Only a short cruise today, just two locks and a few miles. We arrived at Tixall Wide in time for lunch, then went for a long walk up into Brocton Coppice and around the Shugborough estate.

We started off by walking back along the towpath to bridge 106 then across the river, the railway line and the busy A513. There are many paths criss-crossing Brocton Coppice  and Cannock Chase. We went up across the Coppice to meet the Staffordshire Way between Harts Hill & Mere pits. The Staffordshire Way then took us back  along the A513 for a while before cutting across the Shugborough estate to join the towpath of the Trent & Mersey canal. From there we made our way back via Great Haywood junction.

There are a great many canal related walks that can be done which include part of the Staffordshire Way. This long distance footpath starts at Kinver Edge and goes up to Mow Cop. On the way it crosses, or goes close to, canals in seven different places.