Rose Narrowboats English Canal Cruising Routes

Hours shown are approximate and include the return journey.

23 - 8

no. of locks-

miles between red spots

THE LEICESTER LOOP

70 hours

A varied route down the North Oxford, up the Grand Union to the River Soar and the Trent & Mersey, then back down the Coventry Canal. The cruise includes 5 tunnels, several aqueducts, 100 locks (including Foxton) and Shardlow canal village. The timing allows a leisurely fortnight, or gives you time to explore other canals on the way (e.g. the Ashby). An extra 58 hours would enable you to include the Warwickshire Ring through Birmingham.

STRATFORD-ON-AVON

68 hours

84 locks there and 84 locks back will make you fit, and still leave plenty of time to explore all the delights on the way - the beautiful Stratford Canal, Stratford-on-Avon itself and Warwick with its castle.

THE AVON RING

100 hours

Normally done 'clockwise', this will take you past Warwick down to Stratford-on-Avon, along the historic Avon to Tewkesbury, up the Severn to Worcester, along the Worcester & Birmingham into 'Brum' and back via the Coventry Canal. A varied and pleasant route for the more adventurous, combining canal and river navigation. An extra licence is needed for the Avon

THE SOUTH OXFORD & RIVER THAMES
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 Cotsworlds 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) An extra licence is required for the Thames

3 Week cruise
The choices here are endless, here is one favourite.

THE GRAND RING

120 hours

Not for the faint hearted, or the lazy! It is best done clockwise down the Grand Union past Stoke Bruerne to Brentford, then up the tidal Thames to Teddinqton. The Thames takes you past Hampton Court and Windsor to Oxford where you head north past Banbury back to the base. There is an enormous amount to see on the way and plenty of variety, but beware of the delays at the Thames Locks in the height of the Season. It is a hard fortnight and we would really recommend three weeks for this trip. An extra licence is required for the Thames.