Ashby Canal & Oxford Canal Holiday

Canal Holidays - 1 week routes

Grand Union Canal to Warwick

Ideal for a first time canal holiday, or for relaxing, as there are only four locks and one small tunnel on this stretch! After Hawkesbury Junction with its cast iron bridge, the rural Ashby Canal passes near Twycross Zoo, the Battlefield of Bosworth and Market Bosworth. You can visit the basin in the centre of Coventry and it is worth also making the pretty trip to the canal village of Braunston and back via Rugby and Hillmorton Locks. Grand Union

South Oxford to Banbury Canal Holiday

25 locks each way on narrow canals, make this a more energetic but beautiful rural route. Past Braunston, a short stretch of the Grand Union takes you on to Napton and the South Oxford, one of the oldest canals, which rises all the way up to Fenny Compton before dropping down to Banbury.

You may have time to get to Aynho. An extra 5 hours.

The South Oxford & The River Thames - 2 week route

40 locks each way on the Oxford Canal

This rural route includes some of the prettiest canal and river scenery. Cruise down through the eastern Cotswolds to the 'dreaming spires' of Oxford and out into Old Father Thames. From Oxford you can cruise downstream past the beautiful riverside houses as far as Reading (92 hours) or upstream to the limits of navigation at Lechlade (80 hours). All Thames locks are operated for you.

An extra licence is required for the Thames.