Canal Holidays Guide to the Grand Union Canal
 This
most famous canal was opened in 1806 to provide a direct route between
the River Thames and the Oxford Canal at Braunston.
With many outstanding engineering features, the Canal
has many sections which provide one week or short break routes through
a rolling countryside of stone villages with excellent pubs.
Cruising the Grand Union Canal
From Braunston in the north the wide Grand Union Canal passes
through Weedon village, noted for its antique shops, and on to Gayton
junction. This very rural route has two tunnels including Blisworth
Tunnel (3056 yards, the longest in England) en route to the canal
village of Stoke Bruerne and its Waterways Museum.
From Stoke Bruerne locks the canal winds its way through
delightful countryside, crossing the iron trough aqueduct at Cosgrove
to Milton Keynes, a new town with canalside parks and floodlit church.
South of Milton Keynes is the famous canalside Globe
Inn near to the market town of Leighton Buzzard.
The above route can be taken from a number of bases
as a one week return trip: 96 miles, about 45 hours, 54 locks. Short
breaks can be taken on sections of the above.
From Leighton Buzzard pass the nature reserves at
Marsworth village, and optionally take the Aylesbury branch the
6 miles to Aylesbury where you can moor close to the market town’s
centre.
The canal then climbs through Tring to Cowroast before
reaching Berkhamstead close to the old castle and leisure parks.
There are more locks as you cross the Chiltern Hills, then through
the woods of Cassiobury Park and down through the Colne Valley nature
reserve to Croxley Green.
The above route can be taken as a one week return
trip: 62 miles, about 45 hours, 110 locks. Short breaks can
be taken on sections of the above.
In a longer break extend the above to the centre of
London. Moor at Little Venice close to the sights of London, or
through Regents Park and Zoo to Camden Lock with its famous market.
(See London Ring Guide).
Routes in the northern end of the Grand Union Canal
can be extended down the Oxford Canal towards Oxford. (See Oxford
Canal Guide).
View Map
Boaters Comments
Buy
the Pearson's Canal Companion to the Grand Union, Oxford and River
Nene
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