Grand Union Canal Routes

Canal Holidays - 1 week routes

Grand Union Canal to Warwick

Twenty three wide and three narrow locks to negotiate each way via Braunston and Napton Junctions. The route gives you plenty of time to explore Leamington Spa with its Regency architecture and Warwick with its castle and antique shops. A bus ride from Warwick takes you to Kenilworth Castle or Stratford upon Avon.

Grand Union to Milton Keynes or Leighton Buzzard

After Braunston and its tunnel you can enjoy pleasant open cruising until the 1 mile Blisworth Tunnel takes you in to Stoke Bruerne with its waterway museum. Further on, Milton Keynes welcomes you.

You may have time to carry on to the old market town of Leighton Buzzard. An extra 12 hours

Grand Union to Market Harborough

An interesting trip through rolling Northamptonshire countryside, but with 4 tunnels and 2 staircase flights of locks (26 locks total each way) it is a fairly challenging route. There is a short pleasant detour up the Welford Arm. At Foxton, apart from its awesome flight of locks, are the remains of the ingenious but short-lived Inclined Plane, which hauled boats in counterbalanced iron tanks up the steep escarpment. The entire site has been turned into a visitor centre with a museum, cafes and clear explanation of how the inclined plane used to work.