Audlem in Gossip

As regular readers will know, the AudlemOnline webteam send an article about Audlem to the publishers of the popular Whitchurch and Market Drayton Gossip magazines each month.

The August article said:

Wheelyboat service at Audlem

Four years ago, a new boat service, Audlem Lass, appeared on the Shropshire Union canal at Audlem providing a service between the Overwater Marina and Lock 15 near Audlem.

Now there's a additional attraction on the canal which will be of particular interest to disabled visitors, carers and care homes. The new Overwater Wheelyboat which held its first Open Day at the marina late in July and a very impressive craft it is too.

Crew members, as well as showing visitors the new facility, were familiarising themselves with the electric motor – it has a range of around forty miles and is extremely quiet – and the new dock that has been created to give smooth and easy access to the boat for wheelchair users.

The Wheelyboat's normal operating days are to be Tuesdays and Thursdays with bookable sailings via the Overwater Marina (01270 812677) at 11.00am, 1.30pm and 3.00pm.

A flyer is available on request or visit the Overwater Wheelyboat website for more details. The service is without a fixed charge at all times though a donation to help with running costs will gladly be accepted.

The Wheelyboat can carry 8 passengers with 4 of them in a wheelchair. A normal booked trip will last from half an hour to an hour and a half all according to weather and passengers wishes. The marina cafe is open every day except Mondays and has disabled facilities.

Almost 50 care homes and day centres from Telford to Liverpool have registered with the Wheelyboat and organiser Rod Cottrell says that bookings are coming in from individuals, disabled groups, care homes and other parties that see the Wheelyboat as a valuable new service.

Audlem Lass continues to be very successful with over 4,000 passenger trips a year which raises valuable funds for the RNLI, the lifeboat charity. Run by a team of fully-trained coxswain volunteers, it's a great way to travel to and from the Overwater Marina and see the local countryside from the canal.

Audlem has continued to enjoy a busy summer with the Music & Arts Festival in late May; the Party on the Park with 2,500 picnicking and enjoying great live music on 4th July and several weekends ago (25th and 26th July) the Gathering of Historic Working Boats and on the Sunday the Audlem Transport Festival.

Cyclists have also been visiting in large numbers with a national race for veterans based in the village plus the July series of road races organised by Audlem Cycling Club. The newly revamped and expanded Audlem CycleSports shop in the very centre of the village is also proving a big attraction.

Walking groups also enjoy the many footpaths often including a stretch of the canal towpath which has been described as one of the best walks in Lowland England.

You can check out all that is happening in Audlem by checking on its popular website, AudlemOnline, which carries news of events and everything that is happening locally every day of the year.

This article is from our news archive. As a result pictures or videos originally associated with it may have been removed and some of the content may no longer be accurate or relevant.