Another interesting canal visit, but, to me, Worcestershire and Staffordshire aren't West country locations along with Herefordshire. Perhaps the "Cann Quarry canal" or "Stover canal" may feature in later excursions.😊
Thank you Jonathan, and thank you for your kind comments. From the outset, I have always included Herefordshire and Worcestershire (I didn't go into Staffordshire here) in 'my' area on my RUclips Channel. The Westcountry (as opposed to the South West) doesn't have a definitive clearly defined area. There are many reasons why I decided to include Herefordshire and Worcestershire. I now live in Gloucestershire (after spending most of my life in Cornwall) so, if I didn't, every video I made would mean a southerly journey. At this time of the year, journeys to and from Devon and Cornwall from where I live, can be horrendous (daily incidents on the M5). There is also the travel cost factor. In terms of canals, Devon and Cornwall have very few which are navigable (just one each) and none currently under restoration. Having said that, I have recently featured The Bude Canal in Cornwall, The Bridgwater & Taunton Canal, and the Chard Canal in Somerset. I have also previously covered the Exeter Canal and the Par Canal l and touched on the Tavistock Canal. I am planning on doing the Dorset and Somerset Canal soon. I am looking at filming the Hayle Canal in the autumn. I have looked at doing the Stover Canal - probably next year due to other commitments. Hope this helps! Cheers, Paul
I forgot to add - I used to live in Mainstone in Plymouth in Devon - my garden backed onto Plymbridge Woods, and I am very familiar with that area - Both the former tramway, and the Cann Canal are definitely ones I have down on my list to do in the future. It is a fascinating area. Watch this space! Cheers, Paul
@@westcountrywanderings Hi Paul, we must have been near neighbours at one time as I grew up in Southway, Plymouth so I know the Plym Bridge/ Estover area very well. If you visit the area soon you'll be shocked to see what has happened at the bottom of Novorrossicks Road 🫣 I was also in the RAF (aircraft technician) so we have things in common. I now live in Frome, Somerset, not far from the "Dorset and Somerset canal" There are many remains of the canal so definitely worth exploring. 🙋
@@JonathanColes-ib7tq Hi, yes, I was only there for a short time - from 2011 to 2014, until I moved to South Milton (near Salcombe) in the South Hams in Devon. I used to work at Sainsbury's at Marsh Mills (night shifts - loved it!). I have heard about the new flyover - I saw all the chaos on Forder Valley Road when I was there last year! I was a radar techinician on air defence radar in the 1980s. I have done a video on Frome, and also nearby Mells in one of my monthly vlogs. Cheers, Paul.
An enchanting section of canal, beautifully captured in video. The engineering effort involved in carving a way through all that rock is truly breathtaking. Thank you.
Hello Paul - greetings from a very hot and sunny Poland The Staffs and Worcs has a dear place in my heart - this is where I had my very first taste of canal boating in 1972. I remember we hired our narrow boat from Anglo Welsh iat Great Heywood Junction. What a superb time we had in the May of 1972. I thougherly enjoyed this video. Beautiful tranquility, peace and quiet and gorgeous countryside.
Thank you Michael! One of the most picturesque canals I think - I really enjoyed walking along the towpath here. I would never be able to handle a narrowboat - my co-ordination skills are shocking! I bet you have great memories of that canal boating holiday. Glad you enjoyed this trip on the canal. Hope you have a great week! Take care, Paul
Lovely tribute to a really beautiful canal - you really did it proud. I volunteered with CRT at Stourport until recently and many boaters I met were surprised and delighted at just how unspoilt the S & W is, despite 'civilisation' never being very far away. For a moment when you entered the Debdale cave, I could smell it ! Debdale lock, cave and spillweir are all listed but the cottage and footbridge are not, despite all being built by Brindley. Bonkers, I say...
Thank you Philip. Glad you enjoyed my little take on it. The CRT do a great job at Stourport - always tidy around the basins there, and thank for all of your hard work volunteering. Yes, the cave! It has a dampness about it, which is hard to describe. I am amazed that the cottage and footbridge aren't listed - bonkers indeed! Take care, Paul
Beautiful walk Paul. Thank you. . I looked it up. Wolverley is only 10 miles south of Wombourne, where I once lived. We used to walk the canal near Bratch Locks 🙂🌳🦆🦆
Oh, wow! Small world! Yes, it is quite close to both Staffordshire and the metropolitan county of West Midlands - at the extreme northern end of the area that I cover. Only this short section lies in Worcestershire though - never explored it before - beautiful canal. Quite quick to get to from where I live though, assuming the M5 and A449 is working OK - I was home in less than an hour. Thanks Cathy, Paul
Wow! That was an absolutely beautiful walk. One of the more picturesque canals that we've seen I think. Seems as though there was a wonderful picture waiting to be taken around every corner. Thank you Paul.👍
Thank you Daryl. Glad you enjoyed it - yes, it definitely is one of the most attractive canals out there - only a short section of it lies in 'my' area though. But, I enjoyed my afternoon exploring and doing photography here. Cheers, Paul
Hi Paul. family used to live in Kingswinford in 1977 to 1985 so used to the canal from Kiddy to Wolves. in later years cruised the section from wolves to Great Haywood. Try Swindon villlage with the canalside pubs and the steam pumping station renovated while we were there by a road steam enthusiast and the stewponey stretch too. On the Stourbridge arm is the old customs shed now used as a venue. Was in Dads customs area too. Local breweries were also in his remit, including Bathams, Mrs Pardoes, JPS, Banks and Hansons. Caroline.
Thank you Caroline! I don't know the West Midlands (as in the Metropolitan County, not the region) at all well, and have never been to Stourbridge, so that is really interesting information. I know that there is lots of canal history around there, BCN, The Dudleys, etc, but it is a bit outside the area that I cover - this was at the extreme northern end of it. Great to hear from you. Cheers, Paul C
Hi Paul, what a picturesque canal that is, really well captured, well done!! Very interesting history and associated legends too. I don't know about the swan but I can imagine a soldier or sailor disappearing and being taken for dead only to reappear some time later!! You wouldn't think you were traversing a built up area, a great towpath to walk I'm sure. All the best!!
Good morning David! Thank you - yes, although it is pinned around a magical swan, I can imagine that there was some truth in it with her husband going missing and returning many years later. It really is a lovely and very scenic canal - but only this short section lies in my region that I cover on YT. The Staffordshire border is just a couple of miles away. However, it fits in with other parts of both The River Severn, and other canals that I cover on the channel, and their history. Glad you enjoyed it. Hope you have a fab day! Paul
Good morning Paul your videos are always so professional and watchable and this is such a very beautiful area which you took us to and you had a lovely day for this visit. We love canal walking and you showed this off beautifully ~ Anna
Thank you Anna & Alf! Yes, I like walking along them, but I would not have the navigational skills or social skills (negotiating with other boaters) to manhandle a narrowboat on one! I love learning about their fascinating history though, and I have loads of books about canals - they are great places for photography and observing nature too. Always great to hear from you. Take care, Paul
That was a lovely video of an area I know nothing about. The canal did look narrow round that lock area- I am used to wider canals - but maybe our canal narrows somewhat at approaches to locks. They are definitely manufacturing longer & longer narrow boats these days so they wouldn’t be able to navigate along these waterways. Is the red coloured rock sandstone or clay? It seems an historical gem that has been neglected! P.s. the story of the Swan seems to be very familiar - definitely got a hint of Penelope & Odysseus? Think I have heard it before at other historical sites.
Thank you Diana! The red rock is sandstone in that area, specifically Triassic Sandstone (251-200 million years ago) - it is quite a sight and often forms caves, as shown in the video, by the lock there. You're right about narrowboats (and cars!) getting bigger - it wouldn't be possible for the bigger ones to navigate this canal. Yes, that's true about the swan story - there are variations of it in different area of the country. I wasn't really familiar with this canal or area either, as it is at the extreme northern end of the region. I always enjoy seeing and learning about new things though. Take care, Paul
I remember that well - it was horrendous. Still an unsolved murder - but some people will know, who will take their secret and crime to their grave, sadly.
I remember it too - it was horrendous- that poor family - if I remember correctly the police investigation was suspect. You live in hope that the truth will be revealed one day.
@@judithparker4608 Hi Judith. That was the National and some Local Governments decisions made at the time back in 1974. The people that made those decisions are probably no longer alive. In my videos, I state things which are factual now, not what things people are desirous of how they were in the past. Near to where I live is the town of Thornbury - when I was born, it was in the same county as where I live now - Gloucestershire. In 1974, Thornbury was moved to the brand new County of Avon. In 1996, Thornbury was moved again into the new county of South Gloucestershire ( a completely seperate county to Gloucestershire). I respect the fact that it is in that county now, rather than some residents wishes that it should be still part of Gloucestershire. The same applies to the Metropolitan County of the West Midlands (which isn't in the area that I cover on my channel), though of course, parts of the former areas of Worcestershire now lie within it. Wolverhampton now lies in the Metropolitan County of the West Midlands, and not Staffordshire, though of course, it used to be in Staffordshire. I respect the wishes of those that desire it still to be in the latter, though, it is not currently. Hence that was is what I stated in the video. Hope this clarifies matters. Regards, Paul
Another interesting canal visit, but, to me, Worcestershire and Staffordshire aren't West country locations along with Herefordshire. Perhaps the "Cann Quarry canal" or "Stover canal" may feature in later excursions.😊
Thank you Jonathan, and thank you for your kind comments.
From the outset, I have always included Herefordshire and Worcestershire (I didn't go into Staffordshire here) in 'my' area on my RUclips Channel. The Westcountry (as opposed to the South West) doesn't have a definitive clearly defined area.
There are many reasons why I decided to include Herefordshire and Worcestershire. I now live in Gloucestershire (after spending most of my life in Cornwall) so, if I didn't, every video I made would mean a southerly journey. At this time of the year, journeys to and from Devon and Cornwall from where I live, can be horrendous (daily incidents on the M5). There is also the travel cost factor.
In terms of canals, Devon and Cornwall have very few which are navigable (just one each) and none currently under restoration.
Having said that, I have recently featured The Bude Canal in Cornwall, The Bridgwater & Taunton Canal, and the Chard Canal in Somerset. I have also previously covered the Exeter Canal and the Par Canal l and touched on the Tavistock Canal. I am planning on doing the Dorset and Somerset Canal soon. I am looking at filming the Hayle Canal in the autumn.
I have looked at doing the Stover Canal - probably next year due to other commitments.
Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Paul
I forgot to add - I used to live in Mainstone in Plymouth in Devon - my garden backed onto Plymbridge Woods, and I am very familiar with that area - Both the former tramway, and the Cann Canal are definitely ones I have down on my list to do in the future. It is a fascinating area. Watch this space! Cheers, Paul
@@westcountrywanderings Hi Paul, we must have been near neighbours at one time as I grew up in Southway, Plymouth so I know the Plym Bridge/ Estover area very well. If you visit the area soon you'll be shocked to see what has happened at the bottom of Novorrossicks Road 🫣 I was also in the RAF (aircraft technician) so we have things in common. I now live in Frome, Somerset, not far from the "Dorset and Somerset canal" There are many remains of the canal so definitely worth exploring. 🙋
@@JonathanColes-ib7tq Hi, yes, I was only there for a short time - from 2011 to 2014, until I moved to South Milton (near Salcombe) in the South Hams in Devon. I used to work at Sainsbury's at Marsh Mills (night shifts - loved it!). I have heard about the new flyover - I saw all the chaos on Forder Valley Road when I was there last year! I was a radar techinician on air defence radar in the 1980s. I have done a video on Frome, and also nearby Mells in one of my monthly vlogs. Cheers, Paul.
An enchanting section of canal, beautifully captured in video. The engineering effort involved in carving a way through all that rock is truly breathtaking. Thank you.
Thank you Malcolm!
Glad you enjoyed it. It really is a super piece of engineering.
Cheers,
Paul.
Another good one, Paul. You clearly put a lot of thought and effort into the planning, filming, and editing of these videos, and it shows!
Thank you Jim - yes, each time takes me quite sometime to make, from research to filming and editing.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Take care,
Paul
Hello Paul - greetings from a very hot and sunny Poland
The Staffs and Worcs has a dear place in my heart - this is where I had my very first taste of canal boating in 1972. I remember we hired our narrow boat from Anglo Welsh iat Great Heywood Junction. What a superb time we had in the May of 1972.
I thougherly enjoyed this video. Beautiful tranquility, peace and quiet and gorgeous countryside.
Thank you Michael!
One of the most picturesque canals I think - I really enjoyed walking along the towpath here. I would never be able to handle a narrowboat - my co-ordination skills are shocking! I bet you have great memories of that canal boating holiday.
Glad you enjoyed this trip on the canal.
Hope you have a great week!
Take care,
Paul
Lovely tribute to a really beautiful canal - you really did it proud. I volunteered with CRT at Stourport until recently and many boaters I met were surprised and delighted at just how unspoilt the S & W is, despite 'civilisation' never being very far away. For a moment when you entered the Debdale cave, I could smell it ! Debdale lock, cave and spillweir are all listed but the cottage and footbridge are not, despite all being built by Brindley. Bonkers, I say...
Thank you Philip.
Glad you enjoyed my little take on it.
The CRT do a great job at Stourport - always tidy around the basins there, and thank for all of your hard work volunteering.
Yes, the cave! It has a dampness about it, which is hard to describe. I am amazed that the cottage and footbridge aren't listed - bonkers indeed!
Take care,
Paul
Beautiful walk Paul. Thank you. . I looked it up. Wolverley is only 10 miles south of Wombourne, where I once lived. We used to walk the canal near Bratch Locks 🙂🌳🦆🦆
Oh, wow! Small world!
Yes, it is quite close to both Staffordshire and the metropolitan county of West Midlands - at the extreme northern end of the area that I cover. Only this short section lies in Worcestershire though - never explored it before - beautiful canal. Quite quick to get to from where I live though, assuming the M5 and A449 is working OK - I was home in less than an hour.
Thanks Cathy,
Paul
Wow! That was an absolutely beautiful walk. One of the more picturesque canals that we've seen I think. Seems as though there was a wonderful picture waiting to be taken around every corner. Thank you Paul.👍
Thank you Daryl.
Glad you enjoyed it - yes, it definitely is one of the most attractive canals out there - only a short section of it lies in 'my' area though. But, I enjoyed my afternoon exploring and doing photography here.
Cheers,
Paul
Love your style, ! New supporter friend.
like done
Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it.
Cheers,
Paul
Hi Paul. family used to live in Kingswinford in 1977 to 1985 so used to the canal from Kiddy to Wolves. in later years cruised the section from wolves to Great Haywood. Try Swindon villlage with the canalside pubs and the steam pumping station renovated while we were there by a road steam enthusiast and the stewponey stretch too. On the Stourbridge arm is the old customs shed now used as a venue. Was in Dads customs area too. Local breweries were also in his remit, including Bathams, Mrs Pardoes, JPS, Banks and Hansons. Caroline.
Thank you Caroline!
I don't know the West Midlands (as in the Metropolitan County, not the region) at all well, and have never been to Stourbridge, so that is really interesting information. I know that there is lots of canal history around there, BCN, The Dudleys, etc, but it is a bit outside the area that I cover - this was at the extreme northern end of it.
Great to hear from you.
Cheers,
Paul
C
Hi Paul, what a picturesque canal that is, really well captured, well done!!
Very interesting history and associated legends too. I don't know about the swan but I can imagine a soldier or sailor disappearing and being taken for dead only to reappear some time later!!
You wouldn't think you were traversing a built up area, a great towpath to walk I'm sure.
All the best!!
Good morning David!
Thank you - yes, although it is pinned around a magical swan, I can imagine that there was some truth in it with her husband going missing and returning many years later.
It really is a lovely and very scenic canal - but only this short section lies in my region that I cover on YT. The Staffordshire border is just a couple of miles away. However, it fits in with other parts of both The River Severn, and other canals that I cover on the channel, and their history.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Hope you have a fab day!
Paul
Good morning Paul your videos are always so professional and watchable and this is such a very beautiful area which you took us to and you had a lovely day for this visit. We love canal walking and you showed this off beautifully ~ Anna
Thank you Anna & Alf!
Yes, I like walking along them, but I would not have the navigational skills or social skills (negotiating with other boaters) to manhandle a narrowboat on one!
I love learning about their fascinating history though, and I have loads of books about canals - they are great places for photography and observing nature too.
Always great to hear from you.
Take care,
Paul
You were right to describe this canal as beautiful. The video was a joy to watch & as always you managed to spot fascinating things on the way.
Thank you Faith!
Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, it really is a most joyous and beautiful stretch of canal.
Take care,
Paul
That was a lovely video of an area I know nothing about. The canal did look narrow round that lock area- I am used to wider canals - but maybe our canal narrows somewhat at approaches to locks. They are definitely manufacturing longer & longer narrow boats these days so they wouldn’t be able to navigate along these waterways. Is the red coloured rock sandstone or clay? It seems an historical gem that has been neglected!
P.s. the story of the Swan seems to be very familiar - definitely got a hint of Penelope & Odysseus? Think I have heard it before at other historical sites.
Thank you Diana!
The red rock is sandstone in that area, specifically Triassic Sandstone (251-200 million years ago) - it is quite a sight and often forms caves, as shown in the video, by the lock there.
You're right about narrowboats (and cars!) getting bigger - it wouldn't be possible for the bigger ones to navigate this canal.
Yes, that's true about the swan story - there are variations of it in different area of the country.
I wasn't really familiar with this canal or area either, as it is at the extreme northern end of the region. I always enjoy seeing and learning about new things though.
Take care,
Paul
The Stewponey is not that far from where local lad. Carl Drinkwater disappeared and after long investigation his body was found nearby. Caroline
I remember that well - it was horrendous. Still an unsolved murder - but some people will know, who will take their secret and crime to their grave, sadly.
I remember it too - it was horrendous- that poor family - if I remember correctly the police investigation was suspect. You live in hope that the truth will be revealed one day.
@@dianarolph1770 Yes, it was dreadful - lets hope the truth will come out.
NO WEST MIDLANDSS !!!😊
??? Why and what are you shouting?
@@westcountrywanderings West Midlands....1974
@@judithparker4608 Hi Judith. That was the National and some Local Governments decisions made at the time back in 1974. The people that made those decisions are probably no longer alive. In my videos, I state things which are factual now, not what things people are desirous of how they were in the past. Near to where I live is the town of Thornbury - when I was born, it was in the same county as where I live now - Gloucestershire. In 1974, Thornbury was moved to the brand new County of Avon. In 1996, Thornbury was moved again into the new county of South Gloucestershire ( a completely seperate county to Gloucestershire). I respect the fact that it is in that county now, rather than some residents wishes that it should be still part of Gloucestershire. The same applies to the Metropolitan County of the West Midlands (which isn't in the area that I cover on my channel), though of course, parts of the former areas of Worcestershire now lie within it. Wolverhampton now lies in the Metropolitan County of the West Midlands, and not Staffordshire, though of course, it used to be in Staffordshire. I respect the wishes of those that desire it still to be in the latter, though, it is not currently. Hence that was is what I stated in the video. Hope this clarifies matters.
Regards,
Paul
PS - My Dad is Staffordshire born and bred, although where he was born is still in present day Staffordshire.