We were on the way back to the campsite after the two castles and
decided to drop in to Welshpool and have a stroll around the canal basin. The
first issue was to find a spot to park ... the town had changed since the
google maps was done and the parking was in a main car park (luckily it had
van and lorry parking - no extra as long as you were under 3T ... I made
a guess as I am sure it is registered as slightly over, but not sure if that
is fully laden). This was just the other side of the canal basin so really
where we wanted to be. In looking for it we had driven out to a second wharf -
Gungrog but there was no parking there, but it looked like a good turning
point for a stroll. We picked up a ticket for a couple of hours and headed for the canal basin.
We crossed over the canal on a bridge which was over an aqueduct and a stream at
teh bottom - impressive engineering. We then went the opposite way to where I
had planned as the signs showed a canal museum this way.
Along the canal passing some sculptures - turned out to represent dragonflies -
to the town lock, which had a place for an interesting water wheel arrangement
next to it.
The canal (and town) museum was on the opposite side and we crossed at the lock.
Sue went in whilst Bertie and I sat in the chair sculpture outside - no dogs
allowed once again!). then a trip to Morrisons (nest door) for some forgotten
supplies.
Now the walk along the canal ... following the Severn way, so back over
the lock and along the return to the canal basin, then continuing on the tow
path.
The tow path followed the canal beside industrial units and past housing estates
until it came to the edge of the town. Here it had been amended to negotiate a
new road (canal diverted under it) and pedestrian crossing. From here it was
alongside a school and out into the countryside.
We arrived at the Gungrog wharf on the opposite side to the barges where we had
turned around earlier in the van. So we also turned here and returned along the
tow path the way we had come out.
We followed the outward path all the way to the canal basin, however before we returned to the van, Sue popped into B&M which was close beside the tow path to pick up some teabags, and then we returned to the van - with 15 mins to spare on the alloted ticket.
