a mysterious liquid from the wound which was believed to have healing powers.

And then there was Speedwell Castle — an unusual and distinctive historic building that adds even more character to the village. A beautiful and rather unexpected Grade I listed 18th-century house right in the heart of the village. It was supposedly built by William Rock from the winnings of his racehorse, Speedwell!

Brewood is exactly the sort of place I love discovering while travelling around the UK.

Beautiful old buildings, fascinating history and plenty of places to simply wander and explore.

And, yes, it is definitely pronounced Brood! (or Brewed seeing as there are 4 pubs in close proximity)

Our Current Mooring

And so, this is where we leave you for this section of our journey.

We are currently sitting just below Wheaton Aston, near The Hartley Arms, where we enjoyed lunch yesterday.

The food was very good, and after all the walking, exploring and cruising, it was the perfect place to stop and enjoy a meal.

For now, AndAway is moored, the countryside is looking beautiful and we are continuing our journey along the Shroppie.

Until next time…

Rolo’s Blog 🐾

Favourite snoozing spot this week: The top of the boat — obviously! 😴

Number of locks conquered: 13 🚢

New friends: Ducks 🦆 — still not entirely sure about the swans 🦢

Training achievement: Greeting new dogs calmly — we’re getting there!

Treat rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Another week, another adventure, another collection of new smells, new places and new people to charm.

And, as usual, Rolo has decided that the boat belongs to him.

As always you can view everything on our youtube channel

https://www.youtube.com/@nbandaway

Dont forget the Merch Store !

https://andaway.teemill.com

If you would like to support us , you can now buy us a gallon of diesel or a glass of wine !!!
Meet Roland – The Newest Crew Member of NB AndAway!

July 8, 2026

Since I last wrote, we’ve certainly been keeping ourselves busy!

Our first stop was a weekend in Stone, a bustling market town on the Trent & Mersey Canal. If I’m honest, it wasn’t quite what I expected. There were some excellent pubs, plenty of charity shops to browse (always a favourite of ours!), but beyond that we found ourselves ready to move on.

Our next mooring was above Lock 26 at Aston-by-Stone, a quiet Staffordshire village with a population of around 1,000 people. Aston dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, when it was recorded as “Estone,” meaning eastern settlement. Today it’s a peaceful village with beautiful countryside, historic churches and a lovely rural feel—perfect for slowing the pace for a few days.

While we were there, we caught up with fellow boating YouTubers Karen and Jason from Just Two People for a drink at Aston Marina. It’s always great meeting up with friends from the boating community and putting the world to rights over a pint!

We stayed put until Friday 3rd July, when we picked up a hire car. A quick shout-out to Enterprise Rent-A-Car, who collected us directly from the canal. For those of us living aboard without a car, that’s an absolute game changer and made everything so easy.

The reason for the hire car? A very exciting trip to Milton Keynes…

Meet Roland!

We travelled to meet the wonderful volunteers at Dachshund Rescue UK, and that’s where we met the newest member of Team AndAway.

Introducing Roland—aka- Rolo!

Rolo is a 15-month-old purebred smooth-haired Miniature Dachshund rescue, and somehow it already feels like he’s always been part of the family. From the moment he stepped aboard, he settled in incredibly quickly and has taken over the boat as if he owns it… which, to be fair, he probably thinks he does!

His very first cruise came on Sunday as we travelled around two hours to the pretty village of Salt, passing through a couple of locks along the way. At first he wasn’t quite sure what to make of everything. The movement of the boat, the lock gates, the passing boats—it was all very new. But before long he relaxed, found a comfy spot on the roof and seemed quite content watching the world drift by.

The following day we cruised for another couple of hours, tackled another two locks, and by then Rolo was already becoming a seasoned boater. It’s been amazing to watch just how quickly he’s adapted to life afloat. He already seems completely at home.

We are now moored at the beautiful Tixall Wide, having joined a brand-new canal for us—the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal. Opened in 1772 and engineered by James Brindley, the canal stretches for around 46 miles between Great Haywood and Stourport-on-Severn. It’s regarded as one of England’s most scenic waterways, with peaceful countryside, historic bridges and charming villages lining much of its route.

One of our first outings with Rolo was to the magnificent Shugborough Estate, our first National Trust visit with him.

Shugborough Hall was originally built in the late 17th century and later became the ancestral home of the Anson family. The estate is perhaps best known through Admiral George Anson, who circumnavigated the globe in the 1740s and brought great wealth back to the family. Over the years, the estate has welcomed many notable visitors, including members of the Royal Family, and royal photographer Patrick Lichfield, the 5th earl. Today visitors can explore the impressive Georgian mansion, beautiful gardens and extensive parkland.

Rolo was an absolute star throughout the visit. Like many rescue dogs, he has a few things to work on, particularly being reactive towards other dogs, so we’ve already started some training with him. Even so, he continues to surprise us every day with how quickly he’s learning and gaining confidence.

After exploring Shugborough, we wandered into the lovely village of Great Haywood. What a delightful place! It has everything we’re looking for in a village—beautiful surroundings, canal connections, friendly pubs and plenty of countryside. Let’s just say it may have earned itself a place on our shortlist for future house hunting…

For now though, we’re staying put. Another heatwave is on the way, so Tixall Wide offers plenty of welcome shade for both us and Rolo. We’ll be taking life a little slower over the next few days with lots of gentle walks, plenty of cuddles, and helping our newest crew member continue settling into his new floating home.

Life aboard certainly feels a little different now… and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

As always you can view everything on our youtube channel

https://www.youtube.com/@nbandaway

Dont forget the Merch Store !

https://andaway.teemill.com

If you would like to support us , you can now buy us a gallon of diesel or a glass of wine !!!
Catching Up With AndAway – Harecastle to Wedgwood(and a possible new crew member?)

June 24, 2026

First of all, apologies! It seems my last blog about our journey through the Harecastle Tunnel has mysteriously disappeared into the depths of the internet, so I’ll do my best to catch everyone up.

We successfully made it through the Harecastle Tunnel in 39 minutes, and honestly, it was nowhere near as bad as I had imagined. The Canal & River Trust staff were on hand to help, carry out a brief safety check, and make sure our tunnel lights and horn were working before we headed in.

Thankfully, there were no bumps or scrapes to report!

The tunnel itself was certainly an eerie experience. At 1.6 miles (2.6 km) long, it is the second-longest canal tunnel on the network. The current tunnel was opened in 1827 and designed by the famous engineer Thomas Telford after the original tunnel, built by James Brindley in 1777, became too unstable and narrow for increasing canal traffic. Today, boaters can still see the blocked entrances to Brindley’s original tunnel alongside Telford’s impressive engineering achievement.

After emerging into daylight, we continued down the Trent & Mersey Canal and found a mooring at Westport Lake. What a lovely spot—although there seemed to be almost as many Canada geese as there were people, and the amount of goose poop was something else entirely!

On Saturday 30th May, we wandered down the towpath past the old potteries to the Etruria Canal Festival. It may be a relatively small festival, but it packed in historic boats, live music, food, beer, and plenty of canal enthusiasts. We also got the chance to catch up with our friend Aaron aboard fuel boat Halsall.

The following day, we visited Middleport Pottery, which we had passed a few times from the towpath. Middleport Pottery was established in 1888 by Burgess & Leigh and remains one of the few working Victorian potteries left in the UK. It is still producing world-famous Burleigh pottery today, using many traditional manufacturing techniques that have largely disappeared elsewhere.

On Tuesday 2nd June, we left the Trent & Mersey and headed onto new waters—the Caldon Canal.

The first section of the canal didn’t give us the best first impression, and several boaters advised us not to moor until after Bridge 18. They were absolutely right. Beyond Bridge 18 the scenery changed dramatically, opening into beautiful countryside once again.

After a couple of restful nights, we climbed the seven locks leading to the Leek Branch. This section was lined with permanently moored boats and proved surprisingly shallow in places. We had hoped to reach the very end of the branch but were stopped about half a mile short by a sign advising boats over 45 feet to wind there.

So wind we did!

After turning around, we headed back through Leek Tunnel and moored just beyond it. We also managed to get a grocery shop done—over the hills and far away, it seemed!

A few days later, we cruised back down the Leek Branch and made the sharp turn onto the Froghall Branch. Once again, the canal was extremely shallow, and we found ourselves grounded several times before eventually reaching Consall.

At Consall, the canal briefly joins the River Churnet—our first time cruising on a river. Fortunately, it was a very gentle introduction.

We moored opposite the Churnet Valley Railway, one of Britain’s best-preserved heritage railways. The line originally opened in 1849 and now operates beautifully restored steam and diesel trains through the scenic Staffordshire countryside. Watching the steam trains pass from the boat was a real treat.

An added bonus was having a cosy pub just a short walk away.

The next day, we walked to the end of the canal at Froghall Basin. To reach the basin by boat requires passing through Froghall Tunnel, one of the lowest tunnels on the canal network. Only a limited number of narrowboats can fit through, and unfortunately AndAway isn’t one of them.

The walk, however, was well worth it.

Froghall Basin was once a busy industrial wharf where limestone, coal, and ironstone were transferred between boats and local industries. Today it is a peaceful destination surrounded by woodland and walking trails. We enjoyed a visit to the lovely tea room, where I purchased a picture of the MadHatter’s Tea Party by a local artist.

Why the MadHatter?

Because the house I grew up in, in East Sussex, was called “Madhatters,” so it seemed fitting.

Before leaving Consall, we had one final novelty—travelling underneath the platform of Consall Station itself. Not many railway stations can claim that boats pass directly beneath them!

We then wound the boat and headed back up the Froghall Branch to the main canal, eventually mooring at the foot of Lock 4, a wonderfully peaceful spot.

On Monday 15th June, we cruised back to Etruria as it is conveniently close to Stoke-on-Trent railway station. From there, I headed down to Devon to spend a few days with Mum, leaving Chris behind with a substantial “honey-do” list for the boat.

Once reunited, we continued south along the Trent & Mersey Canal, working through five locks before finding a lovely mooring below Bridge 104.

On arrival, we were greeted by several cows standing in the canal—and one rather impressive bull!

Nearby is the Wedgwood Factory and V&A Wedgwood Collection, which we visited during our stay. We found it fascinating and learned a great deal about Josiah Wedgwood.

Josiah Wedgwood was not only one of Britain’s greatest potters and industrial innovators but also a passionate campaigner against slavery. In 1787, he produced the famous medallion featuring an enslaved man with the words “Am I Not a Man and a Brother?” The image became one of the most powerful symbols of the abolition movement and helped raise awareness of the campaign to end the transatlantic slave trade.

The weather has turned exceptionally hot recently, and we are now spending much of our time finding inventive ways to cool the boat down. One solution involves a portable shower, a bucket of canal water, and spraying the roof to reduce the temperature.

As I type this, it’s currently 32°C (90°F), which is just a little warm inside what is essentially a floating steel tube!

But in other news…

We may have an announcement about a new crew member very soon.

Stay tuned!

As always you can also catch up on our YouTube channel- available July 1st.

Dont forget the Merch Store !

https://andaway.teemill.com

If you would like to support us , you can now buy us a gallon of diesel or a glass of wine !!!
We Made It Through Harecastle… But That Was Just the Beginning!

June 10, 2026

Well, we made it through Harecastle Tunnel with only a slight bump on the way in!

At 1.6 miles long and only wide enough for one boat, Harecastle Tunnel had been playing on my mind for days. We had booked our passage for 2:00 pm and arrived at 1:50 pm to allow the Canal & River Trust team time to carry out their safety checks, including inspecting our tunnel lights and making sure our horn was working correctly.

Once given the all-clear, we entered the darkness. Thirty-nine minutes later we emerged back into the sunshine, and it really wasn’t anywhere near as bad as I had let my imagination convince me it would be.

From Harecastle we cruised down to Westport Lake and settled in for a few days. Located on the northern edge of Stoke-on-Trent, Westport Lake is the largest expanse of water in the city and a designated nature reserve. Surrounded by woodland and walking trails, it provides a peaceful escape from the urban surroundings and proved to be a lovely place to stop and relax. Apart from the goose poop !! Oh My ! So much goose poop !!

On Saturday, May 30th, we walked along the towpath to Etruria to visit the annual canal festival. The event featured historic narrowboats, live music, food stalls, local crafts, and, of course, plenty of beer. We also got to catch up with Aaron and see our favourite fuel boat, Halsall.

The following day we visited Middleport Pottery, which we had passed on our way to the festival. Founded in 1888 by Burgess & Leigh, Middleport Pottery is one of the UK’s last working Victorian potteries. The site remains in active production today and offers a fascinating glimpse into Stoke-on-Trent’s rich pottery heritage. After exploring the pottery, we rounded off the day with a Sunday roast at a nearby Toby Carvery. It wasn’t my favourite roast dinner, but it was convenient and close by!

After four days at Westport Lake, we left and headed onto the Caldon Canal.

Our first overnight stop was at Milton, where we moored up much to the apparent disgust of a homeowner whose property overlooks the canal. It did leave me wondering why you would buy a house next to a canal if you don’t like boats! Fortunately, the excellent fish and chips we enjoyed that evening more than made up for the frosty reception.

The next day we said goodbye to our friendly neighbour and continued further along the canal.

On Friday, June 5th, we travelled up the Leek Branch, passing through Leek Tunnel in the hope of reaching the terminus. Unfortunately, AndAway proved to be just a little too long, and we were unable to reach the very end. After winding the boat, we headed back through the tunnel and found a beautiful mooring where we stayed for a few days and enjoyed the peaceful surroundings.

Sunday saw us leave the Leek Branch and make the very tight turn onto the Froghall Branch.

The Froghall Branch is one of the most scenic sections of the Caldon Canal, winding through the stunning Churnet Valley. However, it is also one of the narrowest and shallowest waterways we have encountered so far. We quickly discovered this for ourselves, getting firmly grounded on at least two occasions and having to pole ourselves free before continuing.

Eventually, we reached Consall, located on a section where the canal shares its route with the River Churnet. This was our first experience mooring on a river, and what a location it was. We secured a spot directly opposite the tracks of the Churnet Valley Railway.

The Churnet Valley Railway is a heritage steam railway that operates along part of the former North Staffordshire Railway route. Running through the beautiful Churnet Valley, it offers visitors the chance to travel behind lovingly restored steam and diesel locomotives while enjoying spectacular countryside views. Watching the trains pass from our mooring was a real treat.

From Consall, we walked to the end of the Froghall Branch because, once again, AndAway’s dimensions prevented us from reaching the actual terminus. Froghall Tunnel, built in 1811, is famous for its exceptionally low headroom, and sadly we were simply too tall to fit through safely.

After three wonderful days at Consall, we winded the boat and began the journey back up the branch before rejoining the main Caldon Canal. We are currently moored at a lovely spot near the bottom of Lock 4, where we’ll spend a little time before slowly making our way back towards Stoke-on-Trent.

Next week I’ll be leaving AndAway for a few days to catch the train down to Devon and spend some time visiting my mum.

While both the Leek and Froghall Branches are undeniably beautiful and interesting, they haven’t quite become my favourites. Their shallow and narrow nature can make boating challenging and, at times, rather stressful. That said, the stunning countryside, peaceful moorings, and unique character of the waterways have certainly made them memorable parts of our journey.

As always you can also view all our adventures on our You Tube channel

https://www.youtube.com/@nbandaway

And the merch store!

https://andaway.teemill.com