Weekly Route Suggestions:
Relaxed route: Burton upon Trent and Return – 57 miles, 30 locks, 25 hours total
On leaving the marina travel North West on the River Soar travelling through the pretty and well preserved village of Normanton on Soar where there is a popular pub with waterside seating and moorings. You will continue through Zouch Lock onwards to Devil's Elbow. Whatton House is a large mansion house dating from 1802 and is visible from the river at Devil’s Elbow. The house has 15 acres of gardens which are open to the public from March to October. Continuing on you will come to Kegworth. The village can be accessed from Kegworth shallow lock where you will find a few pubs and eateries to choose from. The navigation then becomes more rural as you head towards Radcliffe on Soar, you will know you are approaching as you will see the church spire in the distance. At Redhill Lock the River Soar then flows into the larger River Trent. You will then approach the bustling centre at Trent Lock where there are some nice pubs and a tearoom. Follow the Trent and Mersey canal west and pass through 2 locks at Sawley and also Derwent Mouth Lock. On arrival in Shardlow you can moor up and have a look at the examples of large scale canal architecture such as the 18th Century Trent Mill, now known as the Clock Warehouse. The Shardlow Heritage Centre also has exhibitions on local canal history. As you travel through Swarkestone and Weston-on-Trent, the canal runs alongside the River Trent through green and pleasant countryside. You will find some good moorings in Willington near some landscaped gardens. After passing over 6 aqueducts you will come to Burton upon Trent which is well known for its brewing industry. At one time there were 31 breweries but now only a few remain – you can visit Marston’s Brewery Visitor Centre and there are various pubs and eateries alongside the canal. You will find some suitable visitor moorings at Shobnall Basin with access to explore the town. Turn at the winding hole to make your return journey back to Loughborough.
Intermediate route: Market Harborough and Return – 76 miles, 70 locks, 42 hours total
Heading south from Loughborough on the Grand Union Canal (River Soar section) you will pass through Mountsorrel and Cossington Lock past Watermead Country Park, and then a further 6 locks bring you into Leicester city centre. There are many things to see in and around Leicester such as Leicester Castle Gardens, the National Space Centre, Belgrave Hall and Gardens and Leicester Cathedral where Richard III is laid to rest (access the city centre by West Bridge). After Leicester, travel through 12 well spaced-out locks before reaching a flight of 7 locks at Kilby. Aylestone is considered a suburb of Leicester but has it has managed to retain a country village feel to it. You will see Aylestone Meadows stretching for 1.5 miles along the canal. There is then a small flight of 5 locks before Saddington Tunnel (880 yards) heading towards Foxton. At Foxton, stop for refreshments and a look around this pretty village and take time to watch some boats going through Foxton Locks which is one of Britain’s largest canal staircase flight (10 locks). There is a festival at Foxton every summer which has live entertainment, live music, craft fairs and plenty of boats on the canal. You will turn east onto the Market Harborough Arm of the Grand Union Canal and have a lock free cruise into the centre of Market Harborough. Moor up at the basin where you will find visitor moorings, showers, toilets and pump out facilities. Places of interest near Market Harborough include the town’s museum and the old grammar school which is a 17th century school that stands on wooden stilts. It is located in the town square. You could also visit the nearby Rockingham Castle built by William the Conqueror. The Castle is open from April – October and is a 20 minute taxi ride from Market Harborough. Wicksteed Park is one of the biggest amusement parks in Europe and is a great place for children. It is about 15 miles from Market Harborough to the park. Turn at the winding hole at the marina for your return journey back to the base.
Active route: Great Haywood Junction and Return – 102 miles, 62 locks, 49 hours total
Follow the same route as the relaxed route to Burton upon Trent and then continue on the Trent and Mersey Canal through the village of Branston where the famous pickle originated and onwards to Barton Turn and Alrewas. Barton-under-Needwood is a nice little village and is around 1 mile from the canal but you can follow the footpath to the village from Barton Turn lock. The canal actually passes through the pretty village of Alrewas so you could stop here as there are a couple of canalside pubs. You will go through a flight of 3 locks as you approach the busy Fradley Junction and the countryside becomes more open and rural. This is a busy junction with a popular canalside pub. After another 2 locks the canal heads North West into rural countryside. As you cruise north you will pass through Rugeley which is a bustling town. You will find suitable moorings at bridge 66 and the town is only a short walk from the canal. The town of Rugeley is on the edge of Cannock Chase which is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty covering 26 miles. It was once a Norman hunting ground and was known as the King’s Forest of Cannock. Continuing on you will pass through a lock at Colwich where you will see the impressive façade of Shugborough Hall which is run by the National Trust and dates back to 1693. The estate is open to the public and there is pedestrian access from Haywood Lock. Moor up before the lock to also have access to the village of Great Haywood. Trent Lane is a pretty street with terraced cottages leading into the village. A canalside farm shop and deli is available as well as a pub and local shop in the village itself. Shugborough Park Farm, Shugborough Park, Shugborough Hall and the Museum of Staffordshire Life are all accessible for visiting. There are also Estate walks linking to the towpaths along Trent & Mersey Canal and Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal and to Cannock Chase trails. At Great Haywood junction the Trent and Mersey Canal meets with the Staffordshire and Worcester Canal to the west. Turn at the winding hole after Haywood Lock to make your return journey back to Loughborough.
