Warwick & return
Pearson's P6, Nicholson's N3, Lockmaster L13
1 week, 35 hours, 72 locks
A very popular week cruise with the opportunity to visit Warwick Castle and the plentiful quaint tea rooms and antique shops
TIC 01926 492212 www.warwick-uk.co.uk
The Warwickshire Ring
Pearson's P6, Nicholson's N3, Lockmaster L13
10 - 11 nights, 64 hours,120 locks
Convenient from either the Alvechurch or Gayton marinas, this route includes Warwick, Leamington, and the option to moor in the heart of Birmingham with its many attractions accessible from the canal.
The Grand Ring (License Required)
Geo Thames Ring Atlas G29 or Nicholson's N1 & N7 covers the entire route.
2 to 3 weeks, 114 hours, 175 locks
This ultimate route takes two weeks to complete, but includes plenty to see and do over a three week cruise. An extra licence is required when joining the Thames. The river cruising on the Thames is superb, with all locks manned during the daytime. Visit places such as Hampton Court Palace, Windsor, Eton and Henley.
Three weeks gives time to explore The Paddington Arm which goes right up to Little Venice and London Zoo 0207 722 3333 www.londonzoo.co.uk
Coventry or Snarestone & return
Pearson's P7 (except Snarestone - P6), Nicholson's N1 & N3, Lockmaster L14 & L18
1 week, 36 hours, 34 locks (Coventry)
1 week, 48 hours, 34 locks (Snarestone)
With only 17 locks each way between Gayton and Coventry, this is one of the easiest one-week routes.
Continuing up the remote and rural Ashby Canal offers 23 miles of lock free cruising after Marston.
Moor at Shenton for Bosworth Battlefield Visitor Centre 01455 290429 www.leics.gov.uk
The East Midlands (trent) Ring
Nicholson's N3 covers the whole route
2 weeks, 82 hours, 115 locks .
A two week cruise travelling as far north as Burton-upon-trent, this includes the pretty section of the River Soar, north of Leicester.
Braunston, Napton or Cropredy & return
Pearson's P7, Nicholson's N1, Lockmaster L1
8 nights, 16 hours, 26 locks (Braunston)
4 nights, 19 hours, 26 locks (Napton)
Heading north from Gayton through Weedon and Norton takes the Grand Union to the busy junction with the Oxford Canal. Onwards to Napton is peaceful, lock free and rural.
An easy week,
37 hours 62 locks (Cropredy)
Home of the annual August Folk Festival,Cropredy is a quaint canal-side village with two pubs, a church and a village store.
Oxford & return
Pearson's P7, Nicholson's N1
10 - 11 nights, 66 hours, 104 locks
The "City of Dreaming Spires" needs no introduction, and is an extremely popular route for those who can stretch their holiday to more than a week.
Tourist Information 01865 726871
Market Harborough & return
Pearson's 48, Nicholson's 1 & 3, Lockmaster 36 & 35
1 week, 36 hours, 48 locks
A tranquil rural route through rolling Northamptonshire countryside. Pass through Weedon, well known for its antique shops and with a number of good pubs.
The 4-lock staircase flight at the pretty village of Watford and the two 5-lock staircases at Foxton both have lock keepers to hand.
There is also a manually operated swing bridge at Foxton.
Moor in the revitalised canal basin at Market Harborough to explore the lovely town.
TIC 01858 821270
Crick or Welford & return
3 nights, 19 hours, 28 locks (Crick)
Heading north towards Market Harborough offers the perfect turning point of Crick, just after navigating the mile long Crick Tunnel.
4 nights, 26 hours, 30 locks (Welford)
A short detour up its own canal arm, Welford has plenty of overnight mooring places, with a reservoir and village to explore.
Aylesbury & return
Pearson's P7, Nicholson's N1, Lockmaster 18
1 week - 11 nights, 44 hours, 82 locks
A good route for the first timer, we would recommend heading to nearby Bugbrooke for an excellent first night mooring, before turning south. The cruise to Stoke Bruerne is lock free and you pass through Blisworth tunnel, one of the longest in the country, before reaching this historic canal centre with its fine Waterways Museum. 01604 862229 www.thewaterwaystrust.co.uk
Delightful countryside and the Great Ouse Aqueduct at Cosgrove takes you to Milton Keynes, a new town with many family attractions TIC 01908 558300 www.mkweb.co.uk
Experience breath-taking scenery and, on a clear day, a view of the chalk lion of Whipsnade, as you climb the Chiltern Hills to Marsworth junction.
The descent to Aylesbury is through idyllic countryside, with the attractive old town centre just a short walk from the canal basin, where the local canal society are very welcoming.
TIC 01296 330559
Great Linford, Fenny Stratford or Leighton Buzzard & return
Pearson's P7, Nicholson's N1, Lockmaster 18
3 - 4 nights, 15 hours, 16 locks (Great Linford)
4 nights, 19 hours, 18 locks (Fenny Stratford)
Heading south towards Aylesbury, this route has a taste of everything even in just a weekend break. The two destinations are separated by the 'new town' of Milton Keynes, where the Grand Union Canal forms the centre piece of the linear park.
4 nights, 26 hours, 28 locks (Leighton Buzzard)
The cruise onwards is through the beautiful Ouzel Valley as the Grand Union starts the rise up the Dunstable Downs before the Chilterns. The characterful town of Leighton Buzzard has excellent moorings.
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