There are lots of alternative routes.
Let us tell you about them by phone.

Situated in the midst of rural Northamptonshire and centrally placed on the canal system giving immediate access to many and varied routes through the towns and villages of the English countryside.

If you don't have a destination in mind, let us suggest some of the more popular cruises. Bear in mind that it takes about the same time to negotiate a lock as it does to travel 1 mile (15 minutes).
A return route allows you the freedom to take your time - as long as you turn around in the middle of your holiday you can be reasonably sure of returning to base in good time.
With a circular route you have the added excitement of not knowing quite what lays in store ahead!

There are lots of alternative routes.
Let us tell you about them by phone.

		Hrs	Locks
1	To MARKET HARBOROUGH and return	32	46
2	To SNARESTON and return	32	8
3	To OXFORD and return	48	78
4	South on THE GRAND UNION and return	44	54
5	To STRATFORD on AVON and return	56	164
6	The FRYING PAN - a short circuit and return	60	142
7	THE WARWICKSHIRE RING	52	93
8	THE LEICESTER RING	67	100
9	THE GRAND RING	124	175

To MARKET HARBOROUGH and return
about 32 hours cruising including 46 locks

Immediately from base you start to climb, up through Braunston's 6 locks and tunnel (2042 yards). In a few hours the Watford staircase will bring you to the solitude of the twenty mile pound where flowers, animals and bird life abound. A leisurely day sees you on the lower slopes of Laughton Hills with the countryside extended below, an unreal feeling. There is the Foxton double staircase and Inclined Plane Museum before going on to explore the old market town of Market Harborough.

To SNARESTON and return
about 32 hours cruising including 8 locks

Once this was London's main route to the coal fields, now rural, rolling and wooded. Two hours from base you descend the locks at Hillmorton. The following day passing Coventry close by (but not too close) you enter the 22 lock free miles of the Ashby Canal. The further you go the more beautiful it becomes. Places not to miss include the site of The Battle of Bosworth Field and the little town of Market Bosworth, especially on a Wednesday (Market Day)

To OXFORD and return
about 48 hours cruising including 78 locks

Half a mile from base is the junction with the Southern Oxford Canal. There is a feeling of relaxation from your very first meeting with this meandering contour canal. Its miniature lock flights and long lingering vistas across rolling uplands encourage contemplation, and the local hostelries beckon at regular intervals. It is not surprising that many people never make Oxford, but everyone enjoys the route; it's a favourite.

South on THE GRAND UNION and return
about 44 hours cruising including 54 locks

A wider canal this, the main line of the Grand Union. Not at all busy, especially after you have passed Stoke Bruerne where the Canal Museum is the oldest, and still, we think, the best. Then on to Milton Keynes where bus routes connect to the fabulous city centre, if you decide on a shopping spree. The 3 locks (and pub) at Soulbury signals the start of the climb up the Chilterns and most people wisely make their turning point a few hours on at Leighton Buzzard.

To STRATFORD on AVON and return
about 56 hours including 164 locks

Green and rural Warwickshire nearly all the way down to the aqueduct over the River Learn, a quick look at historic Warwick and then the exhilarating climb up the "twenty one steps to heaven' of the Hatton flight before Shrewley Tunnel followed by Kingswood Junction and the turning into the tiny South Stratford Canal and Shakespeare country. The opportunity to tie up over night in Stratford Basin close by the theatres (did you remember to book?).

The FRYING PAN - a short circuit and return
about 60 hours cruising including 142 locks

Not for the faint hearted, this one, and calculated to make the kids sleep. Follow the previous route to Kingswood Junction (that's the handle) and keep straight on up Lapworth and along the beautiful wooded cuttings of the North Stratford Canal to Kings Norton. Then through the very centre of Birmingham, including the dramatic descent of Farmers Bridge Locks, with buildings towering over head, and back round by Knowle to complete the pan.

CIRCULAR ROUTES

THE WARWICKSHIRE RING
about 52 hours cruising including 93 locks

Follow the previous route to Kingswood Junction, carry straight on up Knowle Locks to Camphill. The return is via The Birmingham and Fazely Canal at Salford Junction and Coventry Canal to Marston Junction where you rejoin the Snareston and return route No. 2.

THE LEICESTER RING
about 67 hours cruising including 100 locks

Follow the Market Harborough route to below the Foxton Staircase and continue on to join the River Soar before Leicester. Meander slowly over the wide flood plain and enjoy beautiful wooded cuttings of the Soar Valley to join the mighty River Trent for a mile or two before re-entering the canal system at the well preserved canal port of Shardlow. The Trent and Mersey takes you to the famous Swan at Fradley Junction, returning via Coventry and Northern Oxford Canals.

THE GRAND RING
about 124 hours cruising including 175 locks

Down the Grand Union, route 4, pass Bulls Bridge, descending to the Thames through Syon Park and Osterly. On to the river via two sets of double locks, where operating times vary with the tides. The Lock Keeper will advise on the best time to pass through. From Teddington you cruise the non tidal river through keeper operated locks to Oxford. The return is as route 3.

Remember. The River Thames between Teddington and Oxford is a separate navigation authority and you will need to purchase an additional licence before starting your cruise. Unlike the canal system, water and moorings along the way have to be paid for. At peak periods there can be queues for the locks.