Canal Boat Holiday Base Information - Base 55

The marina at Base 55 has been recently redeveloped by British Waterways. The marina is located at the northern end of Market Harborough - a quaint, traditional English market town that dates from 1203. You can enjoy delicious food and fine ales in the town's historic coaching inns or just potter around the market and the fine selection of family owned shops.

From Base 55 it’s just two hours cruising to the Leicester section of the Grand Union Canal along the Market Harborough Arm. The Grand Union canal boasts an extraordinary variety of wildlife, from feeding herons, and hunting owls, to water voles. A number of diverse species thrive in this tranquil and often unique environment. The Old Union Canal Society gives guided walks along the canal during summer months

Once you reach the main Grand Union you have a choice of cruising South or North. Below are descriptions of one-week routes to the South or North – short breaks will use a section of these. You can also cruise the full Leicester Ring which will require two weeks.

One week out and back route South

Southwards cruise leisurely through rural and peaceful countryside to the famous Foxton Staircase Locks, about 2 hours away. Foxton is the site of a steam powered Inclined Plane, which replaced ten locks and lifted narrow boats 75 feet. It was opened in 1900 but suffered from mechanical and structural problems. The locks were reopened in 1908 and now work beautifully. Whilst here visit the Foxton Museum and gift shop. The well stocked canalside shop offers you groceries, hardware as well as the traditional “roses and Castles” canalware, made and hand-painted on site. Stop for a cream tea in the canal side cafe or a well deserved pint in the Foxton Locks Inn. Spend a couple of hours watching the colourful narrow boats passing through the staircase locks.

Cruise from Foxton to the South. The Canal weaves its way through a remote but attractive stretch. Look out over the vale of Welland and to the nearby Laughton Hills as mile after mile of beautiful and unspoilt countryside unfolds. Enjoy an easy cruise as the canal meanders through unspoilt surroundings passing through the Husband Bosworth Tunnel. The Tunnel is 1166 yards long and was opened in 1813. Stop and moor for a while, stroll into Husband Bosworth for a pub, newsagents and general store. The Bell Inn here serves Real Ale and food daily.

North Kilworth is off to your right, with a couple of pubs - the White Lion and the Swan Inn. At the Welford Junction you can if you wish take a slight detour up the Welford Arm for an overnight mooring with the facilities of the village close by. There is even a local on your doorstep – The Wharf Inn, with large well kept gardens by the River Avon. The Battle of Naesby 1645 was fought 2 miles east of Welford. Here Fairfax's New Model Army routed the Royalists under King Charles I, ensuring the end of the Civil War.

The next stretch of the canal wanders southwards in a series of loops through wonderful rural scenery with not much signs of habitation. Yelvertoft is a delightful village to stop for a while and there are moorings between bridges 19 and 20. You can stock up on supplies here as there is a stores, off licence and butcher. Before you pass through the 1528 yards long Crick Tunnel, stroll into the village of Crick, home of one of Britain’s largest annual boat shows.

Meet the lock-keepers at the Watford (not the large town in Hertfordshire!) Locks and they will cheerfully help you on your way through their complex set of locks. Watford Locks raise the canal to it summit level of 412 feet. Four of these locks form a staircase, with a 'one up one down procedure. The New Inn is canalside at Buckby Top lock and has moorings.

Once through the Watford Locks continue towards the Norton Junction to meet the Oxford Canal. At Norton Junction you can then go down the Grand Union towards London, or head west towards Braunston. From Norton Junction to Braunston the canal runs westward through hills and wooded country, then into a wooded cutting which leads to 2042 yards long Braunston Tunnel. Braunston itself has a fine selection of old buildings. It is worth stocking up on supplies here, as for a week’s it will be time to think about returning home. Remember you may have seen the views before but it will look a lot different on the way back.

One week out and back route North

Cruising north will take you towards Leicester and you can visit some of the pretty towns and villages on the way. The canal section just before Leicester is very rural, surrounded by pleasant, typical English countryside. Soon you will pass through Saddington Tunnel which is 880 yards long - lookout for bats! The Tunnel was built crooked in 1797. Just a mile or so away is the village of Saddington. The award winning Queens Head pub on the main street has superb views over Saddington resevoir, and serves a wide range of food.

After the tunnel you will see the small town of Fleckney, about 10 mins walk from Bridge 73. There is a takeaway, stores and a bakery, chemist and off licence here. The Old Crown west of Bridge 73 serves food. The first locks you reach are the Knibworth Locks, with 5 locks to negotiate along this stretch. Visit Wistan Le Dale model village - take the footpath south from Bridge 78.

Brocks Hill Country Park and Environment Centre is a 2 ½ mile walk north along a footpath from Clifton Bridge (85). Built to demonstrate wind and solar power it is set in 67 acres of parkland. Entrance is free.

The canal from Blaby into Leicester runs through a linear Country Park and mostly parallels the off road cycleway along an old railway track. Aylestone off to the right still retains the feel of a country village with narrow streets and pretty brick cottages. The canal follows the River Sence to its junction with the Soar, sometimes they share the same bed, and because of this flooding can occur after heavy rainfall. Watch out for signs and for the enormous weir just above Freemans meadow lock where the Canal and the River Soar meet.

The Canal enters Leicester along a pleasant cutting. A variety of buildings line the canal banks and a series of ornamental bridges lead straight into the town centre. There are secure moorings at Castle Gardens (on the right past Bridge 2). The city centre is remarkably compact with everything surprisingly close to these moorings.

A great day out for the whole family is at The National Space Centre close to Belgrave Lock 44. View the space age building as you approach from you narrowboat.

The canal leaves the river, and Leicester behind, and heads north through an area of gravel workings towards the junction with the Trent and Mersey Canal. For the last twenty miles of the route you'll be travelling along the River Soar, which is a tributary of the Trent, where you can enjoy some very pleasant countryside views. Onwards towards Mountsorrel which is only a few yards from the canal and is a useful place for supplies. The lock is very much a waterways show-place, and the extensive moorings and lockside pub, make it a very busy one.

Before the canal rejoins the river its level is changed by a very deep lock. Beyond, there follows a superb wooded stretch for nearly a mile, terminated by Pillings Flodd Lock. The canal continues on the Loughborough Navigation which completes the last 9 miles to the River Trent. Loughborough is a busy town. The Bell Foundry Museum is worth a visit, south of Bridge 38. The Great Central Railway south of Bridge 36 is 8 miles of preserved steam railway, open every weekend and weekdays June-August. At Loughborough Wharf you can turn around and head back to Market Harborough.