robtheplod Posted November 18 Report Posted November 18 Hi All, we're now looking at our next years moorings having enjoyed Droitwich Spa Marina and the local canals/rivers. Does anyone moor in Aston Marina or have any comments on them as looking at the area for next season possibly.... thanks!! rob
frahkn Posted November 18 Report Posted November 18 19 minutes ago, robtheplod said: Hi All, we're now looking at our next years moorings having enjoyed Droitwich Spa Marina and the local canals/rivers. Does anyone moor in Aston Marina or have any comments on them as looking at the area for next season possibly.... thanks!! rob I moor at Aston, if you pm me I will happily answer any questions. I am quite content with Aston but not interested in further public discussion.
Rob-M Posted November 18 Report Posted November 18 We moor at Great Haywood which we prefer location wise for weekend cruising but often boat up to Stone for a weekend.
robtheplod Posted November 18 Author Report Posted November 18 18 minutes ago, Rob-M said: We moor at Great Haywood which we prefer location wise for weekend cruising but often boat up to Stone for a weekend. thats an option also..... happy there?
Cheshire cat Posted November 18 Report Posted November 18 We moored at Aston for six years. The staff are efficient and friendly. My only criticism is that they used to cut the grass every week creating clouds of dust. The boat was always covered with it but a minor issue really. 1
Durhamdales Posted November 18 Report Posted November 18 We had a share in a boat there and I always liked it. The restaurant on site is a bit on the pricey side, but was always excellent. Staff were very friendly. 1
Rob-M Posted November 18 Report Posted November 18 4 hours ago, robtheplod said: thats an option also..... happy there? Yes, we took a temporary mooring 7 years ago and are still there. We have made use of the option to moor at the other marinas as well so have used Tattenhall and Saul Junction for short stays. There isn't a cafe or bar on site but the canal side farm shop and cafe are next door.
Adam Posted November 18 Report Posted November 18 Nice Marina, touch on the pricey side but the facilities make up for it, washer /dryers are expensive I recall. I seem to remember a few of the pontoons were fairly decrepit and out of use? 1
Annie cariad Posted November 20 Report Posted November 20 Was there for a short stay this year good facilities and staff no drama
junior Posted November 20 Report Posted November 20 What's your cruising patter like? Do you go to the boat for overnight stays or weekends out, or do you tend to just travel to the boat and then go out on longer trips and return? I think Great Haywood Marina is a good location because as it is close to a junction you have 3 different options for cruising. If you do overnights or weekends it has Tixall Wide about 45mins away if you like the idea of going there for an evening or night out rather than staying in the Marina. If I moored at Aston (Stone) I reckon I'd always end up cruising In the same direction (south) due to it's close proximity to Stoke to the north, which lets be honest Is no canal destination. I find the run from Aston to Great Haywood a bit boring and that 3hrs could get quite repetitive if you had to do it at the beginning and end of every trip.
IanD Posted November 20 Report Posted November 20 1 hour ago, junior said: What's your cruising patter like? Do you go to the boat for overnight stays or weekends out, or do you tend to just travel to the boat and then go out on longer trips and return? I think Great Haywood Marina is a good location because as it is close to a junction you have 3 different options for cruising. If you do overnights or weekends it has Tixall Wide about 45mins away if you like the idea of going there for an evening or night out rather than staying in the Marina. If I moored at Aston (Stone) I reckon I'd always end up cruising In the same direction (south) due to it's close proximity to Stoke to the north, which lets be honest Is no canal destination. I find the run from Aston to Great Haywood a bit boring and that 3hrs could get quite repetitive if you had to do it at the beginning and end of every trip. I'm moored at Great Haywood for exactly that reason -- choice of 3 directions to go in. The farm shop/cafe is also excellent, if rather pricy... 😉 (though their dry-cured smoked bacon is superb, some of the best we've ever had, and not overpriced compared to good quality bacon from elsewhere)
Rob-M Posted November 20 Report Posted November 20 42 minutes ago, IanD said: their dry-cured smoked bacon is superb Agree with this, we always stock up on bacon. We stay at Great Haywood because of the weekend cruising options plus there are some good middle of nowhere spots which we stay at during the week whilst I am working.
robtheplod Posted November 20 Author Report Posted November 20 OK I'm getting good info here...... I think I'll have to give Great Heywood some thought..... thanks for all the replies!!!
dmr Posted November 20 Report Posted November 20 3 hours ago, junior said: What's your cruising patter like? Do you go to the boat for overnight stays or weekends out, or do you tend to just travel to the boat and then go out on longer trips and return? I think Great Haywood Marina is a good location because as it is close to a junction you have 3 different options for cruising. If you do overnights or weekends it has Tixall Wide about 45mins away if you like the idea of going there for an evening or night out rather than staying in the Marina. If I moored at Aston (Stone) I reckon I'd always end up cruising In the same direction (south) due to it's close proximity to Stoke to the north, which lets be honest Is no canal destination. I find the run from Aston to Great Haywood a bit boring and that 3hrs could get quite repetitive if you had to do it at the beginning and end of every trip. Stoke is not the best town in the land but its fine for an overnight stop and a few beers in the Holy Inadequate, and the lovely Caldon canal starts at Stoke. Harecastle tunnel is a bit of an obstacle (one you've done it a few times) but does lead to the lovely Macclesfield canal, So I reckon North is the way to go 😀
IanD Posted November 20 Report Posted November 20 11 minutes ago, dmr said: Stoke is not the best town in the land but its fine for an overnight stop and a few beers in the Holy Inadequate, and the lovely Caldon canal starts at Stoke. Harecastle tunnel is a bit of an obstacle (one you've done it a few times) but does lead to the lovely Macclesfield canal, So I reckon North is the way to go 😀 Or from Great Haywood go down the Staffs and Worcs past Penkridge (good stop) and Compton (ditto, *fantastic* off-license...) all the way to Stourbridge/Stourport and beyond, also a very nice trip 🙂 (did both this year -- Stoke/Macc/Peak Forest and S&W, not the Caldon this time but probably next year).
Grassman Posted November 21 Report Posted November 21 I had a mate who moved from Aston Marina because of the noisy wedding receptions they hold nearly every weekend. There are two pools and he was in the one furthest away one. He was a liveaboard though, so it might not be such an issue for others. I've no experience with Great Haywood Marina. It does have a railway line literally next to it but it's not a particularly busy one.
IanD Posted November 21 Report Posted November 21 1 minute ago, Grassman said: I had a mate who moved from Aston Marina because of the noisy wedding receptions they hold nearly every weekend. There are two pools and he was in the one furthest away one. He was a liveaboard though, so it might not be such an issue for others. I've no experience with Great Haywood Marina. It does have a railway line literally next to it but it's not a particularly busy one. I've never even noticed trains passing...
Rob-M Posted November 21 Report Posted November 21 The trains do run quite regularly, when they aren't on strike, but it is a background noise you get used to. We use to moor in the corner as close to the train line as you can get but never found them to be an issue.
beerbeerbeerbeerbeer Posted November 21 Report Posted November 21 I’ve used Gt Haywood marina on occasion over last couple of years for temporary moorings. Always found staff and local moorers friendly and helpful. The place is secure and kept tidy/smart, with a half decent chandlery. The location is ideal with 3 directions to travel. Plenty to go see on short weekend runs (Rugely can easily be done in 2 to 3 hours) plus longer loops/rings to go around over a week or two. It’s a quick bus ride to Stafford’s train station which is mainly why I use it. How easy it is to drive to from the motorway or from wherever I don’t know. But travelling to a marina by car used to be a deciding factor for me. Fazeley, Glascote and Alvecote were always good for me, just a short run off the M42. Sherbourne Wharf in Birmingham a short run off the M5, Don’t know about driving to Gt Haywood I’ve never looked in to it but driving there might be a deciding factor for me if I still had car. 1
frahkn Posted November 21 Report Posted November 21 20 hours ago, robtheplod said: OK I'm getting good info here...... I think I'll have to give Great Heywood some thought..... thanks for all the replies!!! If you are visiting Aston it's little extra effort to pop in to Great Heywood in the same trip - in my view it will not take long to see which marina looks better. 1
IanD Posted November 21 Report Posted November 21 21 minutes ago, beerbeerbeerbeerbeer said: I’ve used Gt Haywood marina on occasion over last couple of years for temporary moorings. Always found staff and local moorers friendly and helpful. The place is secure and kept tidy/smart, with a half decent chandlery. The location is ideal with 3 directions to travel. Plenty to go see on short weekend runs (Rugely can easily be done in 2 to 3 hours) plus longer loops/rings to go around over a week or two. It’s a quick bus ride to Stafford’s train station which is mainly why I use it. How easy it is to drive to from the motorway or from wherever I don’t know. But travelling to a marina by car used to be a deciding factor for me. Fazeley, Glascote and Alvecote were always good for me, just a short run off the M42. Sherbourne Wharf in Birmingham a short run off the M5, Don’t know about driving to Gt Haywood I’ve never looked in to it but driving there might be a deciding factor for me if I still had car. Great Haywood is OK to drive to, quite a few miles off any motorway but not a big problem. Pontoons are well-kept and safe to walk on, unlike Uplands was... 😉
Jerra Posted November 21 Report Posted November 21 2 hours ago, IanD said: Great Haywood is OK to drive to, quite a few miles off any motorway but not a big problem. Pontoons are well-kept and safe to walk on, unlike Uplands was... 😉 From the north about 8 miles from I think J14 on the M6
IanD Posted November 21 Report Posted November 21 34 minutes ago, Jerra said: From the north about 8 miles from I think J14 on the M6 From the south it's about 25m on A roads to the M42 (quickest route). Still not a big problem... 😉
Rob-M Posted November 21 Report Posted November 21 We use the M5\M6 from the South for Great Haywood. Mileage is only a couple of miles difference between Great Haywood and Aston and about the same time as Aston is close to J14.
IanD Posted November 21 Report Posted November 21 27 minutes ago, Rob-M said: We use the M5\M6 from the South for Great Haywood. Mileage is only a couple of miles difference between Great Haywood and Aston and about the same time as Aston is close to J14. I guess that depends which bit of "The South" you mean -- coming from the west side that's the quickest/shortest way (left of Brum), coming from most of the South of England (where most Southerners live...) going right of Brum is quicker/shorter. But whichever way you go from whichever direction, driving to Great Haywood isn't a problem, and neither is going by train/bus via Stafford -- it's one bus ride from there to the Canalside Farm Shop... 🙂
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