Canal Boat Holiday Base Information - Base 43

Short Breaks:
Weekends: Cruise through the beautiful Cherwell valley: north to Banbury with its thriving canalside shopping centre and Museum, or south to the Dreaming Spires of Oxford, or the tranquil Upper Reaches of the Thames. Oxford and Banbury are just a comfortable day's cruise from the boat yard and if you head south, you could also complete one of the shortest canal 'rings' in the country as you travel one way by Dukes Cut and the Thames, and the other via the main canal. Shop until you drop, immerse yourself in culture, party the night away, or simply relax.
Midweeks: With an extra day venture further north of Banbury to the pretty canalside village of Cropedy, or go further south of Oxford onto the Thames downstream to the riverside market town of Abingdon, or head upstream to the tranquillity of the limit of navigation at Lechlade - beautiful unspoilt countryside.

One Week:
Cruising time of about eight hours a day. Travel north along the rural South Oxford Canal through the pretty Cherwell Valley villages. There is plenty of time between the locks to admire the view, while the many village pubs, which provide food mean a chance for the cook to take a break. The historic market town of Banbury, famous for its cross, has a pleasant shopping centre. After Banbury the canal once more becomes rural. The cutting south of Fenny Compton was opened to the sky over 100 years ago, although it is still known as Fenny Compton tunnel. South of Napton you come to the only strenuous part of the canal - nine locks in 2 1/2 miles.
At Napton Junction travel along the wide Grand Union Canal to the Waterways Museum at Stoke Bruerne or take the North Oxford Canal turning at Braunston Junction and travel to Rugby before returning to Lower Heyford.
Cruising time of about six hours a day. Alternatively take life more gently and start your return journey at Napton, thus cruising for about six hours a day.

One Week:
Cruising time of about five hours a day. Travel south through pleasant rural countryside. Lift bridges and locks are well spaced allowing time to relax. As you come into Oxford you lift the biggest bridge with one finger as it is all electric! You can moor in the centre of town to visit the colleges, shops, etc. Turn upstream and travel along the most rural, navigable part of the Thames. Turn at the Round House above the market town of Lechlade, with its 'wool' church. Return to Lower Heyford via Duke's Cut above King's Lock to avoid the middle of Oxford. Please note: An extra licence is required to cruise the Thames. This can be bought at the first Thames lock you come to.

Two Weeks:
Cruising time of about 6 1/2 hours a day. Cruise the famous Warwickshire Ring. Travel north to Napton Junction and turn left on to the Grand Union. Visit the sights of Leamington Spa and Warwick, then brace yourself for the 21 locks of Hatton Flight. Join the Birmingham and Fazeley in the heart of industrial Birmingham. Out in the countryside again, take it easy on a long lock-free stretch of the Coventry Canal. Turn at Hawkesbury Junction on to the rural North Oxford, which boasts a mere four locks. At Braunston turn once more on to the Grand Union back to Napton and rejoin the South Oxford Canal.

Two Weeks:
Cruising time is about six hours a day. Travel south to Oxford and turn downstream on to the Thames. The big electric locks are all operated for you by lock-keepers. There are many villages beside the river and you pass through the attractive towns of Abingdon and Wallingford, so there is plenty to see and do. You can moor in Reading while you make use of the extensive shopping centre. Take the entrance to the Kennet and Avon to the east of Reading and travel through rural countryside to turn at the winding hole at Newbury or Hungerford to return to Lower Heyford. Don't forget to allow longer to return up the Thames than it took you to travel with the current.
Please note: An extra licence is required to cruise the Thames. This can be bought at the first Thames lock you come to.

Two/Three Weeks:
Cruising time of nine hours a day (two weeks), or six hours a day (three weeks). If you have longer to spare then you can cruise the Oxford Canal, Grand Union Canal and Thames Ring. Travel north up the rural Oxford Canal then down the wide Grand Union Canal. Stop at Stoke Bruerne to see the Waterways Museum and pass through the longest navigable tunnel in Britain at Blisworth. The Grand Union passes through London to join the Thames by Kew Gardens. Travelling up the Thames you pass Hampton Court, Windsor, Marlow, Henley and Oxford which are all well worth a visit. At Oxford turn north up the Oxford Canal to return to our boatyard. Please note: An extra licence is required to cruise the Thames. This can be bought at the first Thames lock you come to.

Additional Information
Parking is free of charge.  Train Station directly opporsite base