CRUISE DETAILS 2027

Leaving Aylesbury up the Aylesbury Arm towards Marsworth Junction turning right towards Berkhamsted and Hemel Hempsted coming down the Chiltern Hills to Kings Langley through the Colne valley and Harefield Moor towards Cowley Peachey Junction and next we arrive at the new HS2 viaduct then we turn left at Bulls Bridge Junction onto the Paddington Arm passed Northolt, Wembley and Kensington arriving at Little Venice.

Nearest Railway Stations:

Aylesbury and London (Paddington)

On leaving Little Venice we turn right up the Regents Canal heading towards London Zoo and Regents Park, we then come to Camden and their famous Market and the Canal Museum at Battlebridge Basin before going through Islington Tunnel, it’s then on towards Limehouse Basin.

Access via ladder Limehouse only

 We head east up the Limehouse Cut towards the Lee Navigation passing the Olympic Village before going back to the Canal Museum at Battlebridge Basin and then on towards Little Venice.

Nearest Railway Stations:

London (Paddington)

On leaving Little Venice we turn right up the Regents Canal heading towards London Zoo and Regents Park, we then come to Camden and their famous Market and  the Canal Museum at Battlebridge Basin  before going through Islington Tunnel, it’s then on towards Limehouse Basin.

Access via ladder Limehouse only

 We head east up the Limehouse Cut towards the Lee Navigation passing the Olympic Village before going back to the Canal Museum at Battlebridge Basin and then on towards Little Venice.

Nearest Railway Stations:

London (Paddington)

Leaving Little Venice traveling towards Kensington, Wembley and Northolt on the Paddington Arm, we turn left at Bulls Bridge Junction towards the Hanwell flight of 8 locks and 4 more before joining the River Thames traveling West towards Teddington passing Richmond on the tidal section. Dependent on High Tide Times. Kingston-upon-Thames and Hampton Court are on view next soon followed by Walton and the River Wey Junction. We head north towards Staines and the view of Windsor Castle in the distance. Passing through Windsor towards Maidenhead and Marlow heading to Henley.

Nearest Railway Stations:

London (Paddington) and Henley

We soon arrive at Reading and pass the Kennet & Avon Canal Junction 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. 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. We then Join The Oxford Canal heading north towards Kiddlington and Thrupp.

Train Station

Henley and Oxford, Oxford Parkway.

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

Train Station

Oxford and Warwick

Upon leaving 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. Passing through Lowsonford and Preston Bagot, we arrive at Wootton Wawen and cross the A3400 on an iron aqueduct.

At Edstone, there is a 200-yard long aqueduct which makes it 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 of sixteen locks to enter Bancroft Basin in Stratford. We join the River Avon towards Bidford, Evesham and Pershore, through some beautiful countryside and going down 16 locks on way to Tewkesbury and join the River Seven south to Gloucester our destination.

Train Station

 Warwick and Gloucester

Leaving Gloucester Docks going south on the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal. We arrive at Saul Junction and 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 at the marina. 

Train Stations

Gloucester 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. We head towards Dudley and next we head down the Wolverhampton flight of 21 locks turning left at Aldersley towards Compton, Wombourne and a staircase lock near Swindon. Next comes Stourton, Kinver and Cookley before arriving in Kidderminster. We arrive in Stourport and join The River Severn heading south towards Hawford through a valley of forests and hills. We come to Hawford Junction where we leave The River Seven to enter The Droitwich Canal traveling through 8 locks towards Droitwich Spa.

Train Station

Droitwich 

On leaving the Marina we head West towards Hawford Junction and join the River Seven heading north towards Stourport-on-Seven passed Holt Castle and through a valley of forests and hills. On the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal we head for a while then turn around and head south on the River Seven towards Worcester. Turning North on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal at Diglis Basin going through the city and then the countryside towards Hanbury Junction going up 12 locks and 1 tunnel arriving back at the marina.

Train Station

Droitwich 

On leaving the Marina we head West towards Hawford Junction and join the River Seven heading north towards Stourport-on-Seven passed Holt Castle and through a valley of forests and hills. On the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal we head towards Kidderminster and into the countryside towards Compton and Autherley. After a few miles we turning left onto the Shopshire Union Canal 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.

Train Stations

Droitwich and Stafford

As we continue north 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. We leave 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 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 arrive in the basin at Llangollen.

Train Station

Nantwich 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. 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   then comes Maesbury Marsh and the new opened section  before we head back up the Monty towards Frankton locks and back to Llangollen.

Train Station

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, then comes Maesbury Marsh and the new opened section. 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 at Hurleston Junction heading for Barbridge and Bunbury going down some locks through Lovely countryside on way to Chester.

Ruabon and Chester

Train Stations

Ruabon and Chester

We leave Chester going up 5 locks and out into the countryside towards Bunbury and Barbridge going through a Stone Lock, a Metal Lock and a Staircase before coming to Hurleston Junction. We keep heading south down the Shropshire Union Canal towards Nantwich and then the Audlem flight of 15 locks and the Adderley flight of 5, now comes the town of Market Drayton. We have some lovely countryside and villages of Wheaton Aston and Brewood before arriving at Autherley Junction towards Gailey, PenKridge, Acton Trussel, Milford and Great Haywood where we join the Trent and Mersey Canal heading north to our moorings at Aston Marina.

Train Stations

Chester and 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, soon we reach  the Wolverhampton flight of 21 locks. At the top we head towards Dudley and The Black Country Museum and the centre of Birmingham, turning south on the Birmingham and Worcester Canal through Wast Hills Tunnel at 2726 yards long towards Alvechurch. Two more small tunnels and the Tardebigge Tunnel and the 24 Tardebigge locks. There are 6 more locks near Ashwood before we turn at Hanbury Junction with 3 more locks on the Droitwich Canal and our marina.  

Train Station

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. 

Train Station

Droitwich and Warwick

We leave our moorings heading for Leamington Spa and the start of the locks at Fosse and Bascote. Then the flight at Stockton and Calcutt. We now have a lock free pound for 13 miles through the countryside heading through Braunston turning north on the Oxford Canal towards Rugby. Back out into the countryside towards Coventry and Bedworth going through Hawksbury Junction stop lock joining the Coventry Canal. We head for the flight of locks at Atherstone going down 12 locks. We soon arrive in Tamworth turning south at Fazeley Junction heading for the Curdworth locks and Minworth. We take a left turn heading for the Aston locks of 11 and the Farmers flight of 13 arriving in the center of Birmingham. We head south on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal towards King’s Norton and turn left onto the Stratford canal heading towards Dickens Heath and down the flight of 18 locks towards Lapworth where the Grand Union is linked by a short arm to the Stratford Canal. We take this link and 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. After a short time we arrive at The Stairway to Heaven”, the Hatton flight of twenty-one locks having passed through Shrewley Tunnel (433 yards). We soon arrive at Saltisford Mooring.

Train Stations

Warwick

We leave our moorings heading for Leamington Spa and the start of the locks at Fosse and Bascote. Then the flight at Stockton and Calcutt. We now have a lock free pound for 13 miles through the countryside heading through Braunston turning north on the Oxford Canal towards Rugby. Back out into the countryside towards Coventry and Bedworth going through Hawksbury Junction stop lock joining the Coventry Canal. We head for the flight of locks at Atherstone going down 12 locks. We soon arrive in Tamworth turning south at Fazeley Junction heading for the Curdworth locks and Minworth. We take a left turn heading for the Aston locks of 11 and the Farmers flight of 13 arriving in the center of Birmingham. We head south on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal towards King’s Norton and turn left onto the Stratford canal heading towards Dickens Heath and down the flight of 18 locks towards Lapworth where the Grand Union is linked by a short arm to the Stratford Canal. We take this link and 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. After a short time we arrive at The Stairway to Heaven”, the Hatton flight of twenty-one locks having passed through Shrewley Tunnel (433 yards). We soon arrive at Saltisford Mooring.

Train Stations

Warwick

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