Thursday 30 December 2010

2010 Top 10 - No 2 Leek Arm

2010 Top 10 Boating Moments
Leek Arm

The Leek Arm is a gem of a waterway, tucked away in the Staffordshire Moorlands and probably would feature in many boaters top ten.



Our autumn trip up the Caldon this year was particularly beautiful, with the trees displaying a glorious array of colour in a last gasp of an Indian summer just days before winter slammed its doors shut on the cruising season.



Not only were the colours magical, but this trip saw us mooring up in the pool just outside Leek tunnel. This was undoubtedly one of the loveliest moorings anywhere on the system.

2 comments:

Nev Wells said...

Andy,

Great pictures great canal great choice. One of our favorites for sure. We had a great trip up there last year and moored just about opposite where the breach took place.

One question, as you cruise the branch you see the tower (in your picture) for quite some time - any idea what it is?

Nev

Andy Tidy said...

Nev
I had an idea that it was an old Mental Health Asylum, it certainly had that feel about it - very similar to Asylum Lock at Brentford.
Google Maps wasn't very informative beyond revealing a large institutional complex but by searching under Mental Health I came up with the Ashcombe Centre - part of the Stoke on Trent Mental Health service.