Valentine’s Cruise 2026 - Week 6

 Monday 16th March - Goodacres Bridge to Hawkesbury 

A much nicer day, warmer and with lighter winds.  So, we decided to move onto Hawkesbury Junction.  Dave did most of the driving and he negotiated the left turn back onto the Coventry Canal beautifully.  

As we were approaching our moorings for the night I spotted a sofa in the canal, you do have to ask yourself how it got to be there?  No direct access to a road, did someone carry it and dump it?  I wonder why?

After mooring up and having some lunch, we went for a walk back up the canal to the Newdigate Arm.  It is still in water for a short while and a footpath runs alongside it and then follows the route of the disused railway.  Beside the canal is The Miner’s Welfare Park which is a 1920’s established public space created on reclaimed colliery land to provide recreation for miners and their families.  The wrought iron gates to the park are still in existence.

Good to see the trees beginning to come into bud before the leaves appear.  Spring is definitely on its way.

The end of the Newdigate Arm, the footpath continues as the Coventry Way.

7.25 miles, 0 locks, 2hrs 42mins

Tuesday 17th March - Hawkesbury to All Oak Wood, Brinklow.

Today we left our moorings quite early, stopped to put  on water and then Dave drove round the Hawkesbury Junction turn and I prepared the stop lock back onto the North Oxford Canal.  The stop lock is all of 6 inches, but meant that water levels could be managed between rival canal companies.

A canal side house by Bridge 4 Tusses Bridge.  The garden is littered with remains of cars, vans and caravans, but I wonder how they got there?  There were several old VW Beetles, Ford Cortina, Saab and even a Porsche in the bushes.  Amazing!

We moored up at All Oaks Wood after a very pleasant cruise and after lunch we walked into the village of Brinklow.  The village sign even has a narrowboat going under a bridge, signifying the time when the canal used to pass through Brinklow.

The view from the top of The Tump is spectacular with a 360 degree view of the whole of the county of Warwickshire.

Brinklow was a timber castle built as part of William the Conqueror’s northern campaigns in 1069 but it was needed as a defensive site for a relatively short period and hence was never reconstructed in stone as happened at nearby Warwick castle.  Locally the site is known as ‘The Tump’.  It is unusual as it has two enclosures with double ditches.

8 miles, 1 lock, 2hrs 54mins

Wednesday 18th March - Easenhall Lane to Kent Road Bridge 69

Today we left Brinklow and headed towards Hillmorton.  A lovely sunny day with a real feel of spring in the air.

Newbold Tunnel, wide enough for 2 narrowboats to pass, it has passageways both sides of the canal although the one on the left is gated and no longer in use.

We eventually arrived at a quiet mooring just before Hillmorton Visitor Moorings below the locks.  We moored up for the night and Toby and I walked on into Hillmorton.

7miles, 0 locks 1 tunnel, 2hrs 36mins

Thursday 19th March - Kent Road Bridge 69 to Bridge 103 “Green Sheds”

The next morning we climbed up the three Hillmorton Locks and headed towards Braunston.  We were blessed again with beautiful weather making the last few days of this cruise a real joy.

Following the contours of the canal, the church spire in Braunston seems to move around, this is a good shot of the church and the windmill to the left.  Once in Braunston we turned right under the wrought iron bridge and headed out towards the “green sheds”.

We moored at our favourite spot, but the tree has been cut down, so it looks a little different.  The “green sheds” can be seen in the distance.

The weather was fine enough to sit out on our chairs for lunch and enjoy the afternoon sunshine.

In front of us was nbShear Maddness, they sell go-kart tyres as fenders.  We already have two which we salvaged from various canals, but they are getting very squishy now so we decided to buy 2 new ones.

10.25 miles, 3 locks, 4hrs 18mins

Friday 20th March - Bridge 103 “Green Sheds” to Ventnor Marina Sunset Basin

The final day of this cruise, a gentle cruise down to Napton Junction, right turn onto The Grand Union Canal and the final 3 locks at Calcutt.

This is the entrance to Sunset Basin where we have our new mooring.  Turned right and right again onto the service pontoon where we filled up with diesel and bought a replacement gas bottle.  Then a gentle reverse into the new mooring.

The resident swans have built a nest behind our pontoon, the female is sitting prettily on the nest whilst her mate keeps an eye on her and the surroundings.  They didn’t seem too worried about Toby and to be fair, he wasn’t too bothered by them either.

Here is Ella between the silver boat and the blue boat, second one in from the left.  We have a lovely view of the open water from the front of the boat and also the sunset at the end of the day.

From the front of the boat the sun is setting on this cruise.  We are returning to Worcester for about 6 weeks and our next cruise in May, will be exploring the waterways of Birmingham.

4miles, 3 locks, 2hrs 12mins

Valentine’s Cruise - Week 5

 Monday 9th March - Hawkesbury Junction to Goodacres Bridge 13

This week we are heading towards the Ashby Canal along with Di and Mark on nbEnbilulu.  Today we are in the lead.

This is all that remains of the Newdigate Arm, which connected the colliery to the canal so the coal could be transported to the paper mills.

I took this photo because I spotted a fox on the towpath who stood and watched us approach and then turned and disappeared through this gap in the hedge.  Unfortunately I wasn’t quick enough to get a photo of the fox!

The coal carrying company of John Griffiths, Bedford, traded on the Coventry and Ashby canals. In the early 1930s, Griffiths was reorganised as the Warwickshire Canal Carrying Company.  The Charity Dock Yard, on the bend ¼ mile south of Marston Junction near Bedworth on the Coventry Canal, was the home of the Warwickshire Canal Carrying Company. It seems that the name Warwickshire Canal Carrying Company was an exercise in misbranding, because although information can be found for the Griffiths company, very little can be found for the Warwickshire Canal Carrying Company. People perhaps found the name too long and preferred to stick with Griffiths!  

It is now known as the place narrowboats and anything else mechanical go to die!

Our turning into The Ashby Canal taken from nbEnbilulu from behind us.

Passing though the narrows onto the canal, this used to be a stop lock between the Ashby and the Coventry Canals but the lock gates have long gone.

 

Di standing in the bow of the boat signalling to Mark that if he doesn’t stop he’s going to hit the edge!  He didn’t so all was good!

Having moored up and had lunch we met up for a walk.

The boats moored together taken from the bridge we were standing on.

Tuesday 10th March - Goodacres Bridge 13 to Wooden Top Bridge 31

Set off today hoping to get to Sutton Wharf and do the Battlefields Walk.  We stopped at Bridge 15 to fill up with water and get rid of any rubbish.

This is the Triumph Factory which has a Museum attached to it, but it is closed today, so we might call in on the way back.  There is a factory tour and an exhibition which is constantly updated to reflect the evolution of the Triumph brand.

We also stopped at Bridge 23 to go to Spinney Bank Farm Shop, a lovely little shop attached to the farm selling fresh meat, eggs, bread, vegetables and milk.

 

We eventually stopped at Bridge 31 as the wind was becoming difficult to cruise in and we had caught up with the dredging team.  Canal and River Trust are dredging The Ashby Canal, the yellow crane is removing the silt from the boat and depositing it in the pit dug to the left of the photo.

6 miles, 0 locks, 2hrs 30mins

Wednesday 11th March - Wooden Top Bridge 31 to Snarestone Visitor Moorings.

Today we are making an early start so that we can get to the top of the canal before it starts to rain or get too windy.  

The entrance to Bosworth Marina.

Here, the sign is telling us that we are entering an SSSI.  A Site of Special Scientific Interest, designated in 1989 for its diverse aquatic flora and invertebrates, and the submerged plants in particular.  Nine species of dragonfly have been recorded as have Water Shrews, Water Voles and the nationally rare water beetle Haliplus mucronatus.

We are entering Snarestone Tunnel, it is 250 yds long and is one boat at a time as there has been some movement with in the tunnel, a definite kink in the middle.

Approaching the top of the Ashby Canal, we turned in the winding hole and moored up in front of the last bridge ready to begin our return journey.  We are going to stay a day here as Thursday is going to be very windy and not very pleasant for cruising.

NbEnbilulu arrived and moored up in front of us and popped in for a cup of tea before settling down for the evening.

11miles, 0 locks, 1 tunnel, 4hrs 42mins

Thursday 12th March - Snarestone

After a lazy start to the morning we got ourselves ready for a walk along the proposed route of the canal from Snarestone to Measham.  It was very windy and we made sure we would stay dry and warm.

Di, Mark and I are standing on the last bridge over the canal, below us there is a winding hole for turning boats but it is only 52ft, so we wouldn’t be able to turn there.  The canal originally ran from Moira to the junction with the Coventry Canal but only a small section remains in water between Moira and Dogsthorpe.  It was very windy on the bridge!

After arriving in Measham we found a cafe for a hot drink and then walked on to the Measham Museum which unfortunately was closed.  Measham Pottery comes from here.  Working boatmen bringing narrowboats past Measham on the Ashby Canal in the East Midlands would order a specially-made teapot and collect it on their next run up the canal. They were often given as wedding presents and handed down through generations.  Legend has it that it became known as barge ware because it was extensively marketed through a shop on Measham High Street owned by a Mrs Annie Bonas. The shop, being close to the canal bridge at Cut End Measham, was favoured by passing bargees who were able order a piece and collect the personalised gift on their return journey.

Measham was one of 245 English communities which were funded to establish millennium greens with input from local communities. Measham chose to have a sculpture commemorating the life of Joseph Wilkes.  A competition was held with entrants being judged at a public exhibition.  The design chosen was a sundial designed by Steve Field.  It was installed in a site adjacent to the old station building (which now houses the Measham Museum) and officially opened on May 10th 2003. The different segments of the mosaic represent different aspects of Wilkes life and activities.  They are loosely grouped into Water, Fire, Air and Earth based activities.

On our way back we found some badger footprints very clearly in the mud of the bed of the disused canal.  

We returned to our boats and had a pleasant afternoon playing games before retiring for the night.

Friday 13th March - Snarestone to Shackerstone

This morning we are going to begin our return journey to Ventnor Marina.  We thought we would get as far as Sutton Wharf, but the wind had other ideas!

Just past the second bridge and before the tunnel a tree had come down overnight and blocked the towpath.  Fortunately it didn’t go in the canal and we were able to pass safely.  On some of the exposed areas, the wind was gusting scarily so we got as far as Shackerstone and pulled over for the rest of the day.  We shall continue tomorrow when it is calmer.

We decided to go for a walk through the village to a ruined temple out near Gopsall Hall.  The hall was demolished after WW2 but the Temple remained.  The temple's fame comes from its use by George Frederic Handel to compose one of the 18th Century's greatest pieces of music, 'The Messiah'. Handel was a frequent visitor to Gopsall Hall during the time of Humphrey Jennens, but it was Charles who developed a strong musical connection with their guest. In fact, Charles Jennens was a noted writer and acted as librettist, supplying the words not only to 'The Messiah' but also Handel's 'Saul', written in 1737. 

Unfortunately the fields were so waterlogged that we had to abandon our plans and head back to the village.  When we come back we will definitely have another go at this walk.

We called into the Wharf Farm Shop and met Elisa, tenant farmers who have recently opened this farm shop.  Delicious cakes, fresh milk, bread and vegetables all within 5 minutes walk of the canal.  Well worth a visit!

2.5 miles, 0 locks, 1 tunnel, 1 hour

Saturday 14th March - Shackerstone to Trinity Marina

Shackerstone Castle is a medieval earthwork motte and bailey fortress, which was used as a World War II air raid shelter. The flat-topped motte, is partly encased by a wide ditch, with a counterscarp bank and to the south-west are traces of a bailey platform.

We stopped at Sutton Wharf to put on water and buy breakfast baps from the cafe there.  There is a lovely walk to the Bosworth Battlefields Visitor Centre but we decided not to do it this time.  We stopped at Trinity Marina to put on diesel and buy logs and made use of our Moor 100 with Aquavista.  So, an overnight mooring because we have a mooring with another Aquavista Marina for no payment.  Excellent!

12.25 miles, 0 locks, 5hrs

Sunday 15th March - Trinity Marina to Goodacres Bridge 13

Happy Mother’s Day 🌼

Another forecast of high winds and rain so we took the decision to leave the Marina as early as possible and see how far we got.  Not very far in the end, we managed to get out of the marina, but once out on the canal the wind soon became very strong and very cold.  A space in the same place as last Monday, so we pulled over and decided to stay for the day.

We braved the elements for a walk across the fields, Toby enjoyed running and rolling, and we struggled with wind but the sun was very pleasant. 

Such vast open spaces, acres and acres of arable land with nothing to see other than blue skies and fluffy white clouds.

1.5 miles, 0 locks, 42mins

Valentine’s Cruise - Week 4

 Monday 4th March - Long Itchington to Ventnor Marina

Today we are travelling back to Ventnor Marina for a few days before setting off again for the Ashby Canal.  I decided to take Toby and walk to the first lock, however I dropped my windlass on the towpath, stepped on it and turned my ankle badly.  So, it is a good idea we are returning to the Marina as I need to rest the ankle and wait for the swelling to go down!

We came up through the first few locks to the junction with the Southam Arm where the Warwickshire Fly Boats are moored.  A boat was reversing out of the arm and shouted across to us that he would wait for us at the next lock.  A stroke of luck as it meant we could share all the Stockton locks.

This is Marcus and he is taking his boat to the top of the locks to Nelson Wharf where he is collecting a butty and bringing it back down to the arm.  It turns out he is a boat painter and this is his next job for painting.  He is employed by the Warwickshire Fly Boat Co. as their resident boat painter.  

Working through the locks together, Marcus had engaged the help of some friends and there were 4 altogether.  We went up the locks in under an hour, which we were very pleased with.  I also learnt that the Southam Arm is privately owned by Cemex, the concrete company and therefore the boats moored along the arm don’t have to pay for a Canal and River Trust licence!  

Two of the helpers working the last lock, one of whom is the owner of the butty ‘Star’.  They were the nicest bunch of people we have met for a long time, all looking pretty rough and ready and at times I felt as though I was on the set of ‘Last of the Summer Wine’, but it was a wonderful experience!

Here they have arrived at the butty ‘Star’ and the crew are getting off nbLady Jane to get the butty ready to be towed down the locks.  A butty is one of a pair of boats towed by the boat with the engine.

nbLady Jane turned in the entrance to Nelson’s Wharf and headed back to the butty, ready to be hooked for the towing.  We carried on to our Marina and moored up there for the next few nights.

Full moon over Sunrise Basin.

3.5 miles, 10 locks, 3hrs.

Tuesday 3rd March - Wednesday 4th March.

We learnt on Tuesday that our pontoon has been condemned and deemed unsafe.  So we have had to choose another one until this one is fixed.  Our new mooring will be in Sunset Marina and we shall return there at the end of this cruise.

On Wednesday we met up with Jenny and David at The Old Plough in Braunston and shared a delicious meal.

Thursday 5th March - Ventnor Marina to Roys Bridge 87

A beautiful sunny morning and we prepared the boat ready to leave our mooring.  Both these pontoons are deemed unsafe which means Aquavista are losing money on potentially mooring three boats.  Let’s hope they sort it out quickly.

A lovely cruise in to Braunston passing several boats brought out by the warm spring sunshine.  At the junction we are going to turn left and head up the North Oxford Canal.

We had just moored up when Jenny and David pulled up alongside, so they moored in front and popped in for a cup of tea.  They had been moored in Braunston when we met up with them and had taken their boat up to Dunchurch Pools to put on diesel.  They are on their way back to their mooring at Napton.

7.5 miles, 3 locks, 3hrs 36mins

Friday 6th March - Roys Bridge 87 to Hillmorton Locks

Today we are going to Hillmorton Locks and stopping overnight there.

Our journey takes us along the North Oxford Canal where Dave broke his leg 2 years ago.  We had been moored along this stretch of canal and Dave slipped down the bank with the yellow sign beside it.  We also called into Dunchurch Pools Marina to fill up with diesel, a fairly easy service pontoon but this time it was occupied and we had to hover in the open water until one became free.  

This is the entrance to Barby Marina where we moored our boat for 1 year.  It wasn’t our favourite mooring!

Once we got to Hillmorton we found a spot to moor and settled in for the evening.  A walk down the locks, but the cafe and little studios were all closed until the season starts up properly in the middle of March.  Unfortunately Toby was off scavenging and must have eaten something that didn't agree with him as he was poorly for the rest of the evening.

5.5 miles, 0 locks, 2hrs 12mins

Saturday 7th March - Hillmorton to Rugby Visitor Moorings

Today is our eldest daughter’s birthday - Happy Birthday Lizzie! 

A short hop to Rugby.  We needed to go to the shops to replace our scales and top up food supplies.

Dave took us down the three locks and then down into Rugby.  Hillmorton locks claim to be the busiest locks in the country with over 8,000 lockages recorded in 2021.

We moored in Rugby, did our shopping and settled down for the evening.  

Whilst out on a walk with Toby I spotted this plant growing along the edge of the canal.  I have no idea what it is, but would appreciate it if anyone can let me know?

3 miles, 3 locks, 1hr 42mins.

Sunday 8th March - Rugby Visitor Moorings to Hawkesbury Junction

Made an early start this morning, moved the boat up one boat to the water point, put on water, then began our cruise through to Hawkesbury Junction.

We decided to do an hour’s cruising at a time as there are no locks until the stop lock at the end of the canal.  This is Newbold Tunnel quite short and surprisingly dry as we went through.

This is the slippage at Brinklow, vegetation starting to grow back and looking reasonable again now.  It happened in February 2024 and closed the canal for several months.

Coming down towards the junction we pass the electricity sub station with these enormous pylons.  They look like huge metal monsters striding out across the countryside.

Dave had worked the stop lock and then walked round to catch the boat doing a 180 degree turn onto the Coventry Canal.  The moored boat is on a water point which we didn't know was there!

From the bridge over the turn is a good view of The Greyhound pub where we are going later  for a late Sunday lunch with Di and Mark who are here on their boat nbEnbilulu.  We found a mooring for the night behind their boat and settled down for the rest of the day.

13 miles, 1 lock, 1 swing bridge, 1 tunnel 4hrs 36mins.