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The ultimate relaxing weekend cruising break –
The Ashby Canal
Day one
– Along the Coventry Canal to the sharp left hand turn
of Marston Junction, which will see you on to the
beautiful and tranquil Ashby Canal. Cruise into the
evening to make it to bridge 31 at Dadlington which
boasts a wonderful 18th century inn, The Dog and
Hedgehog. The food is of such renown that you will
probably have to book in order to get a served a meal
(01455 213 151).
Day two
– Make an early start today. A short distance on finds
you at Hinckley, the only town on the Ashby. From bridge
16 it is a short walk to the local store with cash
point. Take a break midday. You could spend time at
Sutton Cheney Wharf, just after bridge 34, where you can
watch the colourful trip boats, have a light meal in the
café, browsing in the shop or enjoying a canal side
picnic. You could moor just after bridge 35 at King
Richard’s Field and relive history by exploring the
Bosworth Battlefield Country Park. You could stop at the
preserved Shenton Station, visit the Railway Pottery and
catch a steam train for the historic five mile journey
to Shackerstone Station and back. Alternatively you
could moor walk east into Market Bosworth, a beautiful,
well preserved town with many historical buildings and
some lovely places to eat, largely clustered around the
old cobbled market place, a conservation area. In the
afternoon enjoy the canal at its most rural, dodging
round tiny at Boswoth Wharf, where you can make the mile
villages, passing over aqueducts and navigating the
leafy tunnel of Gopsall Woods, a designated Site of
Special Scientific Interest, mainly because of the
aquatic plant life and varieties of dragonfly attracted
to the area. Pass through Snarestone Tunnel and go on to
the terminus, a remote winding hole. Depending on how
much daylight you have left, and how the mood takes you,
you can spend a peaceful night here, head back to the
newly refurbished restaurant of The Globe Pub in the
quiet village of Snarestone (01530 270272), The Rising
Sun in unspoiled Shackerstone (01827 880215) or the
trendy Horse and Jockey in Congerstone (01827 880319).
Day three
– The nearer the terminus you spent the
evening, the earlier your start needs to be, for the aim
is to be at Hinckley for a late lunch at the large
Brewer’s Fayre Restaurant (01455 636493), which has
terraces overlooking the canal beside the lovely Trinity
marina, where you can browse the boats for sale. Spend a
leisurely afternoon meandering back to Marston Junction
where you can enjoy the peace of this remote location
during your last night aboard.
Day four
- Set off at 7am to reach our marina by 8.30.
A moderate four night short break - North
Oxford Canal to Norton Junction and Back
Day One
- Along the Coventry Canal as far as the historic
Hawkesbury Junction with its popular canal side pub, The
Greyhound, which offers traditional 'pub grub' and lots
of canal side conversation. You may need to book (02476
363046) and, sorry, but no children after 7pm.
Day Two
- Make an early start and continue your
cruise along the North Oxford Canal, negotiating your
first lock "Hawkesbury Deep" so named because it is all
of 4 inches in depth! Stop for lunch at Rugby, home of
Rugby football and continue through the 3 locks at
Hillmorton to the very famous Braunston Junction. Turn
left into Braunston marina, described by Michael Pearson
in his indispensable canal guides as as "a point of
pilgrimage which has captured the imagination of
waterway writers, artists and photographers more than
almost any other canal location". Spend the evening in
pretty Braunston Village with its choice of places to
eat.
Day Three
- Continue towards Norton, a truly fascinating stretch
of water. You begin with six locks followed by a 2042
yard tunnel (the seventh longest in the canal network)
and some subterranean and remote scenery. At Norton
Junction, turn around and enjoy it all again in reverse
as you make your way back to Braunston. Cruise back
along the Oxford Canal until dark. If you make it as far
as Hillmorton you can eat at Badseys Bistro (01788
553562), voted Britain's best canal side restaurant.
Day Four
- Back through Rugby, Newbold Tunnel and Stretton Stop
for a late lunch at Ansty Rose and Castle canal side pub
(024 7661 2822). A leisurely afternoon’s cruise will
bring you to Marston Junction. Spend your last night
cooking aboard at this tranquil spot.
Day Five
- Set off at 7am to reach our marina by
8.30.
An energetic three night short
break (with lots of pubs) – Coventry Canal to Hopwas
Day One
- Cruise NW through Atherstone’s first
five locks and stop here where you can enjoy the canal
side King’s Head pub.
Day Two
- Continue cruising through the remaining
six locks at Atherstone, through some of the loveliest
scenery the Coventry has to offer and on to the two
further locks at Glascote. It is then just a short
distance to Fazeley Junction where you can top up on
supplies at a couple of supermarkets. Turn right to stay
on the Coventry Canal to Tamhorn Farm Bridge where you
can turn and head back to the pretty village of Hopwas.
Choose from the two pubs either side of the canal and
spend the night there.
Day Three
- Head back along the Coventry Canal and
spend the day negotiating the locks and enjoying the
sights and sounds on the canal. By the evening you and
your crew will have built up quite an appetite (and
thirst) ready for the Anchor Inn near bridge 29. Relax
there for you last night.
Day Four
– Cruise the mere twenty minutes back to Springwood
Haven Marina to wave a sad goodbye to your boat.
A moderate week’s canal boat cruise (with lots
for the kids to do) – Birmingham and Fazeley to
Curdworth/ Coventry to Fradley
Day One
- Cruise NW a couple of hours to
Atherstone and moor up just after bridge 40. Walk into
Atherstone for shopping and a choice of places to eat
including the family friendly Red Lion Hotel restaurant
(01827 713156).
Day Two
- An energetic day, starting with
Atherstone's eleven locks, to Polesworth. This will take
approximately four hours. Polesworth is a small town but
has several pubs and restaurants if you wish to stop for
lunch. Continue cruising for an hour to the large town
of Tamworth and moor near bridge 73. Walk into town to
find a castle and museum (01827 7096626), an indoor ski
slope with real snow (0870 000011) and lots of places to
eat including a bistro, Italian, Indian and several
pubs.
Day Three
- Carry on the short distance to Fazeley Junction where
you can purchase a cooked breakfast and there are also a
couple of supermarkets. Turn left onto the Birmingham
and Fazeley Canal as far as the intriguing Drayton Foot
Bridge and spend the day at Drayton Manor Theme Park
(01827 287979). From here continue towards Curdworth.
Pass through the three bottom locks and moor up and
bridge 9 to enjoy dinner at the Dog and Doublet Inn
01827 872374).
Day Four
- Seven more locks and a trip under the
M6 toll road will see you climbing all the way to
Cudworth. Here there is a short tunnel. Continue to the
turning point after Wigginshill Road Bridge. Turn here
and moor nearby. A good walk will take you to the river
Tame with its grand 6 arch bridge. Stock up on
provisions in Minworth and cook aboard or visit the Boat
pub (0121 240 9696) for your evening meal.
Day Five
- Start your return journey back through
the tunnel and the locks to Bodymoor Heath. Moor above
the bottom lock and choose between the 600 acre Water
Park with miniature railway, cycle hire and gift shop
(01827 284646), the Children's Farm 01827 873844), the
nature reserve or Middleton Hall and Craft Centre (01827
283095). End the day at Fazeley Junction, mooring up
near Watling Street and a choice of Indian, Chinese or
pub cuisine
Day Six
- Turn left at the junction and explore a
little more of this lovely stretch of the Coventry
Canal. Just three hours cruising will take you to the
delightful Fradley Junction, steeped in Canal lore.
Explore the Canal Shop and have a light lunch at the
Swan (01283 790330) before turning round and heading
back as far as the pretty village of Hopwas. Moor up at
Lichfield Road Bridge and choose from one of the lovely
pubs either side of the canal for a peaceful evening
meal.
Day Seven
- About eight hours cruising required today. Left at the
junction will see you back on the Coventry Canal. Pass
through Tamworth and spend a short time at Alvecote,
enjoying the nature reserve and the mystical ruins of
the 12th Century priory. Returned up through Atherstone
Locks and continue for another hour until you reach the
Anchor Inn at bridge 29 (024 76398839), our local where
the food is plentiful and cheap – no evening meals on a
Sunday.
Day Eight
- Just a 30 minute final journey back to
Springwood Haven Marina now. Moor up outside and one of
our staff will bring you into the marina so that you can
tell me all about it! |
