We know that lots of people enjoy walks starting on and near the Montgomery Canal. Jane from Oswestry is one such supporter and member of the Friends of the Montgomery Canal who is writing up her walks for all to enjoy.
“I was asked by the Friends of the Montgomery Canal if I’d like to write a diary of my walks along the canal. I agreed as I like canal walking, and I particularly like walking along ‘The Monty’.
I’m not a long distance walker, I’m more of an ambler who likes to spend as much time stopping as I do walking! My walks are measured in steps as opposed to miles or kilometres.
My first walk starts at Lift Bridge number 112 and forms part of the Offa’s Dyke path.
We (my husband and I) set off in glorious sunshine but within minutes the heavens had opened and we were sheltering under a tree, however the shower soon moved off and we carried on our way.
The canal was looking particularly wonderful today, both in the sunshine and the rain. The clouds were reflected in the water and the sunshine sparkled on it too.
There is always plenty of flora and fauna to delight one’s senses when canal walking; bees, hoverflies, butterflies, dragonflies and a host of other pollinators can be spotted enjoying the flora. Today we also had the company of sheep grazing on the opposite bank with some having a paddle on the edge of the canal. We also had the delight of watching two squirrels scampering along the towpath ahead of us for quite some way before disappearing up an oak tree.
Being September there is evidence of autumn everywhere you look – berries, ivy, blackberries and acorns to name just some. The colours alongside the canal are superb.
We usually meet other people enjoying the canal too. Walkers and cyclists share the canal and give way to each other. Mums and dads, nans and granddads pushing pushchairs and holding hands with toddlers.
When we reached bridge 111 we had a chat with the man living in the cottage alongside the canal, presumably at one time the lockkeeper’s cottage, before carrying on. We walked a little further, delighting in the wonderful scenery before turning around and heading back the way we came.
Canal walks are the perfect walk for people of all abilities. They’re (mostly) accessible, on the level and in many places the towpaths along the canal have a good surface for walking.
The Monty, as the Montgomery Canal is affectionately known, is 34 miles long. Mostly all of it is easily walkable with the exception of areas around Pant. My intention is to walk and write about as much as I can.”
You can follow Jane on Twitter.
