Day Boating on the beautiful Shropshire Union Canal

The Shropshire Union Canal is a waterway in England that runs through the counties of Staffordshire, Shropshire and Cheshire. It was built when canals were a key mode of transportation and were used to move raw materials and finished products between different industrial ports and cities in the country.

With the arrival of the railways, the canals declined. Today, the canal system across the UK is mainly used for leisure boating. People enjoy walking, cycling and boating along the canal, making it a popular spot for outdoor activities and relaxation.

The Shropshire Union Canal is no different. It is a hub for boating holidays as it features scenic routes, historic bridges and old-fashioned locks that help boats navigate different water levels.

Day Boating from Norbury Junction

Norbury Junction in Staffordshire is where the Shrewsbury Canal meets the main line of the Shropshire Union Canal. And this is where we decided to hire a day boat and cruise along the waterways. We hired a day boat from Norbury Wharf Ltd. who offer a number of public trips as well as narrowboat hires.

The day boat that we hired, was called 'Victory', and was a semi-traditional, self-drive narrowboat, around 32 feet long and 6 feet 10 inches wide. It was powered by a modern diesel engine and had the capacity to carry up to ten people. The design included enclosed seating in the main saloon and outdoor seating in the forward well deck.

We had booked the day boat in advance and the team had emailed us all the necessary information before our trip. On the day of the trip, the check-in was quick and we received a short boating tuition with all necessary navigational and safety information. And off we went.

The boat was spacious with ample seating options. It had a small kitchenette with a hob, pans and kettle and other essentials like plates, mugs, cutlery, kitchen scissors, bottle opener etc. Cleaning essentials like washing up liquid, dish cloths, cleaning brushes etc. were also provided. There was hot and cold water in the kitchenette and a fresh water flush toilet.

Life jackets are provided for all members at the starting point. We had requested and received this at the time of the boat handover.

Since it was just the two of us on the boat, we took turns in casting off, cruising and mooring. 

We have been on boating holidays earlier - a 3-day boating holiday on the Norfolk Broads, electric canal boating in London and day boating in Lee Valley Country Park - so we had prior experience in handling boats, cruising on waterways, mooring etiquette etc. And it didn't take long to get a hang of handling this narrowboat.

Even if you have no prior experience with boating, you can still enjoy this experience as it is fairly easy to get the knack of manoeuvring the boat.

Cruising Routes on The Shropshire Union Canal

For day boat hires, there are two options for cruising from Norbury Wharf. You can either go North or South along the picturesque Shropshire Union Canal. We opted for the South route.

From Norbury Wharf we made our way towards the village of Gnosall (around 40 minutes).

There are two canalside public houses on this stretch near Gnosall - The Navigation and The Boat Inn. You can moor directly outside both the inns and walk to the village, if you fancy.

The Navigation Inn is a family run modern pub with a relaxing and friendly atmosphere. They are open currently but I had read on their Facebook page that they would be ceasing operation from September 2024.

The Boat Inn is also an old-style, family-run pub with a friendly atmosphere, good service and great home cooked food.

After you pass The Boat Inn in Gnosall, you'll go through the short Cowley Tunnel (74 m). 

About an hour later, you'll reach your first turning point at Little Onn, between Turnover Bridge (No. 26) and High Onn Bridge (No. 25). You can stop here and walk about 20 minutes to the village of Church Eaton, where there's a pub called The Royal Oak.

From Little Onn, you can continue for another 1 to 1 ½ hours to Wheaton Aston. Your final turning point will be just before the lock, as day boaters can't go through the lock.

In Wheaton Aston, there's a pub called The Hartley Arms by the canal that serves food and drink. It takes about 2 ½ to 3 hours to get back to Norbury Wharf from here. We made the turn here and retraced our way back to Norbury Wharf.

Our Experience

We thoroughly enjoyed the day boating experience on the Shropshire Union Canal. The boat was easy to handle and comfortable, with both indoor and outdoor seating. Cruising through the peaceful countryside, we passed through a short tunnel and under several small bridges and enjoyed beautiful views.

Since there were no locks on this route, we enjoyed a 17 mile stretch in a relaxing and pleasant way.

We stopped at a couple of points along the route, took in the serene atmosphere, enjoyed a picnic and overall made it a fun day on the water. We worked out the time in such a way that we were back at Norbury Wharf by 4.30pm as that is the latest return time - any returns after that time are charged at £30 per hour.

Facilities at Norbury Wharf

In addition to mooring facilities and boat hires, the Norbury Wharf marina and boatyard offer a wide range of other facilities and services for boaters and visitors. They offer boat sales, boat maintenance & repair services, fuel & pump-out services and water & electricity.

There is a small cafe and shop on site that offers refreshments, meals (homemade, daily specials) and basic groceries for boaters and visitors alike. A gift shop sells items like postcards and canal ware (hand painted watering cans & buckets, canal-themed books, plaques & signs).

Booking a Hire Boat with Norbury Wharf

To check availability and to book day boat, you can contact Norbury Wharf's booking team on 01785 284292 or email [email protected]

Useful information:

- Hire period: 9.00am to 4.30pm
- A returnable damage deposit of £80 cash is required on the day.
- Bring drinking water.
- Limited car parking at Norbury Junction.