| Going South
 The
first one and a half hours meanders through pretty woodland
before the small tunnel at Newbold, with moorings before or
after the next bridge. Here there are two pubs that are near but
at right angles to the canal. The original cut ran in front of
the pubs, but is now a lane. In Newbold church yard are the
remains of the tunnel from Brindley's original late 18th century
contour canal.
In Newbold are The Barley Mow and The Boat
pubs. There is also the Old Crown near the shops, which include
a Post Office, fish & chips, a supermarket and also a cash
machine. Turn left out of the lane in front of the two pubs and
walk about 100 yards.
About half an hour after Newbold you cross two
aqueducts. After these you can moor for the Harvester Inn or the
Tesco Hypermarket nearby (with cash dispenser). There is a
picnic area just through the bridge after the Harvester Inn.
The next hour features more woodland, a
boatyard and a golf course as the canal skirts attractively
around Rugby towards Hillmorton Locks. The Oxford Canal climbs
from Coventry to its summit over a spur of the Cotswolds just
south of Napton (and then drops all the way down to the Thames),
so these three locks take you uphill. Shortly after the locks is
the Old Royal Oak pub and restaurant which has a canalside
garden and a safe "soft" indoor play area for young children
downstairs. After this the canal changes character, passing
Barby Hill to the left and Dunsmoor (the moor named after the
legendary medieval Dun Cow) to the right.
It takes just under two hours from the locks
(about six hours total from our base) to reach the historic
canal junction and village at Braunston. There's lots here; pubs
include the extensive Mill House (also an Hotel), canalside just
after the junction, The Old Plough and the Wheatsheaf in the
High Street and The Admiral Nelson beside the third lock up
towards Braunston Tunnel. All serve food.
 Shops:
in the High Street is a Londis supermarket (with cash
dispenser inside) and newsagent, Post Office and a butchers.
There are also shops canalside at the bottom lock.
The Marina has been developed and has a shop
and various small businesses.
You may have time to go up the six broad locks
and through the tunnel to Norton Junction and back, or carry on
down the Oxford to Napton to sample the delights of the Napton
Bridge Inn or the Folly Inn just before the Napton lock flight.
The village is perched attractively on a hill, topped by a
windmill and has a small shop and two more pubs. If you are on a
midweek break you could plan to go on to Weedon on the Grand
Union Canal or up the Napton Locks to Fenny Compton on the
Oxford Canal. |
Going North After passing
through some open farmland and a pay-and-play golf course (with
an excellent club house) you reach Ansty in about one hour Here
there is a pottery and the Rose and Castle has an excellent
reputation for food.
After Ansty you approach the outskirts of
Coventry, but it still manages to retain a rural character for
much of the one and a half hour run into Hawkesbury Junction
(also known as Sutton Stop). On the way there is the Elephant &
Castle by bridge 4 (good garden for children) and a fishing
tackle shop. Hawkesbury Junction was designated a conservation
area in 1976 and is something of an Industrial Archaeology
haven, despite nestling amongst vast attendant pylons! There is
an impressive cast iron bridge, an engine house that once housed
a Newcomen Beam Engine, a colourful pub, (the Greyhound) and a
6" deep stop lock. Just down the road is a charming Victorian
pub, the Boat. This area is rich in industrial history; you can
discover the mysteries of the Newdigate Arm, Arbury Hall and the
various quarries and coal mines that were the raison d'etre of
the canal in the first place.
 We
would recommend that you go round the hairpin bend and continue
north along the Coventry Canal; the left turn takes you into the
basin in Coventry centre. Heading towards Marston Junction, you
pass through woodland and by a large pub, the Navigation, before
skirting Bedworth and passing the Charity Dock experience. Soon
you come to Marston Junction where you can turn right into the
Ashby Canal or carry on up the Coventry. This is about one hour
from Hawkesbury and about three and a half hours from the base.
The Ashby Canal has 22 miles of lock-free
cruising and becomes prettier the further you go, the last 6
miles or so epitomising all that is best in English countryside.
There is only one canalside pub, the Limekilns, where the A5
Watling Street crosses the canal, but do not despair! There are
some charming hostelries only a short walk away. On the way you
pass the pretty town of Market Bosworth and fascinating site of
the Battle of Bosworth Field, near bridge 35. There is a visitor
centre here where you can trace how King Richard lost his crown
to Henry Tudor in 1485. Shackerstone has a steam railway and
museum, opening times restricted, but there are steam trips on
Sunday afternoons and Bank Holidays. The 'Rising Sun' may be
open instead! Work is in hand to extend the Ashby canal to
Moira.
If you continue north on the Coventry Canal
the countryside features landscaped quarries (more attractive
than they sound). The Anchor Inn at Hartshill has an extensive
children's play area and good food. The nearby maintenance yard
has been attractively restored.
For a short break you may need to turn just
before the Atherstone locks, but the flight is attractive if you
have the time to boat it (around 3 hours each way). You can turn
at bridge 48. The hatting town of Atherstone has lots of
restaurants and pubs. |
