Short Break Route Suggestions (3 & 4 nights):
Relaxed route: Thrupp Wharf and Return – 38 miles, 14 locks, 15 hours total
Cruise north through the first lock, bypassing the Globe Inn to your right. The canal meanders through the Ouzel Valley past farmland & woodland until you reach 3 locks at Soulbury & one at Stoke Hammond (the locks are quite pretty with their double-arched bridges). The next lock is found at Fenny Stratford, close to two pubs with mooring nearby. Continuing past Eaglestone and Woolstone the canal reaches Great Linford where it bends to the west and along the hidden outskirts of Milton Keynes. The canal passes across two aqueducts, the 125ft Grafton Street Aqueduct and the Great Ouse Aqueduct, remaining lock-free until Cosgrove Junction. After the lock at Cosgrove, continue north under the ornamental bridge to Thrupp Wharf (just after Bridge 64) next to ‘The Navigation’ pub. Turn here and return.
Intermediate route: Bulbourne and Return – 19 miles, 36 locks, 14 hours total
Heading south, the canal is lock-free until Grove Lock, after which there are 11 spread-out locks leading through countryside and along the winding canal towards Marsworth Junction (with the Aylesbury Arm). Midway along the run of locks you’ll find Slapton (bridge 120) which is a good place to moor on your first night – pub within 20 mins walk or eat on the boat. At Marsworth there are 3 pubs, followed by a flight of 6 locks before you reach Bulbourne Junction; continue left here past the junction, turning around just after bridge 133. There is a pub next to the bridge where you could moor up on your second night, before returning to Linslade the next day. Access Linslade and the town of Leighton Buzzard from bridge 114 where you can moor, allowing for an easy cruise back to return the boat on your last morning.
Intermediate route: Grafton Regis and return – 45 miles, 14 locks, 18 hours.
Follow the ‘relaxed route’ (above) to Thrupp Wharf, then continue north just a little way further. There’s plenty of countryside and woodland along here. About half an hour from Thrupp Wharf you’ll arrive at Yardley Wharf which is within walking distance of the village of Yardley Gobion and its charming pub. Another 25 minutes further ahead you’ll find Bridge 57; moor up here to walk into the little village of Grafton Regis – left hand side of bridge (15 mins to pub). The canal then winds its way towards the bottom of Stoke Bruerne Locks – turn just before the first lock and return to Linslade.
Active route: Aylesbury and Return - 29 miles, 54 locks, 21 hours total
Suitable for a 4 night midweek break. Heading south, the canal is lock-free until Grove Lock, after which there are 11 locks leading through the countryside and along the winding canal towards Marsworth Junction. Midway along the run of locks you’ll find Slapton (bridge 120) which is a good place to moor on your first night – pub within 20 mins walk or eat on the boat. At Marsworth Junction turn right, onto the Aylesbury Arm and through two staircase locks. More locks follow at regular intervals. Maybe take the opportunity to walk into Wilstone village from Bridge No. 3, where there is an historic pub. Continue west through open countryside and a few more well spread out locks. After Bridge 16 you start to approach the outskirts of the town and the scenery becomes more urban. Turn at the end of the navigation and moor up nearby, allowing you to walk into the town centre within 5 minutes. Aylesbury is a busy market town with some attractive squares. There are numerous shops, cafés, museums, pubs and restaurants in the centre as well as some interesting historic architecture. Return from here to Linslade.
Active route: Stoke Bruerne and Return – 50 miles, 28 locks, 22 hours total
Suitable for a 4 night midweek break. Follow the route to Thrupp Wharf (above) then continue north past Yardley Gobion. The Stoke Bruerne Locks appear approx. ¾ mile further ahead – a set of five followed by another 2 climb towards the quaint village. Stoke Bruerne has a small Canal Museum and a few pubs overlooking the canal; a nice place to stop and visit. Turn just before the entrance to the Blisworth Tunnel and return to Linslade.
Weekly Route Suggestions:
Relaxed route: Bugbrooke and Return – 64 miles, 28 locks, 28 hours total
Cruise north through the first lock, bypassing the Globe Inn. The canal meanders through the Ouzel Valley until you reach 3 locks at Soulbury & one lock at Stoke Hammond (note the pretty double-arched bridges). The next lock is at Fenny Stratford, close to two pubs with mooring nearby. Continuing past Woolstone you reach Great Linford where the route bends west, along the hidden outskirts of Milton Keynes. The canal passes over two aqueducts, remaining lock-free until Cosgrove Junction. After the lock at Cosgrove, cruise under an ornamental bridge to Thrupp Wharf and ‘The Navigation’ pub. After Yardley Gobion the Stoke Bruerne Locks appear – a set of five followed by two climb towards the village. Stoke Bruerne has a small Canal Museum and a few pubs overlooking the canal; a nice place to stop and visit. Just a short distance from Stoke Bruerne is the entrance to the long Blisworth Tunnel (3057 yards / 1.74 miles) which takes up to an hour to complete. The tunnel is double width and can take boats in both directions, so it’s possible that you could meet oncoming traffic mid-way through – facing your headlight upwards will help you to navigate. The exit of the tunnel opens out into fields passing Gayton Junction (with the Northampton Arm) to your right. Between Gayton Junction and the village of Bugbrooke there are no locks. Turn just before bridge No. 36, next to ‘The Wharf Inn’ pub and return to Linslade.
Intermediate route: Berkhamsted and Return – 32 miles, 56 locks, 28 hours total
Heading south from the boatyard, the canal is lock-free until Grove Lock, after which there are 11 locks leading through countryside to Marsworth Junction (with the Aylesbury Arm). Midway along the run of locks you’ll find Slapton (bridge 120) which is a good place to moor on your first night. At Marsworth there are 3 pubs, followed by 6 locks before you reach Bulbourne Junction to your right; continue to the left here and past the ‘Grand Junction Arms’. A rail line draws close to the canal at Tring and runs alongside you, through 7 locks and past the 17th Century pub at Cowroast, all the way into the centre of Berkhamsted. Berkhamsted is an attractive town with a mixture of architectural styles (the High Street clock tower, town hall and castle ruins are of particular interest) and a variety of pubs & restaurants. Passing Berkhamsted Rail Station to your left, watch out for the genuine Canadian totem pole near Castle Bridge, then there are 3 more locks and 3 pubs before you reach your turning point (after lock 56) and return to Linslade.
Intermediate route: Hemel Hempstead and Return – 39 miles, 74 locks, 34 hours total
Heading south from the boatyard, the canal is lock-free until Grove Lock, after which there are 11 locks leading through countryside to Marsworth Junction (with the Aylesbury Arm). Midway along the run of locks you’ll find Slapton (bridge 120) which is a good place to moor on your first night. At Marsworth there are 3 pubs, followed by 6 locks before arriving at Bulbourne Junction to your right - continue to the left past the ‘Grand Junction Arms’. A rail line draws close to the canal at Tring and runs alongside, through 7 locks and past the 17th Century pub at Cowroast, all the way into the centre of Berkhamsted. Berkhamsted is an attractive town with a mixture of architectural styles (the High Street clock tower, town hall and castle ruins are of particular interest) and a variety of pubs & restaurants. Passing Berkhamsted Rail Station to your left, watch out for the genuine Canadian totem pole near Castle Bridge. There are then 11 more locks and 5 canalside pubs before passing through the parkland at Boxmoor and into Hemel Hempstead which offers various pubs, restaurants and shops (the ‘old town’ area is very pretty). Three more locks lead you into the centre where you can turn at the marina and return to Linslade.
Active route: Braunston and Return – 90 miles, 54 locks, 42 hours total
Follow the same route as our ‘relaxed’ weekly route (above). After Bugbrooke the canal meanders through agricultural land, lock-free past Nether Heyford and over an aqueduct into Weedon Bec. Weedon Bec is an interesting village with pretty cottages, an old wharf, a medieval church and the former Royal Ordnance Depot (c. 1805) which has its own branch canal and houses a book shop. Weedon also has numerous cafés, pubs and restaurants, so it’s a good place moor. Setting off again, the area is very rural although it sometimes comes quite close to a rail line. The Buckby Flight begins just an hour north of Weedon and has 7 locks leading away from the rail line to Norton Junction* (a T-junction with the Leicester Arm) where there is a pub. Bugbrooke to Norton Junction will take approx. 4 hours to complete. Turn left at Norton Junction and about half a mile ahead lies the entrance to the Braunston Tunnel (2042 yards / 1.16 miles) which takes approx. 25 minutes to pass through and after this there are 6 locks before you arrive at the village of Braunston. Braunston is an attractive village with pretty cottages, a lovely church, a few pubs and a traditional butcher’s shop. Turn around at Braunston Marina and return to Linslade. * For a longer cruising option, turn right at Norton Junction through 7 locks and a tunnel (1528 yards) to Crick. Turn around north of Crick after bridge 14, near Crack’s Hill, return to Norton Junction, then make your way into Braunston before returning to Linslade (adds another 6 hours & 14 locks to journey).
Fortnight Route Suggestions:
Relaxed route: Banbury and Return – 146 miles, 96 locks, 68 hours total
Cruise north following the ‘active’ 7 night route direct to Braunston (above). Bypass Braunston Marina and through the ornate cast-iron bridge. Cruise along the winding, lock-free canal, passing through farmland to Napton Junction where you turn left onto the South Oxford Canal. There are 2 nearby pubs before you commence the 9-lock Napton Flight which stretches between Folly Bridge and Marston Doles Bridge, after which the route meanders through the countryside with a few tight bends to negotiate at times - this is a contour canal following the natural curve of the land. From here there are no more locks and it takes 3 hours to reach Fenny Compton where you’ll find the Wharf Inn pub and a waterpoint. Continue south through 8 more locks and a lift bridge to the pretty village of Cropredy (home to Fairport Convention) where there is one further lock, two pubs and a small shop. There are 3 more locks before you pass historic ‘Tooley’s Boatyard’ and reach the outskirts of Banbury. In the town centre you’ll find a lift bridge, overlooked by shops and restaurants, then a lock close to an arts centre with a café. Moor up just after Albion Bridge 166 where possible. Walking into the town centre from here will take just 10 minutes*. Banbury is home to Banbury Cross, Banbury Cakes and Ye Olde Reindeer Inn (c. 1570). Turn at the winding hole after Bridge 168 and return to Linslade. *For those wishing to continue cruising south past Banbury, Aynho, Lower Heyford and Kidlington then into the university City of Oxford and back, the route would take approx. 100 hours, 200 miles & 130 locks. A more active route with much longer cruising hours.
Intermediate route: Limehouse and Return – 126 miles, 150 locks, 78 hours total
Follow our ‘intermediate’ 7 night route to Hemel Hempstead then continue south. There are two more locks heading out of the town towards Kings Langley then 10 locks before you reach Croxley Green (Rickmansworth). After Lot Mead Lock (80) your surroundings change to water-filled chalk quarries and there’s a canal centre to visit at Batchworth. Locks run along the canal at regular intervals through Harefield and Denham (deep lock) to Uxbridge. After Denham Bridge (No. 183) the quarries disappear to be replaced by the suburbs of Uxbridge leading down to Cowley Peachy Junction (with the Slough Arm). The canal then runs close to a train line through Yiewsley, West Drayton and Hayes until you reach Bull’s Bridge Junction (with the Paddington Arm). Turn left here, heading past warehouses and industrial estates, bypassing Southall into Northolt and the changing scenery of London. Hilly parkland appears after Bridge 14 and lasts until Manor Farm Road Bridge, leading to Alperton where the canal crosses the busy North Circular on an aqueduct. Historic Kensal Green Cemetery appears to your left, then 30 minutes later you’ll arrive at Little Venice - a particularly scenic part of the canal overlooked by Regency houses and with plenty of pubs and restaurants nearby. Turn left at the junction, under Maida Vale Tunnel (272 yards) and into Regent’s Park where you’ll find famous London Zoo right next to the canal. Turn left at the next junction past Primrose Hill and into Camden. At Camden Lock there is an impressive canal centre and a busy weekend market. There are 3 locks here, followed by a 4th at St. Pancras before you reach King’s Cross and pass under Islington Tunnel (960 yards). There are a further 7 spread-out locks and a real mixture of buildings & parkland before you pass by the entrance to the Hertford Union Canal to your left and about 2 hours later, arrive at Limehouse Basin. Turn here and return to Linslade.
Active Route: The Leicester Ring – 237 miles, 143 locks, 112 hours total
Follow our ‘relaxed’ 7 night route to Bugbrooke, after which the canal meanders past Nether Heyford over an aqueduct into Weedon Bec (worth a visit). The Buckby lock flight starts an hour north of Weedon with 7 locks leading to Norton Junction where there’s a pub. Turn up the Leicester Arm of the Canal and through 6 locks at Watford followed by Crick Tunnel (1528 yards) passing the ‘Welford Arm’ to your right. Head towards North Kilworth, followed by Husbands Bosworth Tunnel (1166 yards) and the 10 scenic staircase locks at Foxton. Turn left at Foxton and through Saddington Tunnel (880 yards) heading towards the city of Leicester. The villages of Crick, Yelvertoft, North Kilworth, Husbands Bosworth and Fleckney can all be accessed from the canal but are not canalside (approx. 20 minutes’ walk). Between Saddington Tunnel and Crow Mills Bridge (No. 92) there are 13 locks running through countryside, then you approach the suburbs of Leicester. After a further 12 spread-out locks you reach the City Centre with its many pubs, shops, restaurants, parks, museums and historic sights – such as Leicester Cathedral where Richard III has been laid to rest. At Belgrave Lock the canal meets the River Soar which meanders through the outskirts of the city until Thurmaston Lock where it joins the canal once more. The Soar then begins again at Cossington, leading through pretty Mountsorrel Lock with its waterside pub, towards Barrow-Upon-Soar (deep lock) and then Loughborough. At Loughborough you reach a T-junction (under bridge 39B) and turn right, joining the Loughborough Navigation (stay to the right) leading past Kegworth onto the River Trent (pay attention to weirs). At the junction turn left and continue west past Sawley to Derwent Mouth where the Trent & Mersey Canal begins. The village of Shardlow appears soon after and is well worth visiting as it has such an interesting array of canal architecture: Heritage Centre, Trent Mill and numerous canalside pubs. Locks appear at regular intervals along the Trent & Mersey, well spread-out with no long flights, up to Fradley Junction. The route is also interspersed with low aqueducts, adding interest as the canal moves through the countryside until you reach a more urban landscape at Burton-upon-Trent, famous for its many Breweries. After passing the attractive village of Arlewas, you arrive at Fradley Junction. Turn right here, on to the Coventry Canal which leads to the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal (a stone marks the point where the two meet). Next comes Fazeley Junction where you continue left to Tamworth, through 2 locks and eventually passing the ruins of Alvecote Priory. A long lock-free section follows until you reach the 11 locks at Atherstone, then it’s lock-free again all the way to Hawkesbury Junction (turn left then left again) where there is a stop-lock leading to the North Oxford Canal. Cruise south down the N. Oxford Canal through woodland and fields, passing under the Newbold Tunnel (250 yards) then it’s lock-free again all the way to Hillmorton (3 locks). A couple of hours’ cruising south of Hillmorton you’ll find Braunston Village. Follow the canal along the outskirts of the village, leading to the left through 6 locks and the Braunston Tunnel (2042 yards / 1.16 miles) to Norton Junction. Turn right and return past Weedon Bec, Stoke Bruerne and Milton Keynes to Linslade.
