Canal Boat Holiday Base Information - Base 40

Ideally situated at the head of the North Oxford Canal, this is an ideal base for a large number of interesting routes. The circular route of the Warwickshire Ring is ideal for the more energetic and has the contrasts of beautiful countryside around Warwick, then industry near Birmingham and Spaghetti Junction. Out and back trips of beauty and interest can also be achieved, including Stratford-on-Avon, Oxford, Snarestone, or a visit to the Waterways Museum at Stoke Bruerne, depending on the number of locks you wish to negotiate.

Short Break Route

3 nights

Cropredy and return:

34 miles, 38 locks, South on the Oxford Canal

ONE WEEK ROUTES

Snarestone and Return:
102 Miles, 8 Locks, 4 hours cruising per day. An easy route for the first timer with only a few locks through rural England. Leaving the broad Grand Union Canal at the busy canal junction of Braunston, you turn up the North Oxford Canal into narrow locks by Rugby at Hilmorton, where the British Waterways Architectural Unit is based.

At Hawkesbury you encounter the lock with the smallest lift on the system at 6 inches. The lock free Ashby is a very quiet rural canal which is extremely peaceful with few boats to disturb you.

Stoke Bruerne and Northampton:
66 Miles, 58 Locks, 5 hours cruising per day. Another pleasant and easy route cruising on the broad Grand Union Canal where the locks are 14 feet wide, allowing you to share the work with another boat. The start of this trip contains no locks until you get to Braunston Junction - a hive of activity. Cruising onwards you encounter more locks and turnings to Northampton before entering the 3,056 yards Blisworth Tunnel which opens out into the canal village of Stoke Bruerne with its Waterways Museum.

Oxford and Return:
98 Miles, 76 Locks, 9 hours cruising per day. A busier week of 9 hours cruising a day. Down the meandering Oxford canal which is one of the oldest in the country and follows the contours of the land, which makes you wonder whether you are getting anywhere. The only town on the way is Banbury, but there are some lovely villages mainly towards the bottom end, such as Thrupp, Lower Heyford and Shipton-on-Cherwell, with stone built houses, cosy pubs, ancient churches and village greens.

Warwickshire Ring :
103 Miles, 118 Locks, 9 hours cruising per day. Sometimes known as the Midlands Ring, this is a route of contrasts. Starting on the wide locks of the Grand Union, through various locks to the Hatton Flight, you can either divert up the North Stratford to the centre of Birmingham, or carry on up the Grand Union to rejoin near the International Convention Centre in Birmingham. Heading out on the narrow canals to Fazeley, you return southwards past Coventry. Diversions into Coventry, Stratford, or up the Ashby should be considered. Don't forget to allow extra time for this.

Additional Information.
All boats have 240 volt system. Duvets and bed linen. Radiator central heating. TV with DVD or Video player. Mains hair dryer. Free fuel. Free car parking.