From Tyrley Locks to Cheswardine Wharf: A Memorable Family Walk Along the Shropshire Union Canal

Sunday 10th August 2025. Having been up early yesterday to drop off S (who was heading out to Guernsey with his Scout group) and walk Chee Dale in the Peak District, we decided an easy amble after a lie in*, with no travelling, was on the cards. [*To clarify, a ‘lie in’ with children is just a slightly later get up than the 4am alarm we had yesterday! 😅]

So, at a reasonable hour, we popped on our walking boots and headed toward the Shropshire Union Canal. It’s a lovely section of canal not far from us, but the route gets busy with dog walkers and families in nice weather, especially heading towards the town. Our preferred walk is to head south, away from the town, which is far less commonly walked. However, for the longest time, this towpath has been plagued by constant landslips and rendered the towpath impassable. We’ve tried several times to walk it over the past couple of years, and every time we’ve either been met by closure signs, or had to turn back due to unreported blockages.

Last year we tried again, but again our plans were thwarted, so back at home we contacted the Canals and Rivers Trust to let them know, and awaited the promised email of cleared works. That email never came, but today when we checked their website we saw no closures listed, and as we arrived at Tyrley locks, we found no signs either, so we plodded on with our fingers and toes crossed. We figured we’d give it a go, and worst case scenario, we walk back and go the busier route instead. We’ve done this many times before when we’ve got, quite literally stumped, from fallen trees 🤣

It was a particularly quiet morning at Tyrley Locks, and the only sign of human life we found initially was the smell of bacon as we passed the boats moored there. Not much further up we were passed by several boats on the move – a Sunday morning traffic jam in these parts 😂.

Around a half mile or so further down the towpath we could see that the route was finally cleared of the landslip. We gingerly crossed the new narrow pathway, complete with slippery rocks and found ourselves finally, after perhaps 5 years, able to walk towards the Wharf, near Cheswardine! We weren’t planning on visiting the Wharf pub today – being a Sunday it would be busy – but it’s wonderful to know that we could now organise a walk and lunch should we want to again!

Along the walk we also witnessed plenty of butterflies and dragonflies, and perhaps my favourite, this family of ducks! Mum did a great job getting her children past as we watched quietly. We passed her on the way back too and we couldn’t resist watching them all go past again. I do love ducks!

It is clear that, despite being open again, this towpath is still rarely used. We were fighting nettles and brambles for the entirety of the walk and my husband declared that next time we walk it, he will bring the strimmer! Despite the long dry summer we’ve had, we were also experiencing mud. And lots of it too. If you’d had suggested we wore gators when we started this walk today I’d have laughed, but we really could’ve done with wearing them on this fine, warm, sunny day 🙈. We were filthy when we got home!

As we approached the Wharf, we finally got a break from all the foliage that had slowed our progress. The towpath opened wider here, and as we passed a fisherman, we also spotted another keen fisher further up the towpath. We managed to get quite near to him, before he finally gave in and flew off, and then we went and sat on the bench just behind him to eat our own packed brunch. We all wondered, where does a bird this big hide and sleep?

Sandwiches over, it was time to head back. We discussed the option of a longer, but likely quicker, walk home to avoid all the overgrown foliage, although it would involve some road walking. But C was quite keen to walk back the way we’d come. Apparently nettles don’t bother him… (his limbs told a different story as the little white dots appeared over them, but he insisted he couldn’t feel them 🙈).

So we packed up and slowly made it back through the towpath jungle. Around the spot of the previous landslide we came across a man and some children, presumably dad and three daughters. All wearing very short shorts, vest tops and crocs. We warned them of the nettles and brambles to come but they were keen to continue so we left them to it. I wonder how they all fared 😳.

Very quickly, we were at Tyrley locks again and heading down the road to home. A steady wander, totalling 6 miles today in beautiful weather. We walked this route once before: before the landslips and Covid, when the boys were roughly 3 and 5, and I remember it feeling like much longer than 3 miles there and back! Of course the boys were much smaller and slower which was probably why, and they were so grateful when a drunk, but very friendly lady on a narrow boat, offered us a ride back to Tyrley locks (her driver was sober I hasten to add!). That was a memorable walk/narrow boat ride (a first for all of us!)! Today the amble there seemed nothing, it’s amazing what walking regularly with children can do. C had no complaints on today’s 6 mile sunny saunter!

Going forward, I’d love to walk further up the Shropshire Union Canal, beyond our usual walks, and knowing this direction is clear again makes it all the more likely we’ll be able to do it!

What’s your favourite section of the Shropshire Union Canal?