Off the boat

Over the course of our travels I've shown several additional non-boat things we've done and would like to point out a few others we did this year or last year.

 

 Trentham Gardens

Which has become almost an annual stop

Middleport Pottery

This is the first time here. Tied up right on their doorstep. Often we will stop at Wedgewood Pottery, just down the canal a mile or so.

 Shugborough Hall

A working living history estate, which we passed twice, but didn't stop this year.

  Tamworth Castle

We visited the town market here this year. Last time we saw part of the Staffordshire Hoard in the castle.

 Joules Brewery

Rhymes with moles and 

the home of Green Monkey larger 

So this year in an effort to meet Charlene's desire to hike I found the Castle at Mow Cop [Mau Cop]. The castle is a folly; a costly ornamental building with no practical purpose. It was built in 1754.

The castle sits on a hill above the village of Mow Cop on the border between Staffordshire to the south and Cheshire to the north.

 

To the south

 To the north   

Viewing the castle across the top of the hill.

So how do you get to the castle? From the Macclesfield Canal you go up the hill. 

Here is a view coming down the hill.

Maybe this gives a better perspective. 

The roof line and windows are level - it's the street that is angled.

From the canal to the top is a little more than one mile and rises almost 700 feet. There is an annual race on this hill. Google "Killer Mile" and I'll guaranteed the first several hits will be about this hill and the race.

Actually it was fun - walking, pausing, walking, wheezing - anything BUT running to the top!