CRUISE DETAILS 2021

On leaving our marina we travel towards Marston Junction, turing left on the Coventry Canal towards Hawkesbury Junction and join the Oxford Canal via a 6 inch rise at the lock. Into the countryside for a while before coming into Rugby. Our journey heads back into the countryside as we head for Braunston and turn left on the Grand Union Canal going down 6 locks and through Braunston Tunnel before arriving at Norton Junction following the M1 south for a couple of miles before some open countryside until we reach Weedon. Then on to Gayton Junction where the Northampton Arm leads to the River Nene. Soon after we reach Blisworth Tunnel (3056 yards) and Stoke Bruerne with its waterways museum, there will be time for a planned visit. From here we now descend 7 locks. At Cosgrove Village look out for Soloman's Bridge, turning left we drop down a lock, now lock free round Milton Keynes to our destination.

Hinckley and Milton Keynes

As we leave Milton Keynes our first lock is at Fenny Stratford which is only 1 foot 1 inch drop. 7 more miles & 5 locks with open landscape we reach Leighton Buzzard and we start to climb again through the lovely Chiltern countryside towards Marsworth Junction, through 10 locks towards Berkhamsted and Hemel Hempsted coming down the Chiltern Hills to Kings Langley through the Colne valley and Harefield Moor towards Cowley Peachey Junction, then we turn left at Bulls Bridge Junction onto the Paddington Arm passed Northolt, Wembley and Kensington arriving at Little Venice. 

Milton Keynes and Paddington

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 where some open countryside until we reach Weedon. Then on to Gayton Junction where the Northampton Arm leads to the River Nene. Soon after we reach Blisworth Tunnel (3056 yards) and Stoke Bruerne with its waterways museum, there will be time for a planned visit. From here we now descend 7 locks. At Cosgrove Village look out for Soloman's Bridge, turning left we drop down a lock, now lock free round Milton Keynes we reach Leighton Buzzard and we start to climb again through the lovely Chiltern countryside towards Marsworth Junction, before going down the Aylesbury Arm to the marina.

Market Harborough and Aylesbury

Leaving Aylesbury going up the Aylesbury Arm towards Marsworth Junction turning left towards Leighton Buzzard and some lovely countryside. The canal enters the valley of the Ouzel and meanders sharply soon to arrive at the Soulbury flight of three locks and another at Stoke Hammond. Soon passing Fenny Stratford and Milton Keynes heading on towards Old Wolverton and Cosgrove, after 6 miles we arrive at Stoke Bruerne home of the BW Waterways Museum. Then it's onto Blisworth Tunnel which is the third longest waterway in Britain open to navigation. At Gayton junction we pass the GUC Northampton Arm which branches away to the north east. We continue north west entering a relatively empty stretch of agricultural land and open fields falling away to the north and steep hill to the south, as it approaches Bugbrooke and onto Weeden a quiet open stretch follows north to Long Buckby and Norton Junction turning right we soon arrive at the picturesque Watford Staircase Locks after this is a lock free pound. Next comes Crick Tunnel and our destination.

Aylesbury and Rugby

We leave our marina heading south through Crick Tunnel towards the picturesque Watford Staircase Locks. We turn right towards Braunston Tunnel soon followed by 6 locks. We turn right through some lovely countryside for 7 miles until we come to 3 locks at Hillmorton. Next comes Rugby before 11 miles of countryside when we arrive at Hawkesbury Stop lock where we join the Coventry Canal. We then head towards Bedworth, Nuneaton and Atherstone. At Atherstone we start descending a flight of 5 locks soon followed by another 6 locks before we arrive in Polesworth. There are 2 more locks before coming to Tamworth. We continue north towards Hopwas, Whittington and Huddlesford before arriving at Fradley Junction. We turn right on the Trent and Mersey Canal towards Alrewas going down 6 locks. Next comes Burton upon Trent and Willington and our destination at Mercia Marina. 

Rugby and Willington

As we leave our marina we travel west towards Burton Upon Trent, Known for its Breweries. Alrewas next now known for The National Arboretum which was officially opened to the public in May 2001. At Fradley junction which is very popular with Gongoozlers (spectators), where you can see the Swan Pub a famous canal landmark. Leaving the activity behind we enter quiet countryside as we wind our way towards Armitage passing the Armitage pottery and church, and Rugeley. Pleasant surroundings continue as we approach Shugborough Park with its impressive hall. At Great Haywood Junction Stone are only 3 locks away where we climb 9 locks through Stone. Back into the countryside and passing the Wedgewood factory and arriving in Stoke and the Potteries where this journey ends.

Willington and Stoke

We descend Stoke locks and pass the Wedgwood Centre at Barlaston. Meaford locks make a pleasant interlude before we arrive at the canal town of Stone and carry on down 3 more locks, heading to Great Haywood. Here we turn right under a bridge to enter the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. Passing over the River Trent, we next come to Tixall Wide. Passing on through the tiny villages of Milford and Acton Trussell, we reach Penkridge.

Winding our way through wooded countryside, we reach Gailey where we pass under Watling Street to find the quaint round Lock Keeper's Cottage by the lock. By twists and turns, we reach Autherley Junction. Making a right turn to a stop lock, we are immediately made aware of Telford’s influence as, after a long stretch of open countryside, we pass through deep shadowy sandstone cuttings and high embankments, after which we arrive at Norbury Junction. 

We continue through uncluttered countryside towards Tyrley, where we encounter our first flight of five locks and descend towards Market Drayton. Down this route, we pass the beautiful locks at Adderley and Audlem, then the Hack Green locks climbing towards Nantwich. Shortly after leaving Nantwich, we turn right at Barbridge Junction and head for the Trent and Mersey Canal at Middlewich. 

Here we turn right and start to ascend locks straight away. This is just a taste of the climb to come as we start to ascend what the working boatmen called 'Heartbreak Hill'. We pass under an aqueduct where the canal water is stained bright orange by deposits in the hills, and we await our turn to enter the magnificent Harecastle tunnel, which are over a mile and half long. Emerging from the far end of the tunnel, we enter the Potteries.  then descend Stoke locks and pass the Wedgwood Centre at Barlaston. Meaford locks make a pleasant interlude before we arrive at the canal town of Stone and carry on down 3 more locks to our marina.

Stoke

We leave our marina heading north towards Hurleston Junction. Afterwards, we turn right 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 comes Frankton Junction, next comes 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 and slower with one-way working in places. We arrive in the basin at Llangollen.

Nantwich and Ruabon

As we leave Llangollen this stretch of the canal is very narrow and slower with one-way working in place there is a ninety degree turn as the canal continues its short journey until we reach the famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct 126 feet above the river Dee. Whitehouse Tunnel (191 yards) follows quickly after by Chirk Tunnel (459 yards). We wind our way to Chirk Aqueduct overlooked by the railway viaduct then on to New Marton Locks. A few miles further on comes Frankton Junction we turn onto the beautiful Montgomery Canal. Having gone down the locks we arrive near Oswestry. We head back up the Monty towards Frankton locks turning sharp right at the junction we soon enter Ellesmere tunnel and open countryside towards Whitchurch and Grindley Brook with it staircase locks. Keeping in tune with the rural scene we slowly cruise towards Hurleston descending the four locks onto the Shropshire Union Canal known as The "Shropie", turning left a Hurleston Junction heading for Barbridge Junction turning along the Middlewich arm turning left at Middlewich and after the built up area of Middlewich and some locks we go back into some lovely countryside before the industrial edge of Northwich before going down The Anderton Lift and onto the River Weaver towards Northwich.

Ruabon and Northwich or Hartford

On leaving Northwich, we rise up in the magnificent Anderton Boat Lift and turn right to head for Middlewich, skirting around the environs of industrial Northwich. We cruise through pleasant countryside equally beautiful to many other stretches in the country. 

Reaching Middlewich, we turn right to join the 11 miles of the Middlewich Arm, which is all open country, punctuated by 4 locks. At Barbridge Junction, we join the Shropshire Union main line and follow a brief stretch of this canal until we reach Hurleston Junction. 

Afterwards, we turn right 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 comes Frankton Junction we turn onto the beautiful Montgomery Canal. Having gone down the locks we arrive near Oswestry. We head back up the Monty towards Frankton locks and turn left towards 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 and slower with one-way working in places. We moor in the basin at Llangollen.

Northwich or Hartford and Ruabon

As we leave Llangollen this stretch of the canal is very narrow and slower with one-way working in places. we reach the famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct 126 feet above the River Dee. The Whitehouse Tunnel (191 yards) is next soon follewed by the Chirk Tunnel (459 yards) long. We come to the smaller Chirk Aqueduct. A few miles further on comes Frankton Junction we turn onto the beautiful Montgomery Canal. Having gone down the locks we arrive near Oswestry. We head back up the Monty towards Frankton locks and turn right towards New Marton and the lovely Welsh countryside heading towards Ellesmere. Over the next few miles there are several meres (small lakes formed in the Ice Age) on either side of the canal. Next comes Whixall Moss a bog rich in flora and fauna, after comes Grindley Brook with its three chamber staircase lock and some lovely scenery before arriving at Wrenbury. Coming to Hurleston Junction turning right on the Shropshire Union main line canal towards our marina at Nantwich.

Ruabon and Nantwich

As we leave our marina we head towards Barbridge Junction we turn right at Barbridge Junction and head for the Trent and Mersey Canal at Middlewich. After the built up area of Middlewich and some locks we go back into some lovely countryside before the industrial edge of Northwich before going down The Anderton Lift and onto the River Weaver towards Northwich. On leaving we rise up in the magnificent Anderton Boat Lift and turn right to head for Middlewich, skirting around the environs of industrial Northwich. We cruise through pleasant countryside equally beautiful to many other stretches in the country traveling towards Middlewich and start to ascend locks straight away. This is just a taste of the climb to come as we start to ascend what the working boatmen called 'Heartbreak Hill'. Traveling through Sandbach, Wheelock and Thurlwood. At Kidsgrove we pass under an aqueduct where the canal water is stained bright orange by deposits in the hills, we turn right onto the Macclesfield Canal going through a small lock before arriving in our Marina. 

Nantwich and Kidsgrove

We begin on Macclesfield Canal, which is very beautiful as it winds its way through the Peak District. Then we head to the Peak Forest Canal with its wonderful views, followed by the valley of the River Goyt which leads to Whaley Bridge, and then onto the magnificent Bugsworth Basin. After leaving Bugsworth Basin heading north to the Marple Flight we go down the flight of 16 locks soon followed by The Marple Aquaduct. Next comes Hyde and Woodley Tunnels before we turn left onto the Aston Canal and 2 miles to our marina.   

Kidsgrove and Droylsden

On leaving our marina we head east to join the Peak Forest Canal at Dukinfield Junction. Then we head up the Peak Forest Canal with its wonderful views, followed by the valley of the River Goyt which leads to Whaley Bridge. But first we through Woodley and Hyde Tunnels and across Marple Aquaduct before we go up the Marple Flight of 16 locks. After leaving our moorings at Buxworth Basin we head north and turn left at Marple and head south down the Macclesfield Canal. The views are beautiful, we go back to the countryside after Marple towards High Lane and Kerridge, next comes Macclesfield. Going back into the countryside we arrive at the picturesque Bosley flight of 12 locks. We now arrive over an aquaduct at Congleton. The countryside opens up again towards Red Bull Junction where we pass the Trent & Mersey Canal over an aqueduct where the canal water is stained bright orange by deposits in the hills. We then await our turn to enter the magnificent Harecastle tunnel, which are over a mile and half long. Emerging from the far end of the tunnel, we enter the Potteries and then descend Stoke locks and pass the Wedgwood Centre at Barlaston. Meaford locks make a pleasant interlude before we arrive at the canal town of Stone and carry on down 3 more locks to our marina.

Droylsden and Stone                          

We leave the marina on the Trent and Mersey Canal, heading to Great Haywood. Here we turn right under a bridge to enter the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. Passing over the River Trent, we next come to Tixall Wide. Passing on through the tiny villages of Milford and Acton Trussell, we reach Penkridge.

Winding our way through wooded countryside, we reach Gailey where we pass under Watling Street to find the quaint round Lock Keeper's Cottage by the lock. By twists and turns, we reach Autherley Junction. Making a right turn to a stop lock, we are immediately made aware of Telford’s influence as, after a long stretch of open countryside, we pass through deep shadowy sandstone cuttings and high embankments, after which we arrive at Norbury Junction. 

We continue through uncluttered countryside towards Tyrley, where we encounter our first flight of five locks and descend towards Market Drayton. Down this route, we pass the beautiful locks at Adderley and Audlem, then the Hack Green locks climbing towards Nantwich. Shortly after leaving Nantwich, we turn right at Barbridge Junction and head for the Trent and Mersey Canal at Middlewich. 

Here we turn right and start to ascend locks straight away. This is just a taste of the climb to come as we start to ascend what the working boatmen called 'Heartbreak Hill'. We pass under an aqueduct where the canal water is stained bright orange by deposits in the hills, and we await our turn to enter the magnificent Harecastle tunnel, which are over a mile and half long. Emerging from the far end of the tunnel, we enter the Potteries and then descend Stoke locks and pass the Wedgwood Centre at Barlaston. Meaford locks make a pleasant interlude before we arrive at the canal town of Stone and carry on down 3 more locks to our marina.

Stone

Leaving Aston Marina we travel south to Great Hayward and turn right at Great Hayward Junction to go on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal along the Penk Valley through Milford, Baswich and Penkridge surrounded by heathland also a roundhouse at Gailey. We arrive at Autherley Junction where the Shropshire Union Canal joins our canal, we continue south towards Newbridge, Compton and the unusual Bratch Locks, following the countryside towards Kidderminster, next comes Stourport-on-Seven where we turn left on the River Seven through a valley of forests and hills coming to Holt Fleet. Soon after we turn onto the Droitwich Barge Canal at Hawford Junction. The canal is very picturesque and winding as we travel up 8 lock to the center of Droitwich. We then travel under the M5 to our marina.   

Stone and Droitwich

As we leave the marina going up the 3 locks then turning north on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal surrounded by pasture land towards 36 locks between Stoke Prior and Tardebigge, followed by 2 tunnels before we arrive in Alvechurch surrounded by fruit plantations. Another tunnel Wast Hills at 2726 yards long before turning at Kings Norton Junction to get on the Stratfrord-upon-Avon Canal going into the countryside until Lapworth going down 18 locks before turning onto the Grand Union Canal towards Shrewley Tunnel and the famous Hatton Flight of locks going down 21 to our destination Warwick. 

Droitwich and Warwick

Upon leaving our helpful mooring in The Saltisford Arm Warwick we soon 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. We climb the flight of 18 locks towards Kings Norton and turning right towards Birmingham. After leaving the center we go down the Farmers flight of 13 locks, soon followed by the Aston flight of 11. We turn right onto the Birmingham & Fazeley canal heading towards Tamworth. Then we travel past Fazeley junction to the two locks at Glascote. Eleven locks at Atherstone complete our climb as we head for Bedworth. Hawkesbury junction where the greyhound pub is, turning left here, and our first lock but only a stop lock about a foot, Traveling on we will go under the M69 the canal runs through quiet farmland and passes a pretty Boat Inn Cottage before we reach All Oaks Wood. Soon we go through Newbold Tunnel 250 yards, now we are on the outskirts of Rugby. Travelling a further four miles we arrive at Hillmorton Locks. Now we are heading to Braunston which is regarded as the heart of the canal system, and the village on its hill is not to be missed. We turn right at Braunston to get on The Grand Union Canal going towards Wighams Turn we leave the Oxford Canal on to the Grand Union Canal. From here onwards, we descend through wide locks starting with Calcutt, Stockton, Bascote, Fosse and Radford locks. The canal then passes through Royal Leamington Spa and our Warwick before arriving in our destination.

Warwick

As we leave Warwick soon passing the cape of good Hope Locks.Heading and passing through Royal Leamington Spa we travel onto Welsh Lane and Fosse Way locks, now we soon tackle the locks at Stockton and then onto the locks at Calcutt. We now have little run onto Napton Junction this is where we turn right onto the Oxford, we eventually clear the nine locks and pass Marston Doles, the canal meanders passing Fenny Compton, we soon descend the flight of locks at Claydon. We pass Cropredy village with its sleepy churchyard, just after Banbury we go under the M40 passing even more quite locks you can see the church spire at King's Sutton. Aynho Weir we briefly cross the River cherwell. We reach Somerton, next after this we follow the valley for many miles, we continue on to Thrupp. We now head for Kidlington towards Duke's Cut and our destination near Isis Lock in the center of Oxford.

 Warwick & Oxford

On Leaving Oxford we head downstream going through Whitchurch and Mapledurham before we arrive in Reading. At Reading we take the entrance to the River Kennet which travels through the centre by Traffic lights. We head through some locks and Join the Kennet & Avon Canal going through some lovely countryside towards Theale, Aldermaston, Midgham and Thatcham before arriving in Newbury.

Oxford and Newbury