A bit of a beer and Wedgwood Walk.

 It looked like there would be a dry day on Sunday so rather than head off we decided to have another walk. We were off by 10:00.

We crossed the canal on the bridge to the Wedgwood visitor centre and carried on up the road through an avenue of trees. We then branched off to Barlaston Hall that over looked the lakes below.

Barlaston Hall was built 1756/58 in the English Palladian style.The octagonal and diamonds in the sash windows is characteristic of the architect Robert Taylor. In 1931 the whole 380 acre estate was purchased by the Wedgwood Pottery to build a new factory, model village. The hall housed the Wedgwood College. When it was found to contain dry rot they moved out. Although they continued to maintain it, when it was vandalised and the lead from the roof stolen it deteriorated quickly, especially as it also suffered from mining subsidence. By the 1980's it was nearly pulled down but the 'Save Britain's Heritage campaign moved in and bought it for £1 from Wedgwood. They set about restoring it on a concrete raft and completed it by the early 1990's. They sold it before the interior was done and the Halls completed it and put it on the market for £2.3 million in 2014.

The lodge at the Barlaston village entrance to the estate is octagonal to compliment the theme in the windows etc.

After rounding the village cricket ground we headed over fields and green lanes towards the hills. There were bluebells and other wild flowers aplenty.

The path rose gradually to the Downs Banks National Trust Land. We visited on a fine Sunday and it still wasn't very busy, despite a car park at the other end of the land. The tracks are well made and despite plenty of recent rain were not too bad at all.

We walked the length of the property, descending gradually, to the car park and then a short stretch of road to get to another path. And there, by the ford was a van selling hot drinks and ice cream and doing a roaring trade. It would be rude not to, so an ice cream was purchased each. The first of the year I think.

Just across the food we re-entered the Downs Banks land and headed steadily up hill again. The land was purchased by John Joule and Sons, the brewers of Stone, topped up with public subscriptions. It was presented to the National Trust in July 1960 to act as a thanks offering for victory in WWII and as a memorial to those who fell during it. Much better than a statue I'm thinking. Not just great beer Joule's either!!

The track is along the spine of a ridge on the edge of the NT land with views down the slopes. There are wild flowers and the leaves are just coming out now.

When you reach the top you get some good views.

The National Trust use cattle to graze the land here so you have to watch your feet in some areas. One you leave the Open access land the track gradually descends to the village of Barlaston again.

Overlooking the village green is the village war memorial that was designed free of charge by Frederick Landseer Maur Griggs from Chipping Camden. He was instrumental in founding the Camden Society in 1925. The unveiling was 1926. There is a very comprehensive list of what you are not allowed to do on the Green posted around the place too.

The path leaves the road at the gatehouse/lodge and passes through the fields letting you have a great look at the rear of Baralaston Hall and another good view of the fantastic sash window shapes. There is even a private church, St. George's attached to the hall.

Below the hall are the lakes that seem to have been let for fishing. The lowest of the three, and smallest, seems to have silted up and got quite overgrown.

We got back and had a spot of lunch before setting off for a couple of hours. Mind you we got to the next bridge and the Plume of Feathers where I just let Helen off in the bridge hole so she could head up to the very handy shop for milk and a paper. I just held alongside and then headed off.

These were our first cygnets of the season, and it looks like there are nine.

We pottered on to the Meaford Locks that were largely our way, and we even had a boat at the bottom to leave the gates open for! We stopped for the day above Stone top lock. A nice walk of 6 miles and a potter down the cut to make a pretty good Sunday, and the weather played ball too. It did rain after we had tied up though.