CRUISE DETAILS 2024

 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 left at Wigrams turn towards Braunston, 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 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

Warwick and Stone

110 miles 94 locks 37 aqueducts

2 tunnels

We leave the marina on the Trent and Mersey Canal, heading to Great Haywood. Here we turn right on the Stafford & Worcester Canal. Going through Tixall Wide, Milford & 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.

 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.

Train Station

Stone and Northwich or Hartford

On leaving we rise up in the magnificent Anderton Boat Lift and turn left and go through Barnton Tunnel, Saltersford Tunnel and Preston Brook Tunnel. We head north towards Higher Walton, Grappenhall and Lymm. Next comes Sale and Stretford, keeping left towards Worsley and Leigh crossing Barton Swing Bridge over The Manchester Ship Canal. We come across a large Flash at Plank Lane as we keep heading West towards Wigan. We turn Left towards Parbold and some locks. We pass the Rufford Branch and onto New Lane, Halsall and the famous race course at Aintree on the outskirts of Liverpool. We arrive at Stanley locks and enter the Liverpool Docks.     

   Train Stations

   Liverpool & Northwich or Hartford

On leaving we rise up the Stanley Locks, heading around Liverpool towards Aintree Race Course. Next comes Halsall, New Lane and pass the Rufford Branch. After Parbold we come to Appley Locks.Next comes Wigan and turn right though some locks, then passed some flashes towards Leigh and Worsley. Next comes the Barton Swing Bridge over the Manchester Ship canal. Keeping right passed the Rochdale Canal towards Stretford and Sale. Lymm comes next soon follewed by Grappenhall, Higher Walton. We arrive in Preston Brook soon followed by three tunnels of Preston Brook, Saltersford and Barnton. We then arrive at the magnificent Anderton Boat Lift and go down to 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, we head towards Bosley Locks which is very beautiful as it winds its way through the countryside heading north to the Marple Flight where we go down the flight of 16 locks soon followed by The Marple Aquaduct. Next come Hyde and Woodley Tunnels before we turn left onto the Aston Canal and 2 miles to our marina. 

 Train Station

Northwich or Hartford 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. 

We 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 wher we pass the Trent & Mersey Canal over 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.

Train Station

Droylsden and Stone                         

As we leave the Marina we head south towards Great Haywood, where we pass close to Shugborough Hall, the home of Earl of Lichfield, which now belongs to the National Trust. We continue through this lovely countryside near Cannock Chase, an area of outstanding natural beauty at Fradley junction we turn right onto the Coventry canal. Then we travel past Fazeley junction to the two locks at Glascote. Eleven locks at Atherstone complete our climb to the level of the Ashby canal. We turn left on the Ashby canal at Marston junction and head for Hinckley and Market Bosworth before returning to Hinckley.

Train Stations

Stone and Hinckley 

After leaving Hinckley we head for 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 turn left at Braunston to get on The Grand Union Canal going through the 6 locks before Braunston Tunnel (830 yards) then comes Norton Junction with 7 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 (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 towards Fenny Stratford which is only 1 foot 1 inch drop. 7 more miles & 5 locks with open landscape we reach our destination Leighton Buzzard. we start to climb again through the lovely Chiltern countryside towards Marsworth Junction turning right, down 14 locks on the Aylesbury Arm, which descends through attractive farmland to reach our destination.

Train Stations

Hinckley and Aylesbury

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, then we turn left at Bulls Bridge Junction onto the Paddington Arm passed Northolt, Wembley and Kensington arriving at Little Venice. 

Train Stations

Alyesbury  & 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 carrying on through the most peaceful stretches of canals in the country, towards Marsworth Junction, traveling north 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.

Train Stations

Paddington and Milton Keynes

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 Canal on towards Braunston Tunnel and 6 locks going left at Braunston Turn 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

Milton Keynes and 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, 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 up 18 locks towards Kings Norton and turning south 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

Warwick 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 we head towards are Old Shop at Gailey Round House. Next comes Penkridge as we travel around the edges of Stafford. The flash at Tixall soon followed Great Haywood Junction and our Marina at Aston near Stone.

Train Stations

Droitwich 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

We pass close to Shugborough Hall, the home of Earl of Lichfield, which now belongs to the National Trust. We continue through this lovely countryside near Cannock Chase, an area of outstanding natural beauty at Fradley junction which is very popular with Gongoozlers (spectators), where you can see the Swan Pub a famous canal landmark, we turn right onto the Coventry canal. Then we travel past Fazeley junction to the two locks at Glascote. Eleven locks at Atherstone complete our climb to the level of the Ashby canal. We pass the Ashby canal at Marston junction we continue on to 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 and turn right, 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 Stations

Stone or Stafford and Warwick Parkway

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 the Napton flight of 9 locks.

We travel through some winding countryside with no locks towards Fenny Compton and then the Claydon flight of 5 locks, going through Cropredy heading towards Banbury. Just after 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, next after this we follow the valley for many miles, we continue on towards Thrupp our destination.

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Warwick and Oxford

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 come of the River at Reading, joining the Kennet & Avon Canal towards Aldermaston, Midgham and Thatcham brfore arriving in Newbury.

Train Stations

Oxford and Newbury

We leave Newbury going into the countryside towards Kintbury and the lovely town of Hungerford and on towards 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, 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 our destination at Caen Hill Marina.

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