CRUISE DETAILS 2026

  On leaving Rugby we arrive at Brinklow Stretton Stop with is small swing footbridge. Continuing our trip, we pass under the M6 motorway bridge, where the canal winds in open landscape and beyond Ansty. Then we head to our favourite junction which is Hawkesbury (also known as Sutton Stop). Here we turn right onto Coventry arm, passing an engine house and then at Marston Junction we then head north 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. 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. Next is Great Haywood Junction  with Aston Marina only 3 locks away where this journey ends.

Train Station

Rugby and Stone

 As we leave our marina turning left at Great Haywood Junction 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. We then turn left at Aldersley Junction to go up the Wolverhampton Flight of 21 locks heading 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 Hopwas and Whittington. At Fradley junction which is very popular with Gongoozlers (spectators), where you can see the Swan Pub a famous canal landmark, we turn left on the Trent & Mersey Canal heading to Cannock Chase and some lovely countryside, we pass close to Shugborough Hall, the home of Earl of Lichfield, which now belongs to the National Trust. Next comes Great Haywood and on towards Stone.

Train Station

Stone

After leaving our Friendly mooring at Stone. 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. At Red Bull we start the descent towards Wheelock through a flight of 26 locks aptly named 'Heartbreak Hill'. Passing through the salt producing area we arrive at Middlewich then on towards the Anderton Lift. Leaving the lift we turn left on the River Weaver and cruise quietly towards Northwich.  CANAL & RIVER TRUST ARE PLANNING TO DO SOME WORK ON THE BOAT LIFT BUT DATES AND TIMES ARE NOT CONFIRMED YET, AS SOON WE GET AN UP DATE WE WILL LET YOU KNOW. AS WE MAY HAVE TO DEPART ABOVE THE BOAT LIFT.

Train Station

Stone and Northwich or Hartford

Details

 We head for Middlewich, skirting around the environs of industrial Northwich. We cruise through pleasant countryside before 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 head for Nantwich. We continue 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. Soon arriving at Norbury Junction there is a hive of activity with a few boat yards one been a large Water ways yard.

   Train Stations

   Northwich or Hartford & Stafford (then Bus or Taxi)

As we leave Norbury Junction we head towards Wheaton Aston and then Gnosall continuing through uncluttered countryside towards Tyrley, where we encounter a 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 towards Nantwich. Shortly after leaving Nantwich, we turn right at Barbridge Junction and head for the Trent and Mersey Canal at Middlewich. 

 We then arrive at the magnificent Anderton Boat Lift.

We then retract our way back to Middlewich. 

 Train Stations

  Stafford & (then Bus or Taxi) Winsford

  As we leave Middlewich we 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 aston 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.

Train Station

WinsFord

As we 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, we turn onto the Macclesfield canal, which is very beautiful as it winds its way through the Peak District. we ascend the flight of 12 locks at Bosley climbing the boats 118 feet in a mile. Then on to the Peak Forest Canal and follow the valley of the River Goyt into Whaley Bridge. And onto the magnificent Bugsworth basin.

On leaving Bugsworth basin we cruise towards Marple passing the Goyt Valley Marple enjoying extensive views as the canal is perched high on the hillside. At Marple Junction we swing left to join the Macclesfield Canal and continue our journey through Marple, Higher Poynton, Bollington and Macclesfield. Just south of Macclesfield in a truly tranquil setting we descend the flight of 12 locks at Bosley dropping the boats 118 feet in a mile. Turning onto the Trent and Mersey Canal at Red Bull Junction we start the descent towards Wheellock through a flight of 26 locks aptly named 'Heartbreak Hill'. Passing through the salt producing area we arrive at Middlewich, we turn left 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 and head south soon arriving in Nantwich.



Train Stations

Whaley Bridge and Nantwich

  On leaving Nantwich we continue 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 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 the pretty Droitwich Barge Canal at HawFord Junction and the 13 locks to our Marina on the east side of Droitwich.



Train Station

Nantwich and Droitwich

  As we leave our marina we head towards Hanbury Junction, then we head north 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

  Upon leaving our helpful mooring in The Saltisford Arm Warwick we soon reach Royal Leamington Spa. We start to climb our locks at Radford, Fosse, Bascote with a staircase and the flight of 8 locks at Stockton. We turn right at Wigrams Turn on the Oxford Canal heading towards Napton flight of 9 locks.  WE travel some winding countryside with no locks towards Fenny Compton and then the Claydon flight of 5 locks, going through Cropredy heading towards Banbury.  We go under the M40 passing even more quite locks you can see the church spire at King’s Sutton. Anyhow Weir we briefly cross the River Cherwell. We reach Somerton following the Cherwell before arriving in Heyford. Next we head south on the Oxford Canal towards Enslow joining the River Cherwell for about half a mile then back on the Canal going towards Thrupp.

Train Stations

Warwick and Oxford or Oxford Parkway

 On leaving Thrupp we head south towards Kidlington then into Oxford where we join the River Thames. Next comes Eynsham lock 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 and up the canal to Thrupp.

Train Station

Oxford and Oxford Parkway

 On leaving Thrupp we head south towards Kidlington then into Oxford where we join the River Thames. We leave Oxford heading towards Abingdon, next comes Shillingford and Wallingford. 5 miles of countryside before we get to Goring, Pangbourne and then we arrive in Reading where we head towards Sonning, the famous Henley-on-Thames, and Marlow. Next comes Maidenhead and Windsor with its racecourse and Castle. Staines is next followed by Walton before arriving by Hampton Court Palace and Park. Kingston, Teddington and Richmond soon follow before leaving the Thames and turning left onto the Grand Union Canal at Brentford heading towards the Hanwell flight of 9 locks and then tuning right on the Paddington Arm passed Northolt towards Little Venice.

 Train Station

Oxford  or Oxford Parkway and Paddington

  Leaving Little Venice traveling towards Kensington, Wembley and Northolt on the Paddington Arm, we turn right at Bulls Bridge Junction towards Yiewsley going through the Cowley Peachey Junction, next we arrive in Uxbridge, Harefield Moor and the Colne Valley towards Kings Langley, climbing the Chiltern Hills to Hemel Hempsted and Berkhamsted locks, we turn onto the Aylesbury Arm at Marsworth Junction, which descends through 14 locks and attractive farmland to reach our destination.

Train Station

Paddington and Aylesbury

  We travel up the Aylesbury Arm, which ascends through attractive farmland to reach Marsworth through 14 locks. On through the lovely Chiltern countryside as we drop down to Leighton Buzzard, we keep traveling through lovely countryside until me come to Milton Keynes and the last lock until Cosgrove. We arrive in Stoke Bruerne with its waterways museum after climbing the 7 locks soon after we reach Blisworth Tunnel (3056 yards). 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 it’s 7 locks. We go through Braunston Tunnel and drop the 6 locks into the Village turning north as we head towards Rugby and arrive at Brinklow Stretton Stop with is small swing footbridge.

Continuing our trip, we pass under the M6 motorway bridge, where the canal winds in open landscape and beyond Ansty. Then we head to our favourite junction which is Hawkesbury (also known as Sutton Stop). Here we turn right onto Coventry arm, passing an engine house and then at Marston Junction we tun ono the Ashby Canal towards Hinckley with no locks.

Train Station

Aylesbury and Hinckley

    After leaving Hinkley we head for Market Bosworth, then retrace our way towards Marston Junction and turn left towards 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 carry on down to Napton on the Hill then Napton Junction we leave the Oxford canal on to the Grand Union Canal. We descend through wide locks from now on 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

Hinckley & Warwick Parkway

  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.

Train Station

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. 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 of sixteen lock to enter Bancroft Basin in Stratford, after staying a night we retrace our route back to Warwick.

   Train Station

     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. 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 of sixteen lock to enter Bancroft Basin in Stratford, after staying a night we retrace our route back to Warwick.

   Train Station

     Warwick

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