That’s the big one done, then.

Of the three flights of locks on the Shroppie, Audlem is the longest, 15 locks raising the canal 94 feet. The other two, at Adderley and Tyrley, have only 5 locks each. At least you can split the ascent of Audlem though, like we did.

Just after half past nine, on a beautiful sunny morning, we cast off as a boat was just coming down the lock ahead.


Lock 10, with old workshops alongside.

We were halfway up the flight before we encountered descending boats, but from this point on we were able to swap locks the rest of the way.



Lock 3, the top of “the thick”.

There’s a short gap before the final two at Cox Bank, with pleasant visitor moorings. Here we came across Steve and Angela, Tumbleweed No3. They were just about to set off walking down to meet us, so instead turned around and helped us up one and two instead.

Audlem Top Lock, with Steve and Angela
We celebrated with an ice cream tub each from the little honesty kiosk alongside the lock.

The mile and a quarter to the bottom of the next flight at Adderley passes through fine rolling scenery, quintessentially English Shire country.


We pulled in between Bridge 72 and the locks, it was lunchtime anyway and we’d done enough for the day.
There’s been boats up and down most of the afternoon, but it‘s gone quiet now.

We’ll head up Adderley Locks in the morning, aiming to moor in Market Drayton to wait out Monday’s forecast thundery showers. But we might press on, we’ll see.

Locks 11, miles 2¼