To mark our extended stay here in Willington, South Derbyshire we commissioned a figurehead for the boat from the talented Paul and Christine on Foxtrot (@Foxtrotand Wood ‘N’ Crafts). Willington Will, our guiding mallard duck will see us right!
We’ve also had our first Easter living on the boat so Happy Easter everyone.
I really should have started this blog with an apology to the seedlings on the roof – just as the spring onions, salad leaves, herbs and beetroot started to push through, in 4 hours we had 4 seasons early in the week – sun, snow, hail, rain, and punishing winds.
More biting winds and sharp frosts followed. Still, the seedlings have hung on and are currently encased in cloches of bubble wrap attached with bulldog clips and plastic bottles. Some other plants (surfina and tomatoes) destined for the roof this week have now moved into the bathroom to harden off! So there are seedlings on kitchen worksurfaces, in the bathroom and in the cratch!
We’ve got ice inside too now – with our final lockdown purchase – a full sized under counter fridge. It replaces our compact one which had a small 2* freezer compartment. Thanks to Inlander 12volt our stunning new retro Swan is chilling everything beautifully as I write and even making ice for tonight’s G&T which will be a real treat! Getting the fridge into the boat in its box to stop it being scratched was fun!
Nature has been a joy of Lockdowns 2 and 3, made even more important because of its instant accessibility. We just step out of our door and feel instantly in the wild. Every day has brought something new to see, watch or hear – whether new growth, landscapes, birds or animals.
We’re preparing to leave Willington in South Derbyshire on Monday 12 April – the first date we can under lockdown lifting. We’ve been here since 28 December, and in that time have been hugely aware as well as grateful for the incredible work of volunteers who make the local environment accessible for us all.
If you are planning a UK holiday on a narrowboat, learn from our experience that the journey is the destination on Britain’s inland waterways. Taking time to explore and be leisurely over travel is one of the sheer joys of this life afloat. Rushing from place to place risks missing so many of the small and fascinating pleasures and moments of interest.
From the Ashby Canal we explored parts of the Leicestershire Round and Bosworth Field, famed for its connection with England’s last Plantaganet king, Richard III who perished in battle in August 1485. His body was discovered in September 2012 under the tarmac of a Leicester City car park and was reburied in Leicester Cathedral in March 2015.
From the Trent & Mersey Canal, since New Year’s Day I’ve walked 580 miles, mostly on towpaths and footpaths. From the Willington visitor mooring we’ve found some great walks ranging from short and easy to long and challenging. Some are flat, others include the delights of hills which bring new perspectives. Most are well signposted and maintained by groups of volunteers who give up their time to enable us all to enjoy the incredible health and wellbeing benefits of the countryside.
If you have children I highly recommend the fantastic figure of eight walks from Willington or Mercia Marina to Findern, Stenton and back which can be as short as 2 miles or as long as 10, depending on the permutations you make. There’s lots to see on the way, and the Findern Footpaths Group (FFG) have installed information boards which share fascinating facts about the locality, flora and fauna around to make sure you don’t miss anything, whatever the season.
We’d highly advise you make it include Boat Street, the cafe boat now permanently moored beside the Streethay Wharf workshop area of the Marina, a short walk from the towpath if you go over the white metal footbridge, explore a willow maze and enjoy the wildlife lake on the way. Boat Street’s prices, and Cumberland Sausage breakfast rolls have to be seen to be believed!
The FFG boards tell me the centre of Findern used to be known as Bumpton but I have no idea why or when it changed its name. It would be fascinating to know the answers.
A short walk from Willington and the Trent & Mersey canal takes you over the River Trent to Repton, the historic village and former capital of the ancient kingdom of Mercia. Famed for its public school, the buildings of which are scattered throughout and dominate the historic village.
From Repton three walks of varying lengths are detailed on the village website for ease. These fan out across the surrounding hills. Maintained by local groups including the Melbourne Footpaths Group. Paths take you along by the River Trent, past the site of an old chain ferry to Twyford (we managed this route in the ice and snow), through fields to the back of Repton Prep School before climbing to give a good view of the Peak District on a clear day. Another, longer route heads up through the oaks and ash of the Woodland Trust’s Sledge Wood. It then scales Red Lane where outcrops of Bunter sandstone stand on pebble beds.
Eventually this route offers stunning views back across the Trent valley over the distant Willington Power Station cooling towers to the southern Peak District from near the back of Foremark Reservoir. The Reservoir itself is only a short walk further on and well worth a visit, beautiful picnic spots, sandy coves and a cafe!
We’re looking forward to new walks, new scenery, new moorings and more adventures from next week as we start cruising again. There are breaches of both the Trent & Mersey and the Macclesfield which are our optional routes to reach Yorkshire. It’s a race to see which will be fixed first but the latest information suggests that we’ll be heading north via the Trent & Mersey and returning via the Macclesfield. In the meantime, Willington has been good to us for what we expect to be our longest single mooring so here’s a final sunset from this perspective!
Next week: Who knows where we’ll be and what will have happened to us on the way to wherever we are?! Join us on that journey!
Pickingupducks 