The Ashby Canal

We have spent all this week on the Ashby Canal, a rural 22 mile canal that runs off the Coventry Canal, but was never finished, it was supposed to run for 30 miles and join with the Trent and Mersey Canal,  therefore it is a “there & back” trip, with no locks. 

The last six miles of the canal are a Site of Special Scientific Interest (“SSSI”) and the highlights of this week have been the wildlife. Robins get the prize for being the most abundant, closely followed by Ducks, including three broods of ducklings and Wood Pigeons, but we have also seen  a Jay, Geese (Canada & Graylag), Kestrel, Buzzards, Partridge, Pheasant, and lots more.

Whilst walking the tow path,  we even managed a prolonged viewing of a Water Vole, it climbed out of the water, approached us along a piece of wood, then appeared to sit and watch us, before returning to the canal and swimming to the other side (at a surprising speed, for a little guy). 

We have also started the silly place name competition, with the first entry being “Barton in the Beans” (see Instagram for a photo!).  A village just outside Market Bosworth, as in the Battle of Bosworth Field. Where Richard III (yes, the one found buried in a carpark in Leicester) lost to Henry VII (Henry VIII’s father).  We also stumbled across Crown Hill in Stoke Golding, where Henry VII was crowned (according to the Blue Plaque put up by The Charity of Thomas Barton, which was established in 1400, the year…. not mid-yesterday afternoon, and is still going for the benefit of the people of Stoke Golding!!)

Tomorrow the canals can welcome back boaters who are not full time living on board and who are hiring from boatyards, this will be an interesting week for sure. We might also be able to get a socially distanced pint in a pub garden too! Watch this space.

	This Week	Total
Locks	0	4
Miles Cruised (approx.)	32	58