Easter 2006 was warm and almost dry so I decided to go exploring. Changes to the law have supposedly opened up parts of the valley under "right to roam" legislation which took effect late in 2005.
With this in mind, I set Key Wood and Morris's Bridge, on an abandoned loop of the Uttoxeter Canal between Froghall and Oakamoor, as my targets.
Click the images to enlarge.
I left the car at Froghall Wharf, where many spring flowers were in bloom, including this patch of white wood anenomies with spikes of pink butterbur pushing through it.
The embankment of Whiston Plane, also part of the 1804 line, is now a feature of the golf course. From here, I walked along a quiet lane to Moneystone Quarry and the footpath leading to my objectives. This part of the trip was not photogenic.
Viewed from a distance, the bridge looks like it might be intact but when you get up close, you realise that it's a bit of a wreck.
At some point, it has either fallen down or been flattened into this ramp shape.
This is the slot for one of the ground paddles which when raised and lowered controlled the flow of water into the lock chamber.
And that was it. I retraced my steps to Whiston before picking up the line of the 1785 Caldon Low railway into Harston Wood.
Back to Froghall Wharf for a coffee from the corn warehouse.
That was the end of a respectable afternoon's walking.
My first experience with "access land" was not great but there are other areas on the revised Ordinance Survey Explorer maps that look more promising.
I can also say "been there and seen that" for California Lock and the milepost, both of which I somehow managed to miss when I visited the area before.
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