Prees Branch to Colemere

 

After an exceedingly quiet night, apart from the cockerel at 4:00am, we set off returning to the main canal.

This section of the Llangollen canal passes through Whixhall Moss, which this time of year has a unique character.

One of the rebuilt bridges on this stretch.

We moored up near Little Mill Bridge No.55, Jo made a packed lunch and we set off for a walk around Colemere. Hadar as seen from Little Mill Bridge.

Little Mill cottage.

Colemere.

Rhododendrons starting to bloom.

Colemere Sailing Clubhouse.

The old vicarage overlooking Colemere.

St. John the Evangelist church.

The boathouse as seen from the church.

A real working water pump behind the church.

Alongside the church is an area called St. John’s wood, which has been turned into an area of woodland, with paths and glades, and things like this insect hotel.

The history of St. John’s wood.

We sat down in one of the glades on this bench and had our packed lunch, with a view across Colemere.

After we finished lunch we carried on with our walk around the mere, this was one of two swans that came in whilst we were walking along the edge of the mere, in front of the church. Apart from a pair of Grebe and some Mallards, there wasn’t much else to see, waterfowl wise.

Part of the path along the side of the mere has had a walkway built along it.

We then walked through the woods alongside the mere.

We were fascinated with this tree and its roots interwoven amongst the stonework.

The boggy ground around the mere is not ideal for supporting large trees.

We even came across some Shropshire Union Canal cast iron marker posts in the woods.

There is a squirrel in this next photo somewhere!

It would have been in this next photo, if it hadn’t moved!!!

But this one is a bit easier to see.

Keith.