Our walk started from the Shady Oak at 10am on a cold , damp and misty day.  All six of our normal group were there but one had caught the cold that was currently circulating and was definitely not 100% fit. The picture shows the first part of our walk looking eastwards along the Shropshire Union canal.  Though the canal bank was likely to be a little muddy it was preferable to walking across the fields where your eyes often had to be fixed on the ground where you were going to place your next step.  Very few birds about, so apart from a group of red deer in the field  to our right there was little to stop us, and we made good time along the canal bank and soon reached the signboard for Mrs Harden’s Glory Hole.  Being on the opposite bank we did not visit but it certainly sounded interesting. 

Passing under the A49 road we arrived at our first lock called the Beeston Iron Lock.  A British Waterways notice board informed you that this listed lock was distorted and great care was necessary when it was used.  Even to our uneducated eyes it did not look quite right with water gushing through the gates.  It was not much further along the bank when we came to the second lock on our walk called the Beeston Stone lock.  In past times we had called at the small shop on the far bank which sold pies, ice cream etc but today it was closed so we could keep our new year resolutions about eating between meals.  Our attention was drawn to the circular brick hut at the side of the lock.  The sign painted on the wall near the hut said “Inside Hut”.  Was the hut still in use and exactly what was inside the hut.  As usual many theories abounded but as we carried on along the bank we had not reached a consensus opinion.  Soon we came to our final lock, the Tilstone Lock.  Here we left the Shropshire Union Canal and enjoyed a nice bit of quiet road as we made our way to Bunbury village.  As we entered the village we passed an old Bunbury school erected in 1830 which has now been converted for other use.  Further along the road we came to the Dysart Arms where we had eaten on a previous walk and opposite the pub was Bunbury church. The gates of the church listed the soldiers from the village who died in the two great wars with the list who died in the first nearly four times larger than those who died in the second.  As we walked through the village a delicious smell of chips hung in the air.  The thought of a tasty bag of chips was irresistible but where was the chippie.  We turned the corner into School Lane and there it was across the road with the light on and movement inside.  The sign gave the opening time as 12 noon, we had another 15 minutes to wait before opening time but would my friends wait?  No.  Passing further along School Lane we came to a small side lane with the name Sadlers Wells but how can you sing with no chips inside you?  When walking along School Lane you expect to meet a school and we shortly came to the local primary school.  A little further and we met the A49 which we crossed and made our way to Beeston village. The horse in the field came galloping over as we passed but having no mints it had to make do with a few handfuls of grass but we felt it was grateful for this small offering.  At last we reached Beeston village where the pictures taken at the centre show a pretty cottage with a rather decrepit structure opposite.  The village is very small and only minutes after we entered the village we were leaving it behind on our way to Beeston Castle. As we walked along the road which surrounds Beeston Castle grounds a few new birds were seen in the trees and added to the day list which at this point was rather small.  Ten minutes later we arrived back at the Shady Oak pub having failed to see a Buzzard which are common in the area.  Usually we finish the day with a pub meal but with one of our party feeling off colour with the cold we decided that it was better to go straight home.  3¼ hours for a 6 mile walk, even slower than usual but lots of interesting sites.

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