Canal Boat Holiday Base Information - Base 62

Location
Base 62 is on the South Oxford Canal, near Rugby. It is run by one of the UK's leading canalboat operators whose policy is to replace a large number of baost each season. It is easily accessible by road or rail.

Routes

Snarestone & return:  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 Hillmorton, 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 & Northampton:  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 the turning to Northampton before entering the 3056 yards Blisworth Tunnel which opens out into the canal village of Stoke Bruerne with its Waterways Museum.

Oxford & Return: A busier week.  Down the meandering Oxford Canal which is one of the oldest in the country and follows the contours of the land, which makes you wounder 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 Lower Heyford, Thrupp and the Shipton-on-Cherwell, with stone built houses, cosy pubs, ancient churches and village greens.

The Warwickshire Ring:  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 narrow canal to Fazeley you return southwards pas t Coventry.  Diversions into Coventry, Stratford, or up the Ashby should be considered.  Don?t forget to allow extra time for this.

Additional Information
Parking is free of charge.