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Cruises
Cruises 2007
Cruise 1, 28 Warwick - Stratford-upon-Avon. 56 locks, 20 miles
2, 29 Stratford-upon-Avon - Warwick. 56 locks, 20 miles (reverse of description)
Traveling north on the Grand Union Canal from Warwick we reach the foot of, ‘The Stairway to Heaven”, the Hatton flight of twenty-one locks. At the top of these is Shrewley Tunnel (433 yards) leading to Kingswood Junction at Lapworth, where the Grand Union is linked by a short arm to the Stratford Canal. We take this link and join the Stratford by a re-opened channel between two cottages, one of which has a barrel roof, a feature of this canal. Another feature is the design of the bridges, which have a slot through the middle of them to take the horses rope, to save it having to be removed. Passing through Lowsonford and Preston Bagot, we arrive at Wootton Wawen and cross the A3400 on an iron aqueduct. At Edstone is another aqueduct which at 200 yards, is one of the longest in the country. The canal passes close to Mary Arden’s House at Wilmcote (She was Shakespeare’s mother). We now start the descent to Stratford, which we reach after sixteen locks, and arrive in the Bancroft Basin close to the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre.
The nearest railway stations are Warwick and Stratford-upon-Avon.
Cruise 3 Warwick - Market Harborough. 39 locks, 50 miles
Leaving historic Warwick on the Grand Union Canal the next town is Royal Leamington Spa. Then we pass out into the country to Napton Junction where the South Oxford Canal branches off. The Grand Union joins the North Oxford as far as Braunston Turn where the North Oxford turns north and the Grand Union continues to Norton Junction, where we turn onto the Leicester Section. After climbing the Watford Locks we reach the long lock-free pound to Foxton with its staircase of ten locks arranged in two five lock flights. To the side of the locks is the site of the incline plane, which was built to replace the locks, but was not a success, and fell into disrepair. There is a museum here which has exhibits demonstrating how the incline plane worked. At the bottom of the locks we turn into the Market Harborough Arm and wind our way into the town.
Nearest railway stations Warwick and Market Harborough.
Cruise 4 Market Harborough - Hinckley. 27 locks, 64 miles We travel the Market Harborough arm to the bottom of Foxton Locks. These are two sets of five staircase locks with a passing place between them. At the side of the locks is a museum showing the working of the incline place which used to be here. On reaching the top of the locks we start a twenty mile pound to the top of Watford Locks which are seven locks, four of which are another staircase. At the top of Watford Locks we pass under the M1 and at the bottom the railway and A5 road, all passing through Watford Gap. We join the Grand Union main line at Norton Junction to Braunston Tunnel. This tunnel is 2042 yards long and is followed by six locks down to Braunston Turn. Here we join the North Oxford Canal and travel Hillmorton Locks, apart from a very shallow lock at Hawkesbury Junction these are the last locks of the cruise. We by-pass Rugby on a high embankment and continue to Hawkesbury Junction where we join the Coventry Canal as far as Marston Junction. At Marston Junction we turn onto the Ashby Canal and after six miles reach Wharf Farm Marina.
Nearest railway stations are Market Harborough, Hinckley and Nuneaton.
Cruise 5 Hinckley - Stone. 26 locks, 58 miles We start our journey on the Ashby Canal at Wharf Farm Marina at Hinckley and travel down the canal to Marston junction where we turn onto the Coventry Canal and journey to Fradley Junction and join the Trent and Mersey Canal. We continue to Stone accompanied by the river Trent through the countryside with Cannock Chase, an area of outstanding natural beauty to the south. At Great Haywood we pass close to Shugborough Hall the home of the Earl of Lichfield which now belongs to the National Trust. The canal continues to follow the Trent Valley to Stone.
Nearest railway stations Hinckley, Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent.
Cruise 6 Stone - Whaley Bridge. 24 locks, 50 miles
This cruise takes us through the Potteries with the Potteries Industrial Museum at Etruria. We travel through the Harecastle Tunnel (2926 yards) which is the remaining tunnel of three built. The first canal tunnel had to be closed because of subsidence. The third was a railway tunnel, which was closed when the railway was re-routed. After the tunnel we turn onto the Macclesfield canal, which is very beautiful as it winds its way through the Peak District. Then on to the Peak Forest Canal and follow the valley of the River Goyt into Whaley Bridge.
Nearest railway stations Stone and Whaley Bridge.
Cruise 7 Whaley Bridge - Nantwich. 48 locks, 58 miles On leaving Whaley Bridge we follow the Goyt valley to Marple. This section of the Peak Forest Canal is very picturesque and clings to the side of the valley as it winds on its way. At Marple we turn onto the Macclesfield Canal. There are several old mills along the length of the canal, mainly cotton mills but in Macclesfield itself silk mills. Some of the mills have been converted into offices, shops and restaurants as well as apartments. There is only one set of locks on the Macclesfield, twelve at Bosley. These are overlooked by a hill called 'The Cloud'. When we have descended the locks we pass through Congleton and reach the stop-lock at Hall Green. Passing over the Trent and Mersey Canal on an aqueduct we join it at Hardings Wood Junction. The next set of locks are known as 'Heartbreak Hill'. There are a total of twenty-five locks over the next seven miles. We are now in the heart of the salt country and pass a large chemical factory and the British Salt factory before reaching Middlewich. We take a sharp left-hand turn onto the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire at Barbridge Junction an passing the start of he Llangollen Canal at Hurleston Junction we reach the Nantwich Canal Basin.
Nearest railway stations Whaley Bridge, Nantwich and Crewe.
Cruise 8 and 21 Nantwich to Llangollen. 37 locks, 60 miles.Cruise
9 and 22 Llangollen - Nantwich. 37 locks, 60 miles. (reverse of description)On leaving Nantwich Basin we travel to Hurleston Junction and turn onto the Llangollen Canal and immediately climb the four locks by Hurleston Reservoir. The canal travels through lovely scenery and reaches Wrenbury where we encounter the first of several lift bridges. We continue until we reach Grindley Brook with its three chamber staircase lock. After Grindley Brook the canal crosses Whixall Moss, a bog rich in flora and fauna. Over the next few miles there are several meres, small lakes formed in the ice age, on either side of the canal which are followed by the short Ellesmere Tunnel (87 yards). Ellesmere town is at the end of a short arm. A few miles further on is Frankton Junction where we make a detour down the Montgomery Canal. We travel down the peaceful seven miles of the canal that have been restored, turn round and retrace our journey to rejoin the Llangollen Canal. We continue up the New Marton Locks, the last of the canal and cross the Chirk Aqueduct overlooked by the railway viaduct and into Chirk Tunnel (459 yards). Whitehouse Tunnel (191 yards) follows quickly after and then we reach the famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct 126 feet above the river Dee. Immediately after the aqueduct there is a ninety degree turn as the canal continues its short journey to Llangollen. This stretch of the canal is very narrow with one-way working in places. We finish our cruise in the new marina at Llangollen.
Nearest railway stations Nantwich, Crewe and Ruabon.
Cruise 10 Nantwich - Stone via Autherley. 49 locks, 70 miles
Cruise 20 Stone - Nantwich via Autherley. 49 locks, 70 miles (reverse of description)
We leave Nantwich and travel down the Shropshire Union Canal. There are two locks at Hack Green before we reach the flight of fifteen at Audlem. There are five more locks at Adderley before we pass through Market Drayton. Following five locks at Tyrley, we enter Woodseaves cutting, This is a narrow tree lined cutting through sandstone. There are no more locks until Wheaton Aston where there is one. We go over the A5 on an aqueduct near Brewood and continue down the 'Shroppie' to Autherley Junction where we join the Staffordshire and Worcester Canal. There are no locks until Gailey where we meet the A5 once more and go under it and down four locks. There are more locks spread out until we reach Tixall Wide, where the canal resembles a lake. At nearby Great Haywood we Join the Trent and Mersey Canal and follow the Trent valley into Stone.
Nearest railway stations Nantwich, Crewe, Stafford or Stoke-on-Trent.
Cruise 11 Stone - Stone via the Caldon Canal. 52 locks, 54 miles We leave Stone and travel north through the Potteries on the Trent and Mersey Canal to Etruria and turn onto the Caldon Canal, which is acknowledged to be one of the most picturesque on the inland waterways. We pass through Hanley, the main town of 'The five towns' of the Potteries. The first part of the canal is through the industrial landscape before reaching open country. There are several lift bridges and at Stockton Brook a flight of five locks raises the canal over 40 feet into stone wall country. The canal passes under the Leek branch at Hazelhurst Junction and continues on to Cheddleton where there is one of several flint mills, which supplied flint to the pottery trade. Beyond Oak Meadow Ford lock the canal joins the river Churnet. This section of the canal becomes impassable if the river is in spate and it is necessary to turn round here otherwise we continue for a further two miles and turn round at Flint Mill Lock and retrace our journey to Stone.
Nearest railway stations Stafford or Stoke-on-Trent.
Cruise 12 Stone - Hinckley via the Ashby. 26 locks, 76 miles.We leave Stone on the Trent and Mersey Canal and follow the River Trent down four spaced out locks to Great Haywood, where we pass close to Shugborough Hall, the home of the Earl of Lichfield, which now belongs to the National Trust. We continue through the lovely countryside near Cannock Chase, an area of outstanding natural beauty, to Fradley Junction, where we turn onto the Coventry Canal. We travel on past Fazeley Junction to two locks at Glascote. Eleven locks at Atherstone complete our climb to the level of the Ashby Canal. We turn onto the Ashby Canal at Marston Junction and travel this lock-free canal and pass Hinckley, Stoke Golding and Bosworth Battlefield site. The Battlefield steam railway line then follows the canal as far as Shackerstone, the canal then flows through farming country to Snarestone tunnel and just beyond the tunnel the canal ends and we turn round and retrace the journey as far as Hinckley.
Nearest railway stations Stafford or Stoke-on-Trent, Hinckley and Nuneaton.
Cruise 13 Hinckley - Warwick 30 locks, 49 miles.We leave Wharf Farm Marina and travel down the Ashby Canal to Marston Junction where we join the Coventry Canal and travel to Hawkesbury Junction. Here we turn on to the North Oxford Canal. We pass Rugby and climb Hill Morton locks and journey to Braunston Turn and join the GrandUnion Canal to Napton Junction. Where we leave the Oxford Canal and continue along the Grand Union. We descend through Calcutt, Stockton, Bascote, Fosse and Radford locks. The canal then passes through Royal Leamington Spa and onto Warwick where our journey ends at Saltisford Canal Centre.
Nearest railway stations Hinckley, Nuneaton and Warwick.
Cruise 14 Warwick - Aylesbury. 77 locks, 77 miles We leave Warwick on the Grand Union Canal. After passing through Royal Leamington Spa we climb Radford and Stockton locks to Napton Junction where we join the North Oxford Canal as far as Braunston Turn. Leaving the Oxford Canal to turn north we continue south on the Grand Union and climb Braunston locks and pass through the tunnel. Passing Norton Junction we descend Buckby locks. We pass through Weedon where George 111 built a barracks to retreat to in case of invasion, as it was the place furthest from the sea. Next we come to Gayton Junction where the Northampton Arm leaves to join the river Nene. Blisworth Tunnel heralds our arrival at Stoke Bruerne where there is a canal museum. We continue down the locks and pass through Cosgrove, Milton Keynes, Bletchly, Stoke Hammond, Leighton Buzzard and Ivinghoe to Marsworth Junction where we turn onto the Aylesbury Arm. After sixteen locks we arrive in this pleasant market town.
Nearest railway stations Warwick and Aylesbury.
Cruise 15 Aylesbury - Market Harborough 65 locks, 85 miles
We leave Aylesbury Basin and climb the sixteen locks to Marsworth Junction where we turn onto the Grand Union Canal and travel north passing through Ivinghoe, Leighton Buzzard, Stoke Hammond, Bletchly, Milton Keynes and Cosgrove and arrive at Stoke Bruerne with its Canal Museum. After traveling through Blisworth Tunnel we pass Gayton Junction which leads to Northampton and the river Nene. Continuing through Weedon we reach Buckby Locks. At the top of the locks we turn onto the Leicester Line and reach Watford Locks which form a staircase, the top gate of one lock is the bottom gate of the next. At the top of these locks is a long pound to the top of Foxton Locks. These are staircase locks again and are two staircase of five locks each. At the side of the locks is the site of an incline plane and a museum showing how it worked. At the bottom of the locks we turn onto the Market Harborough Arm and wind our way into the basin where we end our journey.
Nearest railway station Aylesbury and Market Harborough.
Cruise 16 Market Harborough - Stoke Bruerne. 24 locks, 44 miles.
We leave Market Harborough and travel to the bottom of Foxton Locks, which are two staircases of five locks each. At the side of the locks is the site of an incline plane and a museum, which has exhibits which demonstrates how it worked. At the top of the locks is a long lock-free pound to the top of Watford Locks, which are also a staircase. Soon after the bottom of these is Norton Junction where we turn onto the main line of the Grand Union Canal and continue down Buckby Locks, and we wind our way through Weedon and on to Gayton Junction where the Northampton Arm leads to the River Nene. Soon after we reach Blisworth Tunnel and Stoke Bruerne, where our journey ends.
Nearest railway stations Market Harborough and Northampton.
Cruise 17 Stoke Bruerne - Banbury. 28 locks, 48 miles We leave Stoke Bruerne through Blisworth Tunnel (3057) and travel Gayton Junction where the Northampton Arm branches off to the river Nene. We carry on through Weedon to Buckby Locks. At the top of these locks we cross the summit pound through Braunston Tunnel (2042) and down the six Braunston Locks. At Braunston Turn we join the South Oxford Canal and travel to Napton Locks, overlooked by the windmill on the hill. Up the nine locks we cross a long pound by a very twisty course. The pound ends with Claydon Locks and we start the descent to Banbury. Passing the pretty village of Copredy and arrive at Castle Quay in the centre of Banbury.
Nearest railway stations Northampton and Banbury.
Cruise 18 Banbury - Hinckley. 26 locks, 58 miles We moor at Castle Quay in the centre of Banbury. This is a modern shopping development close to the bus and railway station. We leave Banbury and climb some scattered locks to the pretty village of Copredy. After another eight locks we reach the long top pound. At Fenny Compton there is a long straight section of canal which was originally a tunnel but has the top removed because of stability problems. At Marston Doles we start to descend he nine Napton Locks. The view here is dominated by the windmill on the hill at Napton. At the bottom of these locks we travel to Braunston Turn and journey to Hillmorton Locks with its three pairs of locks. Passing Rugby we arrive at Hawkesbury Junction with its shallow stop lock and join the Coventry Canal to Marston Junction. From Marston Junction we travel six miles to Wharf Farm Marina at Hinckley.
Nearest railway stations Banbury, Hinckley and Nuneaton.
Cruise 19 Hinckley - Stone via the Ashby Canal. 26 locks, 76 miles
We leave Wharf Farm Marina at Hinckley and travel up the Ashby Canal to Market Bosworth on this lock-free canal. We pass Bosworthd Battlefield on the way. There is a Visitor Centre and a steam railway here. We turn around above the battle field and retrace our journey to Marton Junction where we join the Coventry Canal, and journey to Fradley Junction and join the Trent and Mersey Canal. We continue to Stone accompanied by the river Trent through the countryside, with Cannock Chase, an area of outstanding natural beauty, to the south. At Great Haywood we pass close to Shugborough Hall, the home of Lord Lichfield, which now belongs to the National Trust. The canal continues to follow the Trent valley to Stone.
Nearest railway stations Hinckley, Nuneaton and Stone.
Cruise 20 Stone - Nantwich via Autherley. 49 locks, 70 miles Reverse of Cruise 10
Cruise 21 Nantwich - Llangollen. 37 locks, 60 miles.As Cruise 8
Cruise 22 Llangollen - Nantwich. 37 locks, 60 miles Reverse of Cruise 8
Cruise 23 Nantwich - Stone via Middlewich. 44 locks, 40 miles
We leave Nantwich Basin and travel to Barbridge Junction passing Hurleston Junction and the start of the Llangollen Canal. At Barbridge we turn onto the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal. We go down four scattered locks and arrive at Middlewich where we join the Trent and Mersey Canal. We pass the British Salt factory and a large chemical factory and carry on to the foot of 'Heartbreak Hill', twenty-five locks over seven miles leading to the Harecastle Tunnel (2926 yards). This tunnel is very low to start with but gradually gets lower owing to subsidence. We now pass several pottery factories as we go through Stoke-on-Trent. After six more locks spread out over the next few miles we arrive in Stone where we moor at Stone Boatbuilding Co.
Nearest railway stations Nantwich and Crewe, Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent.
Cruise 24 Stone - Hinckley.. 26 locks, 58 miles We leave Stone on the Trent and Mersey Canal and follow the River Trent down four spaced out locks to Great Haywood, where we pass close to Shugborough Hall, the home of the Earl of Lichfield, which now belongs to the National Trust. We continue through the lovely countryside near Cannock Chase, an area of outstanding natural beauty, to Fradley Junction, where we turn onto the Coventry Canal. We travel on past Fazeley Junction to two locks at Glascote. Eleven locks at Atherstone complete our climb to the level of the Ashby Canal. We turn onto the Ashby Canal at Marston Junction and travel this lock-free canal to Wharf Farm Marina at Hinckley.
Nearest railway stations Stafford, Hinckley and Nuneaton.
Cruise 25 Hinckley - Warwick. 30 locks, 49 miles As Cruise 13.
Cruise 26 Warwick - Worcester. 95 locks, 44 miles Cruise
27 Worcester - Warwick. 95 locks, 44 miles (Reverse of description)We travel the "Staircase to Heaven", Hatton Locks and through Shrewley Tunnel (433 yards) to Kingswood Junction. Here we go through the short arm, which goes from the Grand Union Canal to the Stratford Canal. We join the Lapworth flight of locks at lock 20 and continue up them to Lock 2. Between the top of the locks and Hockley Heath there are two lift bridges. Past Earlswood we find ourselves on the outskirts of Birmingham. At Kings Norton we turn away from the city and join the Birmingham and Worcester Canal and enter Kings Norton Tunnel (2726 yards) one of the longest in the country. Leaving the tunnel we pass Upper and Lower Bittel Reservoirs and come to Alvechurch. We travel through another tunnel Shortwood, (613 yards) and soon after, Tardebigge (580 yards) follows, and we arrive at the top of the Tardebigge Flight and descend thirty locks into the Severn Valley. Then follows the Stoke Flight of five locks. The canal continues its journey passing close to the Spa town of Droitwich where the Droitwich Canal and the Droitwich Barge Canal are under restoration. When these are completed it will provide another link with the River Severn. Following another flight of six locks at Offerton and six spaced-out locks, we reach Lowesmoor basin in Worcester, where we end our cruise.
Nearest railway stations Warwick and Worcester.
Cruise 28 Warwick - Stratford-upon-Avon. 56 locks, 20 miles As Cruise 1
Cruise 29 Stratford-upon-Avon - Warwick. 56 locks, 20 milesAs
Cruise 30 Warwick - Stoke Bruerne. 36 locks, 36 miles.We leave the Saltisford Arm and travel through Leamington Spa. We climb the twenty-five locks, including a two chamber staircase at Bascote, to Napton Junction where we join the Oxford Canal as far as Braunston where we leave he Oxford and continue on the Grand Union up the six Braunston locks. At the top of the locks we go through Braunston Tunnel (2042 yards). We cross the pound to Buckby and go down the seven locks and on through Weedon. The canal then winds its way past Gayton Junction where the Northampton Line goes off to the River Nene. Soon after we go through Blisworth Tunnel and arrive in Stoke Bruerne with its canal museum.
Nearest railway stations Warwick and Northampton.