A fantastic walk on farm tracks, country lanes, disused & current towpaths: starting at the Walk Mill clay pit (fishing pool), we headed over Lodge Hill into the lanes of Wedges Mills. A disused canal provided a peaceful, nature-laden trundle through the flat Staffs countryside to Long Moll's Bridge (no.76) on the Staffs & Worcs Canal.
Early rain showers, it did get fairly damp, gave way to beautiful weather, which made the whole walk a joy; clear light & great visibility demanded a few photos.
Definitely a journey of two halves; with the walk to Calf Heath seeming very isolated, although we were but a short distance off (but out of ear-shot of) the A5. As we walked the canal, we encountered more folk: Gailey Wharf was pretty & busy!
Up along to Penkridge, & the strollers & dog walkers. A pint in the Cross Keys on the canal. Into the village & down to the White Hart - which has an unusual beer 'garden' - for a swift'un, & just before catching the bus back to Cannock, one for the road in the Horse & Jockey.
All in all great stretch, with a big bunch o'nature, lovely scenery, & plenty to see. For the return leg, I'll probably leave the canal at the edge of Lower Gailey Reservoir & use the metalled roads of Hatherton to get back to Cannock; once we'd left the nature reserve of the disused Wedges Mills canal, there wasn't too much on offer along the Long Mile to Calf Heath.
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