MAKING A BEELINE

Liveaboard Emma catches up on check-ups and enjoys the mixed attractions of Nantwich which ticks all the boating boxes

- Emma

What makes a great boater town? For us, it’s a combination of things. On a practical level, we are always looking for good access to shops and a post office. More recently, because we have been moored up for a longer period of time, we have taken advantage of doctors, dentists, opticians and vet services. The slower pace of cruising in winter gives you extra time to catch up on appointments and check-ups, that can be more difficult to arrange in Spring and Summer. We also like great places to visit, and interesting canal history and architecture. Having been in one place for a while, we also got to get to know the local boating community, who we can sometimes not fully appreciate when we are cruising more frequently. So Nantwich and the surrounding area has ticked all our boxes and will be one of our top places we can recommend visiting.

Nantwich is a market town in Cheshire, on the Shropshire Union Canal. It is one of the many places with ‘wich’ in its name, that indicates the area’s involvement in the salt industry. In fact, Nantwich has been associated with the salt trade since Roman times. The town centre has many Tudor and Georgian buildings, along with its busy shops and businesses.

Recently the town its annual celebrations for the Battle of Nantwich on January 26, which took place in 1644 during the English Civil War between the Parliamentary and Royalist forces. The Nantwich Parliamentary forces were victorious and the town has celebrated with a re-enactment every year since 1973.

The canal runs through the town on an embankment, via an iron aqueduct. It is a popular place to moor in both summer and winter due to its great access to shops and CRT facilities. The Nantwich Marina gives you access to all the usual services but also includes a great shop, cafe, laundrette, chandlers and dog grooming parlour.