We leave Warwick and make our way towards Leamington Spa. This canal is wide and a good depth and we make good speed as we rise up through the Foss locks crossing under the Roman road. The flights at Bascote, Stockton and Calcutt bring us to Napton Junction, where we can see the windmill on Napton Hill. We take a left turn at the junction on to a lock free section of the Oxford Canal towards the busy hub at Braunston.

At the turn, we pass under a beautiful iron sided bridge and leave the Oxford Canal to make its way northward, whilst we head towards Braunston village. We tackle the locks and make our way to the 2042 yard Braunston tunnel.

At Norton junction we ignore the temptation of the Leicester Canal and head towards the Long Buckby flight, sharing the route with both the M1 motorway and the old Roman road, Watling Street, for a few miles, before turning south to the town of Weedon with its Napoleonic armoury.

We now enter a long lock free section of the canal, making its way through the beautiful Northamptonshire countryside, towards Gaydon junction and the half mile long Blisworth tunnel. Exiting the tunnel, it’s a short cruise to Stoke Bruerne, a village split in two by the canal, with its waterside pubs and canal museum. We cross the River Ouzel on the Iron Trunk aqueduct and pass through Old Wolverton with its derelict brick warehouses. We skirt Milton Keynes and Bletchley before heading into the countryside once more.

At Stoke Hammond lock we pass under an excellent example of a double arched bridge, a reminder of the time when this section of the Grand Union had paired locks to speed the flow of traffic. After the short Soulbury flight we follow the railway into Leighton Buzzard. Leaving the town, but not the railway line, we head towards Marsworth junction and the Chiltern Hills. The increasing number of locks here show that we are heading upwards once more.

We make our way up the popular Marsworth flight. Nearby are a number of reservoirs built to provide water for the Grand Union canal. After the final lock, a few miles of cruising takes us to our final mooring spot near Tring.

We leave our mooring at Tring, a few miles above the Marsworth Flight, with it’s nearby canal reservoirs. We follow the railway into Leighton Buzzard and out again, before we tackle the short Soulbury flight.

Heading towards Bletchley, we see evidence of abandoned plans to have twin locks on this section of the Grand Union. We see one fine example at Stoke Hammond – a double arched bridge where the canal would have split if the second lock had ever been completed.

We skirt Bletchley and Milton Keynes and pass through Old Wolverton, with it’s fine brick warehouses, before crossing the River Ouzel on the Iron Trunk aqueduct. The locks at Stoke Bruerne take us to the centre of the village, with it’s fine waterway’s museum.

Blisworth Tunnel, the third longest in Britain, marks the start of a long lock free section through the Nene Valley. Accompanied by railway, motorway and Roman road we make our way through Weedon Bec to our next lock at Long Buckby.

At Long Buckby we rise up seven locks into wooded countryside before cruising through another long tunnel at Braunston. This canal town is arguably the spiritual home of canal boating, having had many a historic cruise begin here. At Braunston Turn we continue on the Grand Union to Napton Junction and Calcutt locks beyond.

The scenic flight at Stockton beings us down past a number of restored working boats and out to Bascote staircase lock. Beyond, there are intermittent locks spread through lush countryside to bring us towards the spa town of Royal Leamington Spa and Warwick beyond.

We leave Warwick and make our way towards Leamington Spa. This canal is wide and a good depth and we make good speed as we rise up through the Foss locks crossing under the Roman road. The flights at Bascote, Stockton and Calcutt bring us to Napton Junction, where we can see the windmill on Napton Hill. We take a left turn at the junction on to a lock free section of the Oxford Canal and head towards the busy hub at Braunston.

At the turn, we pass under a beautiful iron sided bridge and leave the Oxford Canal to make its way northward, whilst we head towards Braunston village. We tackle the locks and pass through the 2042 yard Braunston tunnel.

At Norton Junction we head north onto the Leicester section of the Grand Union. A short cruise brings us to Watford Gap, where canal, railway and roads all pass through a small pass in the hills. The Watford Flight lifts the boats onto the summit. We pass through Crick Tunnel and begin our winding way across the summit pound. We avoid civilisation, with excellent views of open fields and wooded hills.

Husband’s Bosworth tunnel marks the end of our relaxed cruising as we join the queue for Foxton Locks. Using a combination of two sets of five locks built as staircases we descend seventy-five feet in just a few hundred yards, with views over Leicestershire stretching out in front of us. Whilst here there is time to look around the museum and the site of the old inclined plane, that used to be an alternative to the time consuming bottleneck of the staircase locks.

Finally we cruise the last five miles into Market Harborough to make our final mooring at the old boat building yard.

We leave our mooring in the canal basin of Market Harborough and cruise a lock free five mile section through to the bottom of the staircase locks at Foxton. Using a combination of two sets of five locks built as staircases, we climb 75ft in just a few hundred yards, with views over Leicestershire stretching out behind us. Whilst here there is time to look around the museum and the site of the old inclined-plane boat lift that used to be an alternative to the time consuming bottleneck of the staircase locks. There are plans to restored this to working order, but there has been little progress thus far due to difficulties in funding.

From the top of the locks we cruise to and through Husbands Bosworth tunnel (1166yards) and begin a winding course along the canal summit as it follows the gentle contours of this farming area. For several hours of cruising, there are open fields backed by wooded hills. Crick tunnel (1528yards) marks the end of this winding route and at the triple staircase of Watford we descend from the summit. Shortly after we arrive at Norton Junction and turning right, head towards the long tunnel at Braunston. This canal town is arguably the spiritual home of canal boating, having had many a historic cruise begin here. At Braunston Turn we continue on the Grand Union to Napton Junction and Calcutt locks beyond.

The scenic flight at Stockton beings us down past a number of restored working boats and out to Bascote staircase lock. Beyond, there are intermittent locks spread through lush countryside to bring us to the town of Royal Leamington Spa.

We cross the River Avon and then tackle our final locks at the Cape of Good Hope. A short cruise and a tricky left turn brings us to our secluded final mooring at Saltisford.

Our first obstacle on leaving Warwick is the flight of twenty-one locks at Hatton, but we are rewarded with views over the castle and city of Warwick from the top, after a swift ascent through its wide locks.

Arriving at Kingswood Junction, we join the Stratford Canal and immediately find the perfect bow hauling locks at Lapworth, where the top of one lock is only yards from the bottom of the next. The final twelve miles of the Stratford Canal are lock free, rural at first before entering the residential outskirts of Birmingham. Passing through the unique guillotine stop lock that marks the end of the Stratford canal we approach King’s Norton junction where we turn towards the centre of Birmingham.

Rail and canal share this route into the city, passing through the centre of the Bournville chocolate factory. We enjoy fine views from the Edgbaston embankment of Birmingham University and the residential splendour of this suburb. The railway now makes it way to New Street station, whilst we make a sharp left to pass through Worcester Bar and Gas Street Basin.

Leaving the apartments, fashionable shops, cafes and bars of Birmingham centre behind, we head west on the New Main Line. Telford’s nineteenth century improvements, with their impressive cuttings, embankments and aqueducts, speeds us through the city to Dudley Port Junction. A sharp left here takes us under the Old Main Line towards Netherton Tunnel.

Netherton was the last tunnel to be built (in 1855) on the canal network, to alleviate the traffic congestion at Dudley Tunnel to the east. It’s brick lined, perfectly straight, double tow pathed and was even lit! We have to make the journey in darkness unfortunately, but forty minutes of cruising brings us to Bumble Hole nature reserve on Dudley Canal No. 2).

The two Dudley Canals follow the contours, with just two locks on their whole length. We make our winding way to Leys junction where we join the much straighter Stourbridge Canal. The fifteen Stourbridge locks take us through the towns famous Glass Quarter. Finally, we turn down the Stourbridge Town arm, to reach our final mooring within sight of the Bonded Warehouse.

We leave our mooring at Stourbridge Basin and cruise down the short town arm to join the Stourbridge Canal. Our first four locks bring us down to the level of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal and at the junction we head north. The Staff. and Worcs. is a canal of intermittent locks, an ideal spot for long towpath walks. Bratch Locks are the most interesting – an almost staircase with six foot pounds between the three locks gates and working water saving side pounds.

Making the turn at Autherly Junction we pass through the stop lock which marks the beginning of the ‘Shroppie’. The Shropshire Union Canal is another prime example of Telford’s engineering, straight and wide, employing cuttings and embankments to level the route whenever the landscape refuses to cooperate.

We pass through the lovely towns of Brewood, Wheaton Aston and Gnosall on this relatively lock free section, enjoying the long views over the open countryside from our elevated position. The short aqueduct over Watling Street and the boater’s hub of Norbury Junction adding extra interest to our journey. The easy life comes to an end  as we approach Market Drayton and make our way down the first of three pretty flights of locks.

Tyrley and Adderley flights, of five locks each, get us back into practice for the fifteen at Audlem. Perhaps the promise of two good canal-side pubs at the bottom of the flight will keep our spirits up? We head back into the countryside for our approach to Nantwich, passing through our final two locks at Hack Green, before finding our last mooring on the outskirts of the town.

Leaving our mooring on the embankment overlooking Nantwich, a short journey north on the Shropshire Union brings us to Hurleston and the junction with the Llangollen Canal, where we ascend the flight of four locks, often in heavy crosswinds. We cruise through farmland, and infrequent locks and lift bridges to the flight at Grindley Brook and its steep three lock staircase, where the lock keepers ensure the smooth flow of traffic.

We then pass through more gentle countryside, and wooden lift bridges of a design more typical in Holland. We cruise alongside Wixhall Moss, Britain’s third largest upland bog and have pretty views out across Shropshire’s Lake District, before mooring in the adorable, small town of Ellesmere.

Beyond Ellesmere, we cruise along sections of canal with views far out over rural farmland and pass the staircase lock at Frankton and the junction with the Montgomery Canal. North of here, we pass through the last locks at New Martin. The aqueduct at Chirk marks the beginning of some spectacular scenery and our entry into Wales.

Through the long Chirk Tunnel, we eventually reach the climax of this cruise, the famous landmark of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, which stands 120 ft high and crosses the expanse of the Dee Valley. This lead us up the pretty, narrow and shallow stretch along the side of the valley, to the tourist town of Llangollen itself. There is time to explore, maybe take a trip on the steam railway or sit and enjoy a drink looking out over the white waters of the Dee river.

Our first morning is spent making our way along the sides of the Dee Valley, down the narrow and shallow upper stretch of this canal. We eventually arrive at Trevor Basin and turn to cross the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, 120ft above the valley floor, on what is possibly Telford’s finest piece of engineering. We continue along the other side of the valley, before crossing the watershed into the Cerriog valley through Whitehouse Tunnel, and then into the long, dark Chirk Tunnel. Chirk aqueduct runs parallel to the arches of the viaduct and is our crossing place at the Welsh Border into England.

New Martin signals the first locks of this cruise, and through the softer contours of England we progress past Frankton Junction, Ellesmere town and past the meres, formed in the ice ages, which fringe the canals’ route. From here we pass through the upland bog of Whixall Moss, before passing through several lift bridges whose design is more commonly seen in Holland.

Gentle, rolling countryside brings us to the triple staircase lock at Grindley Brook with its canal side shop. From here we descend for the last part of the Llangollen Canal, through flat Cheshire farmland to Hurleston Junction. Here we turn right onto the wider course of the Shropshire Union and travel the short distance to Nantwich.

Our mooring on the canal is on the outskirts of the Elizabethan market town of Nantwich and so we are already in the countryside for the start of this cruise. We head south towards Audlem and the pretty flight of locks there. The Adderley locks bring us to a long pound, then we travel past Market Drayton and to the lovely short flight of locks at Tyrley.

Here we emerge from woodland and encounter our first deep cutting. An example of Telford’s engineering skill and determination, this straight canal uses embankments and cuttings to maintain its direct course, providing open views over farmland, or of striking wooded sections with steep sides and dappled sunlight; these are a unique feature of this canal.

At Autherly Junction the stop lock marks the end of “The Shroppie” and we quickly turn and begin our ascent up the twenty-one Wolverhampton locks, which bring us into the city. We stay on the Wolverhampton level, following Brindley’s Old Main Line canal until we reach the heart of the Black Country.

We head west and make our way into the centre of Birmingham. Gas Street Basin and the Worcester Bar marks the start of the Worcester and Birmingham Canal and our journey through the suburbs of Edgbaston and Bournville.

At Kings Norton junction we take a left turn under the Guillotine Lock, no longer in use, but which used to mark the exchange of water from one canal company to another. A long lock free cruising section winds its way through the suburbs of Birmingham, following the green corridor the canal provides for this urban area, before we emerge into lovely countryside.

The Lapworth flight begins slowly with intermittent locks before they begin to bunch closer, and eventually we descend the very short pounds which bring us to the lovely characterful Kingswood Junction where we will have time to soak up the quaint local architecture.

We journey through more attractive countryside to Shrewley tunnel, one of the damper tunnels on the canal network. A few more miles brings us to the top of the Hatton Flight, where we have our first view of Warwick in the distance. We speed through the twenty one wide locks and make our way to our quite mooring in the Saltisford Arm.

Leaving our secluded mooring in the Saltisford Arm, we depart Warwick after breakfast and immediately begin our ascent of the twenty-one locks of Hatton. We travel swiftly up these wide locks, through lush greenery and, from the top, we have super views back over Warwick and the county below. Beyond the flight, we pass through Shrewley tunnel, one of the damper tunnels on the canal network, and a few miles beyond that, we turn onto the Stratford Canal, at Kingswood Junction.

This canal stands out as being full of character with its cast iron aqueducts, barrel roofed cottages, split bridges and pretty scenery. Frequent locks, as well as the flights at Lapworth and Wilmcote, bring us down into the Avon valley, through the Forest of Arden. Although a helping hand is always welcome, you are free to sit back and enjoy the scenery, or the walk between locks provides good opportunities to stretch your legs.

Our final destination is Bancroft Basin in the heart of historic Stratford and, overlooked by the Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre, we come to journeys end.

After our first night in Bancroft Basin in the heart of historic Stratford, overlooked by the Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre, we start our journey out of the Avon valley. The morning is taken up with the town locks and by lunchtime we have left the town behind. In the afternoon we tackle the Wilmcote flight of eleven locks, ending the day in Wilmcote, the location of Mary Arden’s Farm.

The Stratford Canal is full of character, with its cast iron aqueducts, barrel roofed cottages, split bridges and pretty scenery. The locks are frequent, offering plenty of walking opportunities. Finally the flight at Lapworth brings us to the redesigned Kingswood Junction, where we leave the narrow Stratford Canal and join the Grand Union.

We journey through more attractive countryside to Shrewley tunnel, one of the damper tunnels on the canal network. A few more miles brings us to the top of the Hatton Flight, where we have our first view of Warwick in the distance. We speed through the twenty one wide locks and make our way to our quite mooring in the Saltisford Arm.

We leave Warwick and make our way towards Leamington Spa. This canal is wide and a good depth and we make good speed as we rise up through the Foss locks crossing under the Roman road. The flights at Stockton and Calcutt bring us to Napton junction where we can see the windmill of Napton Hill for the first time.

We ascend the flight of nine locks at Napton and once on the summit the canal slowly meanders its way across the rolling patchwork countryside with the best views to be had from the towpath. Eventually the canal submits to the landscape and drops down the five locks at Claydon to the pretty village of Cropredy. Passing under a rather unsafe looking ladder bridge at Wormleighton before we reach the medieval market town of Banbury.

Beyond Banbury the canal follows The Cherwell Valley sharing it with the railway line which is generally close by but unnoticeable till a train passes. Somerton deep lock is one of the deepest on the cut and set amongst the rolling open farmland that continues as we make our way further south. Sharing a length of several miles with The River Cherwell we are treated to some river scenery before dropping off its course and heading into the traditional boatman’s stop of Thrupp.

The River continues to accompany the canal as we travel down the valley, never far away and we cruise through water meadows and woodland until the Spires of Oxford can be seen just ahead. Our final journey into Oxford takes us through some of the wealthiest suburbs and right to the current terminus of the canal at Hythe Bridge.

We leave our mooring at Hythe Bridge, the terminus of the Oxford Canal and make our way through the rich suburbs of Oxford. Escaping the city, we skirt Kidlington before heading into the traditional boatman’s stop of Thrupp.

Once past Thrupp we enter our first river section and are treated to some fine river scenery, before joining the canal once more at the Rock of Gibraltar. We head north through rolling, open farmland with the Cherwell and the railway sharing our route. Somerton lock is a highlight of this section, one of the deepest locks on the system.

Banbury reminds us that the modern world exists as the canal passes the shopping center and cinema. Once back into the countryside we begin our ascent to the Oxford summit. We pass through Cropredy village, the home of the annual Fairport Convention, then head up Claydon locks to begin our traverse of the summit pound.

The canal meanders here, taking thirteen miles to cross the ten mile ‘as the crow flies’ distance. The boating is tricky and the views are magnificent! We tackle the nine locks at Napton, the windmill on Napton Hill coming closer as we descend.

At Napton Junction we leave the Oxford Canal and join the Grand Union. The wide and modern locks on this section of the canal speed us on our way. The flights at Calcutt, Stockton and Bascote are quickly navigated, emphasising the difference between the modern and old canals. Intermittent locks bring us down to the level of Leamington Spa, which we pass through south of the river. Aqueducts take us over the river and railway before we reach our final two locks at the Cape of Good Hope. A short cruise then takes us to our final mooring at Saltisford.

We leave Warwick and make our way towards Leamington Spa. This canal is wide and a good depth and we make good speed as we rise up through the Foss locks crossing under the Roman road. The flights at Stockton and Calcutt bring us to Napton junction where we can see the windmill of Napton Hill for the first time.

We take the lock free, but winding, Oxford Canal section of the Grand Union to Braunston. Here we carry on our journey on the North Oxford Canal, noticing the improved, straightened, sections where miles of winding canal were converted to speed up traffic. Just before Rugby, we see one of the innovations designed to speed boats on their way; the three sets of paired locks at Hillmorton. If the traffic is in our favour you’ll see our pair glide through these locks, separating at just the right moment to allow both boats to enter their own lock!

More lock free cruising takes us to the stop lock at Sutton’s Stop where we join the Coventry Canal. A final, five mile, cruise takes us into the heart of Coventry. We pass through the very low and narrow entrance to Coventry Basin before taking up our final mooring.

We leave our mooring in Coventry Basin, passing under the low bridge, designed to prevent outsiders from entering the basin. We make our way out of Coventry, passing many works of art on the tow path, until we reach Sutton’s Stop, where we use an old boater’s trick to make the sharp turn onto the Oxford Canal.

More lock free cruising through the open countryside, although bridges under the M69 and M6 provide reminders of the busy world off the cut. Just past Rugby, we see one of the innovations designed to speed boats on their way; the three sets of paired locks at Hillmorton. If the traffic is in our favour you’ll see our pair glide through these locks, separating at just the right moment to allow both boats to enter their own lock!

We carry on our journey on the North Oxford Canal, noticing the improved, straightened, sections where miles of winding canal were converted to speed up traffic. We skirt Braunston and Napton and join the Warwick section of the Grand Union Canal at Wigram’s Turn.

Flights at Calcutt, Stockton and Bascote allow us to show how a boating pair makes good use of the double locks on this canal. Finally, we pass below the old Roman Fosse Way and make our way back into town. We pass through the spa town of Leamington, before reaching our final destination in historic Warwick.

We leave Warwick and make our way towards Leamington Spa. This canal is wide and a good depth and we make good speed as we rise up through the Foss locks crossing under the Roman road. The flights at Bascote, Stockton and Calcutt bring us to Napton Junction, where we can see the windmill on Napton Hill. We take a left turn at the junction on to a lock free section of the Oxford Canal towards the busy hub at Braunston.

We’re following the contours still although, thanks to modernisation work in the 1820s, it’s not as windy windy as the South Oxford! Just before we reach Rugby, we see another of the innovations designed to speed boats on their way; the three sets of paired locks at Hillmorton. If the traffic is in our favour you’ll see our pair glide through these locks, separating at just the right moment to allow both boats to enter their own lock!

Once through the well lit Newbold Tunnel, with its unusual double tow path, we head into the countryside once more. Many of the abandoned arms on this stretch are graced with beautifully preserved Horseley Iron Works bridges. We also travel over a few small aqueducts designed by canal pioneer James Brindley.

More lock free cruising through the open countryside, although bridges under the M69 and M6 provide reminders of the busy world off the cut, brings us to Hawkesbury Junction with its pubs and old engine house. The stop lock here, which marks the end of the Oxford canal, drops us a whole seven inches!

We use an old boater’s trick to make the sharp turn on to the Coventry Canal and head towards Marston Junction where we join the Ashby Canal. We make our way through the shallow waters of this canal, following the contours of the land, until we reach our final mooring on the outskirts of Market Bosworth.

We leave our mooring in the outskirts of Market Bosworth and start our journey through the shallow waters of the Asby Canal. We follow the contours of the land down the lock-free waterway to Marston Junction to join the Coventry Canal. At Sutton’s Stop we use an old boater’s trick to make the sharp turn onto the Oxford Canal.

More lock free cruising through the open countryside, although bridges under the M69 and M6 provide reminders of the busy world off the cut. Just past Rugby, we see one of the innovations designed to speed boats on their way; the three sets of paired locks at Hillmorton. If the traffic is in our favour you’ll see our pair glide through these locks, separating at just the right moment to allow both boats to enter their own lock!

We carry on our journey on the North Oxford Canal, noticing the improved, straightened, sections where miles of winding canal were converted to speed up traffic. We skirt Braunston and Napton and join the Warwick section of the Grand Union Canal at Wigram’s Turn.

Flights at Calcutt, Stockton and Bascote allow us to show how a boating pair makes good use of the double locks on this canal. Finally, we pass below the old Roman Fosse Way and make our way back into town. We pass through the spa town of Leamington, before reaching our final destination in historic Warwick

We leave Warwick and make our way towards Leamington Spa. This canal is wide and a good depth and we make good speed as we rise up through the Foss locks crossing under the Roman road. The flights at Bascote, Stockton and Calcutt bring us to Napton Junction, where we can see the windmill on Napton Hill. We take a left turn at the junction on to a lock free section of the Oxford Canal towards the busy hub at Braunston.

At the turn, we pass under a beautiful iron sided bridge and leave the Oxford Canal to make its way northward, whilst we head towards Braunston village. We tackle the locks and make our way to the 2042 yard Braunston tunnel.

At Norton junction we ignore the temptation of the Leicester Canal and head towards the Long Buckby flight, sharing the route with both the M1 motorway and the old Roman road, Watling Street, for a few miles, before turning south to the town of Weedon with its Napoleonic armoury.

We now enter a long lock free section of the canal, making its way through the beautiful Northamptonshire countryside, towards Gaydon junction and the half mile long Blisworth tunnel. Exiting the tunnel, it’s a short cruise to Stoke Bruerne, a village split in two by the canal, with its waterside pubs and canal museum. Here we make our final mooring and have a chance to visit the excellent waterways museum.

We leave our mooring at Stoke Bruerne, with it’s fine waterway’s museum. Blisworth Tunnel, the third longest in Britain, marks the start of a long lock free section through the Nene Valley. Accompanied by railway, motorway and Roman road we make our way through Weedon Bec to our next lock at Long Buckby.

At Long Buckby we rise up seven locks into wooded countryside before cruising through another long tunnel at Braunston. This canal town is arguably the spiritual home of canal boating, having had many a historic cruise begin here. At Braunston Turn we continue on the Grand Union to Napton Junction and Calcutt locks beyond.

The scenic flight at Stockton beings us down past a number of restored working boats and out to Bascote staircase lock. Beyond, there are intermittent locks spread through lush countryside to bring us towards the spa town of Royal Leamington Spa and Warwick beyond.