CRUISE DETAILS 2025

We arrive at the bottom of the famous Caen Hill Flight of 29 locks in 3.6km with a rise of 72 meters towards Devizes then on through The Vale of Pewsey and the villages of Honeystreet, Pewsey, Wootton Rivers and Crofton, passing through The Bruce Tunnel. Next we go through little villages of Great Bedwyn and Little Bedwyn on way to Hungerford

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Bradford on Avon and Hungerford

First we arrive at the villages of Little Bedwyn and Great Bedwyn as we head west towards the Vale of Pewsey and the villages of Crofton, Wootton Rivers and Pewsey, passing through The Bruce Tunnel. We head towards Devizes and the famous Caen Hill Flight of 29 locks in 3.6km with a drop of 72 meters. We then head towards the lovely town of Bradford-On-Avon and the impressive Aqueducts at Avoncliff and Dundas on the way to Bath. 

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Hungerford and Bath

Bath to Devizes via Caen Hill Flight, Kennet & Avon Canal

We leave heading towards Keynsham on the River Avon to Bath we head on the Canal towards the town of Bradford-On-Avon and the impressive Aqueducts at Avoncliff and Dundas. We arrive at the bottom of the famous Caen Hill Flight of 29 locks in 3.6km with a rise of 72 meters towards Devizes

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Bath and Melksham

Devizes and the famous Caen Hill Flight of 29 locks in 3.6km with a drop of 72 meters. We then head towards the lovely town of Bradford-On-Avon and the impressive Aqueducts at Avoncliff and Dundas on the way to Bath. Getting onto the River Avon we head towards Keynsham and Bristol. 

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Melksham and Bristol

We leave heading towards Keynsham on the River Avon to Bath we head on the Canal towards the town of Bradford-On-Avon and the impressive Aqueducts at Avoncliff and Dundas. We arrive at the bottom of the famous Caen Hill Flight of 29 locks in 3.6km with a rise of 72 meters towards Devizes then on through The Vale of Pewsey and the villages of Honeystreet, Pewsey, Wootton Rivers and Crofton, passing through The Bruce Tunnel. Next we go through little villages of Great Bedwyn and Little Bedwyn on way to Hungerford. . Next is Kintbury before arriving in Newbury.

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Bristol and Newbury

We leave heading towards the town of Thatcham and the villages of Midgham and Aldermaston then we arrive in Reading where we leave the Kennet & Avon Canal and get on the River Thames going upstream towards Mapledurham, Whitchurch and on towards Goring which is said to be one of the most attractive parts of the Thames, continuing on to Wallingford and Shillingford, through the area known as Dyke Hills getting to Abingdon and on to Oxford

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Newbury and Oxford

On leaving Oxford we head up the River Thames through Godstow, King’s and Eynsham locks a favorite place for swimmers. As we go under the toll bridge at Swinford heading south towards Farmoor Reservoir. We go through Northmoor Lock before arriving in Newbridge. Next comes Radcot with a busy pub and moored boats. We go past Kelmscott Manor before arriving at Buscot Lock and Lechlade before heading back on the River to Oxford.

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Oxford 

After leaving the river we head north towards Kiddlington, Thrupp and Somerton and cross the River Cherwell at Aynho lock. You can see the church spire at King's Sutton as we head towards Banbury. 



We head towards Napton Junction; on the way we cruise through Cropredy Village. After 9 locks, we come to Wormleighton Reservoir, then Fenny Compton Tunnel which has no roof Meandering on down through 9 locks to Napton-on-the-Hill then Napton Junction, 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 onto Saltisford Canal Centre in Warwick.

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Oxford 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 marina at Warwick.

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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, there 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. We head for Stratford on Avon down 35 locks to the Bancroft Basin. We then retrace our way back to Warwick. 

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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, there 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. We head for Stratford on Avon down 35 locks to the River Avon. We travel west towards Bidford, Evesham and Pershore, through some beautiful countryside and going down 16 locks on way to Tewkesbury our destination.

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Warwick and Tewkesbury

On leaving Tewkesbury we go down onto the River Seven, heading south through the countryside before we arrive in Gloucester soon joining the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal. We arrive at Frampton and next we pass the Slimbridge Wildfowl Trust. We soon arrive at our turning point at Sharpness Old Arm and head back towards Tewkesbury. We head upstream to Worcester and join the Worcester and Birmingham Canal at Diglis Basin. We have 17 locks and 1 tunnel before we arrive back at the marina. 

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Tewkesbury and Droitwich

As we leave the marina heading east towards Handury Junction and climb up Ashwood locks, before the famous 24 lock flight of Tardebigge and it’s tunnel. Next are Alvechurch and Wast Hill Tunnel as we travel north to Birmingham.

On leaving Birmingham we head down the farmers flight towards Fazeley Junction, we continue on soon passing farmland and, after the village of Coton, we pass an army shooting range. A few more villages farther, we travel alongside the busy A38 - an old Roman road. Reaching Fradley Junction, which is very popular with Gongoozlers (spectators), you can see the Swan Pub, a famous canal landmark.

Leaving the Pub behind, we enter quiet countryside as we wind our way towards Armitage with its Armitage pottery and church. Passing Rugeley, we continue our way towards Shugborough Park with its impressive hall. At Great Haywood Junction we are only 6 locks away from the end of our journey at Aston Marina Stone.

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Droitwich and Stone

After leaving our mooring at Stone, this cruise takes us through the Potteries with the Potteries Industrial Museum at Etruria. At Etruria, we turn onto the Caldon Canal, which is acknowledged to be one of the most picturesque of the inland waterways. We pass through Hanley, the main town of 'The five towns' of the Potteries. The first part of the canal is projected against an industrial landscape background before it reaches 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. We carry on towards Froghall then retrace our journey to Hazelhurst Junction and back to the Trent and Mersey Canal. Turning left we immediately descend five locks, passing old factories, and two bottle kilns which have been restored amongst new apartments. We turn right towards the Harecastle Tunnel (2926 yards), which is the only remaining tunnel out of three built in this area. The first canal tunnel had to be closed because of subsidence, whereas the third was a railway tunnel which was closed when the railway was re-routed. After the tunnel, we go under the Macclesfield Canal, We then head for Heartbreak Hill, a flight of 26 locks that unfold mostly in open countryside. 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 amazing Anderton Lift and onto the River Weaver towards Northwich.

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Stone and Northwich/ Hartford

On leaving Northwich, we rise up in the magnificent Anderton Boat Lift Known as The Cathedral of the Canals this wrought iron feat of engineering was built in 1875 to connect the Canal to the Weaver Navigation, 50ft below and is a ‘must see’ for any canal enthusiast. We 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 3 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 where we turn onto the beautiful Montgomery Canal. Having gone down the locks we arrive near Oswestry and head for Maesbury Marsh and the new opened section. We head back up the Monty towards Frankton locks where we turn left to 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 finish our cruise in the marina at Llangollen.

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Northwich/ Hartford and Rubon

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. Chirk going through the Chirk Tunnel (459 yards) long, the Whitehouse Tunnel (191 yards) on the Llangollen Canal heading towards the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and crossing the River Dee 126 feet below we stop for a while then make our way back to Chirk. 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 and head for Maesbury Marsh and the new opened section. 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. After going down some more locks we arrive at the Hurleston flight and Junction turning right down the Shropshire Union Canal towards Nantwich.

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Rubon and Nantwich

As we leave Nantwich we head towards Hurleston flight and Junction and carry on up the Shropshire Union Canal 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. We leave the canal town of Stone 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 descending towards Nantwich. 

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Nantwich

We leave Nantwich after lunch, heading south to Hack Green (known for a secret bunker) after 2 locks it's a run up to Audlem and 15 locks, leaving the top lock and 2 miles we arrive at Adderley climbing 5 locks soon to be at Market Drayton. On Leaving we have 5 more locks at Tyrley locks, then on to Woodseaves Cuttings (a very deep rock cutting). Cruising on you will see a high bridge with an extra arch with a short telegraph mast built across it. Arriving at Norbury Junction there is a hive of activity with a few boat yards one been a large Water ways yard. After filling up with water etc. we carry on to Brewood then soon arriving at a stop lock at Autherly Junction and turning right. We then turn left at Aldersley Junction to go up the Wolverhampton Flight of 21 locks. At the top we head towards Coseley Tunnel then soon arriving at Tipton Junction turning right to the moorings at the museum. A planned trip on the Dudley Canal Boat through both tunnels is planned for the Sunday. If their schedule doesn’t change?

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Nantwich and Tipton

After a day at the Museum we head to Gas Street Basin. We then go down the Farmers Bridge Flight of 13 locks and the 8 Aston locks heading under the M6 towards Minworth. Going through the Cudworth locks heading for Tamworth joining the Coventry Canal towards at Marston Junction we tun on the Ashby Canal towards Hinckley with no locks.

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Tipton and Hinckley

On leaving our marina we travel towards Marston Junction, turning 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 where we turn left towards the Watford flight of 7 locks with it’s staircase of 4 locks. We arrive at Crick Tunnel and head back into the countryside before joining the Welford Arm towards Welford. We head for Bosworth Tunnel and the top of The Foxton Flight and have time to go to the museum and look at the famous Inclined Plane. We head down the two Staircase sections of 5 locks and turn right onto the Market Harbourgh Arm to our Moorings at Union Wharf.

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Hinckley and Market Harborough

On leaving Market Harborough we head up the arm and turn left (south) through countryside towards Husbands Bosworth Tunnel and through the Avon Valley of open fields. The canal meanders for the next 6 miles before getting to Crick Tunnel. We arrive at Watford Locks with a staircase in the middle, then turning left 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 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 until 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 we turn onto the Aylesbury Arm, which descends through attractive farmland to reach our destination.

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Market Harbourgh to Aylesbury