Short Break Route Suggestions (3 & 4 nights):
Relaxed route: Foxton, Market Harborough and Return - 24 miles, 20 locks, 13.5 hours total
Cruise north through Husbands Bosworth Tunnel (1166 yards) towards Foxton. In this area the canal is surrounded by remote farmland, open countryside and woodland. Although there are villages with shops and pubs nearby, most are a 15 minute walk from the canal, including Husbands Bosworth which sits above the tunnel. There are two sets of staircases locks at Foxton which lower the canal by 75ft, towards the Market Harborough Arm. During the main season, Foxton locks have a lock-keeper who will show you the ropes. There are also 2 pubs, a café and a museum at Foxton Junction. Turn right after the locks, towards Market Harborough. The canal arm runs for 5 ½ miles into the centre of the town, with good moorings at its end. Parts of it dating back to c.1203, Market Harborough has a certain rural elegance. The ‘Old Grammar School’ stands on wooden stilts in the town centre (c. 1614) next to the church. The town also boasts antique shops, a gallery, a museum and a theatre; as well as a variety of shops, restaurants and pubs within walking distance. Turn here and return.
Intermediate route: Welford, Norton Junction and Return - 35 miles, 16 locks, 16 hours total
Cruise the short distance south to Welford Junction and continue to the left along the Welford Arm. There is one lock before you reach Welford Basin, where you can turn around, moor up and walk into the village. After this, retrace your steps to Welford Junction and turn left, heading south past Yelvertoft village (15 mins walk) to Crick, which boasts 4 pubs. After stopping at the village, continue through Crick Tunnel which is 1528 yards long. Just south of the tunnel are 6 staircase locks at Watford, where the canal comes close to the M1 motorway (and Watford Gap Services) for a while. There is a lock-keeper at Watford to help you through the staircase. An hour later you should reach Norton Junction where there are moorings with a waterside pub nearby. Turn here and return to North Kilworth.
Active route: Braunston Turn and Return - 41 miles, 26 locks, 20 hours total
At Welford Junction, just south of the boatyard, turn left and head past Yelvertoft village (15 mins walk from the canal) to Crick, which boasts 4 pubs. After stopping at the village, continue through Crick Tunnel which is 1528 yards long. Just south of the tunnel are 6 staircase locks at Watford, where the canals comes close to the M1 motorway (and Watford Gap Services) for a while. There is a lock-keeper at Watford to help you through the staircase. An hour later you should reach Norton Junction where there are moorings with a waterside pub nearby. Turn right here, on to the Grand Union Main Line and through the 2042 yard long Braunston Tunnel. After this there are 6 locks before you reach the pretty village of Braunston, which has a couple of canalside pubs and a traditional butcher/delicatessen for provisions. Cruising past the marina to your left, turn around just in front of the ornate cast-iron bridges (known as Braunston Turn) and return to North Kilworth.
Weekly Route Suggestions:
Relaxed route: Thrupp Wharf and Return - 76 miles, 42 locks, 34 hours total
Head south to Norton Junction, through Crick Tunnel (1528 yards) and the staircase locks at Watford, to Norton Junction. Continue to the left, heading south down the Grand Union Canal and through 7 locks at Long Buckby, to Weedon Bec. Weedon is an interesting village with pretty cottages, an old wharf, medieval church and a former Royal Ordnance Depot (c. 1805) which has its own branch canal and book shop. Weedon also has numerous cafés, pubs and restaurants, so it’s a good place stop for a while. After Weedon, head south over two low aqueducts, passing Stowehill Wharf and Nether Heyford village. Mooring is available near Bugbrooke Wharf and there are 3 pubs in Bugbrooke including one on the canalside. Continue south along a lock-free stretch of the canal, past Gayton Junction and the village of Blisworth. Cruise through the long Blisworth Tunnel (3057 yards/1.74 miles) to the picturesque ‘canal village’ of Stoke Bruerne, which has a quaint canal museum and a couple of pubs. There are 7 locks here, then the route runs lock-free again past the small village of Yardley Gobion (approx. 15 mins walk) until you arrive at Thrupp Wharf, with its canalside pub – turn before bridge 64 and return to North Kilworth.
Intermediate route: Leicester and Return - 59 miles, 76 locks, 36 hours total
Cruise north through Husbands Bosworth Tunnel (1166 yards) towards Foxton. In this area the canal is surrounded by remote farmland, open countryside and woodland. There are two staircases of 5 locks each at Foxton which lower the canal by 75ft towards the Market Harborough Arm. During the main season, Foxton locks tend to be manned by a lock-keeper who will show you the ropes and there are also 2 pubs, a café and a museum near the Junction. Between Foxton and the outskirts of Leicester, small villages lie a short walk from the canal (approx. 15 – 20 mins) including Smeeton Westerby, Saddington and Fleckney. There are 13 locks running through countryside approaching Leicester’s suburbs. After a further 12 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 now been laid to rest. Turn just before Birstall Lock (No. 45) in the city centre and return to North Kilworth.
Active route: Market Harborough, Leicester and Return - 70 miles, 76 locks, 41 hours total
Cruise north through Husbands Bosworth Tunnel (1166 yards) towards Foxton. In this area the canal is surrounded by remote farmland, open countryside and woodland. There are two staircases of 5 locks each at Foxton which lower the canal by 75ft, down towards the Market Harborough Arm. During the main season, Foxton locks tend to be manned by a lock-keeper who will show you the ropes. There are also 2 pubs, a café and a museum near Foxton Junction. Turn right after the locks, towards Market Harborough, passing the little village of Foxton on your left. The canal arm runs for 5 ½ miles into the centre of the town, with good moorings at its end. Market Harborough has a certain rural elegance. The ‘Old Grammar School’ stands on wooden stilts in the town centre (c. 1614) next to the church. The town also boasts antique shops, a gallery, a museum and a theatre; as well as a variety of shops, restaurants and pubs. Return to Foxton Junction and head north. Between Foxton and the outskirts of Leicester, small villages lie a short walk from the canal (approx. 15 – 20 mins) including Smeeton Westerby, Saddington and Fleckney. There are 13 locks running through countryside approaching Leicester’s suburbs. Then after a further 12 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 now been laid to rest. Turn just before Birstall Lock (No. 45) to return to North Kilworth. For a longer cruise, why not continue north to Loughborough then return – 46 hours, 81 miles & 90 locks.
Fortnight Route Suggestions:
Relaxed route: The Leicester Ring - 154 miles, 101 locks, 76 hours total
Cruise north through Husbands Bosworth Tunnel (1166 yards) towards Foxton. In this area the canal is surrounded by remote farmland, open countryside and woodland. There are staircase locks at Foxton which lower the canal by 75ft to the Foxton Junction. During the main season, these locks tend to be manned by a lock-keeper who will show you the ropes. There are also 2 pubs, a café and a museum near the Junction. Between Foxton and the outskirts of Leicester, small villages lie a short walk (15-20 mins) from the canal, including Smeeton Westerby, Saddington and Fleckney. There are 13 locks running through countryside approaching Leicester’s suburbs, then after a further 12 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 now been laid to rest. At Belgrave Lock the canal meets the River Soar which meanders through the city until you reach Thurmaston Lock, where it joins the canal once more. The Soar begins again at Cossington, leading through pretty Mountsorrel Lock with its waterside pub, towards Barrow-Upon-Soar and then to Loughborough. Here you join the Loughborough Navigation, leading past Kegworth and onto the River Trent. Heading west to Derwent Mouth you’ll meet the Trent & Mersey Canal. The village of Shardlow is well worth visiting and has an interesting array of canal architecture, a Heritage Centre, a mill and numerous canalside pubs. Locks appear at regular intervals along the Trent & Mersey and the canal is interspersed with low aqueducts, adding interest as it moves through the countryside towards Burton-upon-Trent, famous for its many Breweries. After passing the attractive village of Arlewas you arrive at Fradley Junction, followed by Fazeley Junction where you continue south towards Tamworth, passing the ruins of Alvecote Priory. A long lock-free section follows until you reach 11 locks at Atherstone (once owned by Lady Godiva). It’s then easy-going to Hawkesbury Junction and on to the North Oxford Canal. From here the route leads south through woodland and fields, cruising under Newbold Tunnel (250 yards) past Rugby and Hillmorton to Braunston Village. Follow the canal along to the left and through 6 locks then the Braunston Tunnel (2042 yards / 1.16 miles) to Norton Junction. At the junction turn left, through the staircase locks at Watford and under Crick Tunnel (1528 yards) before bypassing the Welford Arm, back to North Kilworth.
Intermediate route: Oxford and Return - 149 miles, 102 locks, 78 hours total
Head south to Norton Junction, through Crick Tunnel and the Watford staircase locks to Norton Junction. Turn right, heading through the long Braunston Tunnel (2042 yards / 1.16 miles). There are then 6 locks leading to the village of Braunston, where there’s a canalside pub, an old windmill and a traditional butchers / deli. At Braunston Junction turn left under the cast-iron bridge, continuing along the canal to Napton Junction where you begin your cruise south down the Oxford Canal. There are two pubs followed by the 9 lock Napton Flight, which stretches for 2 miles between Folly Bridge and Marston Doles. The route meanders through countryside and farmland with some tight bends to negotiate at times, as this is a contour canal following the natural curve of the land. Three hours further south you reach Fenny Compton where there is a pub and waterpoint. Continue through 8 locks and a lift bridge to the pretty village of Cropredy (home to Fairport Convention) where there’s 1 lock, 2 pubs and a small shop. There are 3 more locks before you reach Banbury and in the town centre you’ll find a lift bridge, overlooked by shops and restaurants, then a lock next to a gallery and café. Moor up just after Bridge 166 to walk into the town centre. Banbury is home to Banbury Cross, Banbury Cakes and Ye Olde Reindeer Inn (c. 1570). The lift bridges start to multiply - they are an iconic sight on this canal and most are left open for you to pass under, between fields of cows, sheep and horses. There is just a smattering of locks between here and Lower Heyford, passing Aynho en route. Very close to Lower Heyford it’s possible to visit Rousham House (1635) and two locks later, you arrive at the ‘Rock of Gibraltar’ pub with its canalside garden. Soon the canal meets with the River Cherwell for a while, until lock No. 41 (which is diamond shaped) when it becomes canal once again. After a sharp turn to your right you arrive at Thrupp with its two charming pubs, followed by Kidlington. Past Kidlington the scenery remains lovely and green with neat brick bridges punctuating the canal. After a few more lift bridges and 2 locks you reach the outskirts of Oxford City centre, with bridge 242 marking the start of the suburbs. Moor up after Aristotle Bridge or Jericho Footbridge for up to 24 hours and discover the famous University City of Oxford from there. Turn and return to North Kilworth.
Active route: The Warwickshire Ring - 145 miles, 147 locks, 80 hours total
Cruise south past Welford Junction and continue past Yelvertoft to the village of Crick. Pass through Crick Tunnel (1528 yards) then the staircase locks at Watford, turning right at Norton Junction. Cruise through Braunston Tunnel (2042 yards) then 6 locks to the pretty village of Braunston. From Braunston, cruise under the ornate cast-iron bridge and through farmland to Napton Junction where you pass under the bridge leading to 3 locks at Calcutt. At Stockton there’s a pub followed by a flight of 8 locks, another pub then 2 more locks. Then at Cuttle Bridge there are more pubs and a road leading into the village of Long Itchington. Cruise over a low aqueduct and through 11 locks to Warwick. Near bridge 49 there are moorings with easy access by road to Warwick Castle and the town centre (south). Turn right at Budbrooke Junction and up the 21-lock Hatton Flight (with pub near the top). Next you pass through Shrewley Tunnel, after which you’ll reach Kingswood Junction and turn left under the bridge and onto the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal. Head north through the 18 narrow locks of the rural Lapworth Flight to Hockley Heath. The route changes from countryside to suburbs as you get closer to Birmingham. Near the top of the canal is Brandwood Tunnel followed by an interesting ‘Guillotine Lock’ just before King’s Norton Junction, where you join the Worcestershire & Birmingham Canal. The canal runs lock-free into central Birmingham, past Cadbury’s World at Bournville, to Gas Street Basin where you can visit the ICC, National Sealife Centre, Symphony Hall or Brindley Place. At the next junction turn towards Cambrian Wharf and through 13 locks at Farmers Bridge – lots of industrial heritage - then under Aston Road Bridge. Pass through a further 11 locks before arriving at Salford Junction where you join the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal. There are 14 locks between Salford Junction and Curdworth bottom lock, with pubs and shops within walking distance of the canal. From Curdworth to Fazeley Junction it’s plain sailing past Drayton Manor Theme Park to the next junction. At Fazeley, take a right on to the quiet Coventry Canal past Tamworth and Polesworth, arriving eventually at the 11-lock Atherstone Flight (Atherstone village once belonged to Lady Godiva). The tree-lined canal then continues lock-free, past Marston Junction (with the Ashby Canal). Turn left and left again at Hawkesbury Junction where you’ll find a stop lock, an engine house and a pub. Cruise south through woodland and fields, passing under Newbold Tunnel (250 yards) then it’s lock-free all the way to Hillmorton where there are 3 double locks. A couple of hours’ cruising later you arrive at Braunston again. Follow the canal around to the left through the locks and tunnel, then return to North Kilworth. It’s also possible to stop at Warwick Castle or at Drayton Manor en route, if you allow extra time.
