Canal Boat Holiday Base Information - Base 62 on the Oxford Canal
Location
Base 62 is at the junction of the South Oxford Canal and Grand Union Canal near Rugby. It is run by one of the UK's leading canalboat operators whose policy is to replace a large number of boats each season. It is easily accessible by road or rail.
There are a large number of possible routes from this well located boat base including Oxford, Rugby, and Warwick. Short break, one week and longer options are available.
Short Break routes
Cropredy and Return: 36 miles 36 locks 18 hours
South on the Oxford Canal from base 62 this very rural route reaches the Cotswold village of Cropredy, noted for its annual Folk Festival. Alternatively turn at Fenny Compton and return (12 hours)
Welford and Return: 52 miles 28 locks 22 hours
Travel to the canal village of Braunston then onto the Grand Union towards Leicester and the Welford Arm.
One Week routes
Snarestone and Return: 102 miles 8 locks 28 hours
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 to Rugby and onto the lock free Ashby Canal - a very quiet and rural canal.
Stoke Bruerne and Northampton: 66 miles 58 locks 35 hours
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 78 locks 54 hours
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 54 hours
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.
