Day

From/To

Miles

Time

Locks

Notes

Leave Rugby Wharf mid-afternoon and head for Braunston Junction, where there are plenty of moorings. The Mill House (01788 890450) is canal side, or The Old Plough (01788 890000) which does great food, is in the village. [Go up the road past the Church and it is on the left.]

Stoke Breurne

Today you need to try to get away by 7.30 am to be at Braunston Locks (turn left at Braunston Junction) when they open at 8.00 am. (Opening times may vary.) These locks are swiftly followed by Braunston tunnel, which is over 2000 metres. In due course you will reach Norton Junction, where you need to head straight on down the Grand Union Canal through Buckby and its seven locks to Weedon. The Heart of England (01327 340335) is next to the towpath, but there are plenty of other pubs in the town. No more locks now for the 10 ½ miles to Stoke Bruerne, passing Nether Heyford and Bugbrooke. The Old Wharf Inn (01604 832585) is by bridge 36. At Gayton Junction there is a water point and rubbish disposal bins. Two miles past Gayton Junction is the entrance to Blisworth Tunnel (keep to the right when passing approaching boats). Finally you emerge into Stoke Bruerne itself. Moorings are on the left. The turning point (winding hole) is 100 metres from the tunnel, on the right. You must turn here if your boat is over 55 feet long unless you are prepared to go all the way down the Stoke Bruerne flight of seven locks! (that’s 14 locks there and back!) The Boat Inn (01604 863438) is by the top lock. The Navigation Inn (01604 864988) is off the towpath just below the top lock.

10

The Waterways Museum (01604 862229) is definitely worth a visit (you need to allow 2 hours including the shop). After lunch, start the return trip, aiming to get back to Weedon for your overnight stop. The Heart of England (01327 340335) is next to the towpath, but there are plenty of other pubs in the town.

Clifton or Newbold

Turn right at Braunston Junction onto the North Oxford Canal and head back towards Hillmorton, where you will find the Old Royal Oak (01788 561401) at Hillmorton Wharf. This could be your overnight mooring but you will need to get going by an unearthly 6.30 am the next morning to make it back to Rugby Wharf for 9.00 am! To make things a bit less frantic in the morning, we recommend that you now continue cruising on past the entrance to Rugby Wharf to Newbold Village. Go on through Newbold Tunnel and turn the boat at Falls Bridge. (Follow the instructions in the Boat manual; by going past the side bridge, then reverse under it and pole the bows around) Go back through the Newbold Tunnel and moor up on the right by The Barley Mow (01788 44174) and The Boat Inn (01788 – 576995).

Finish

Return to Rugby Wharf