Short Breaks

Short breaks in the Heart of England

Guides: Pearson’s P8, Nicholson’s N7, Lockmaster L20 or Geo G1
From Hilperton 1 week, 7 hours per day, 120 locks

Beyond Pewsey and through further lush Wiltshire countryside, the highest point of the Kennet & Avon is marked by the 502 yard Bruce Tunnel.

The canal then follows close alongside the Great Western main railway line through the Bedwyns - Great & Little - and down to Hungerford. Pass by Savernake Forest, an ancient woodland mentioned in the Doomsday book.

Lapworth & return

Guides: P2, N2, L15
From Alvechurch 3 nights, 4.5 hours per day hours, 0 locks (Top of Lapworth)
Briefly heading north, then turning down on the Stratford Canal towards Stratford , this relaxing route involves no locks at all. The views around the "Lapworth Flight" (of 18 locks) are stunning, and a leisurely walk along the canalside from the top lock allows you to take in the atmosphere without the effort of travelling through yourself!

From Alvechurch 4 nights, 6.5 hours per day, 36 locks (Bottom of Lapworth)
Taking a midweek break gives time to go down the locks to Kingswood Junction. Just a couple of hours further cruising takes you towards either Knowle, the top of Hatton Flight or Wootton Wawen.

Country World Craft Village is a short walk from the top of Hatton locks. 01926 843411 www.hattonworld.com

Stoke Prior & return

From Worcester 3 nights, 5 hours per day, 38 locks
Cruise up the Worcester/Birmingham Canal. This trip takes you north into rural Worcestershire where you pass through the very heart of 'Archers' country to the village of Stoke Prior .

Stourport & return

From Worcester 4 nights, 6 hours per day, 41 locks
From Gailey 7 nights, 8 hours per day, 72 locks
Cruise up the River Severn to the Inland Port of Stourport, where you join the idyllic Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal . Before returning to Worcester , you'll be able to enjoy seeing North Worcestershire at its best from this gently meandering canal.

The Birmingham Mini-Ring

Guides: P1, N3, L13
From Alvechurch 4 nights, 7.5 hours per day, 49 locks A mid-week break that takes you through some of Britain 's finest industrial architecture, travelling along the Worcester & Birmingham , Grand Union and Stratford Canals . Cruise through some of the most exclusive Warwickshire villages. Moor in Birmingham near the National Sea Life Centre - a real treat for every member of the family. 0121 6436777 www.sealifeeurope.com

Droitwich Ring

From Worcester 41 locks, 20 hours cruising
Late 2010 should see the opening of the restored Droitwich Canal. The Droitwich Canal links the Birmingham and Worcester Canal with the River Severn at Hawford creating a new mini ring from Worcester. Cruising the ring will take approximately 20 hours so a short break is possible but will require long days cruising.
The Droitwich Canal is an amalgamation of the Droitwich Barge Canal and the Droitwich Junction Canal both were built to carry salt from Droitwich Spa but were abandoned in 1939. The Droitwich Canal Trust has worked since 1973 to restore this stretch, which is now due for completion this year.

Potteries and Peak District

Norbury & return

Guides: P2, N4, L10
From Gailey 3 nights, 5-6 hours per day, 4 locks
The most leisurely of the available routes takes you down the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal to Autherley Junction, where you join the Shropshire Union Canal for a relaxing run up northwards to Norbury. Here you will need to turn in order to return

The Kennet & Avon Canal is so central to Newbury that the main shopping street passes directly over it.

Market Drayton & return

Guides: P4, N4, L10
From Gailey 4 nights, 6 hours per day, 14 locks
If you are taking a four-day break the Norbury and return trip can be extended to Market Drayton before you turn around

Stone & return

Guides: P1, N2, L10
From Gailey 4 nights, 6 hours per day, 30 locks
Again, for those on a four-day trip, there is the option to travel on up the Trent and Mersey Canal to the town of Stone, enjoying rural Staffordshire as you go.

Great Haywood & return

Guides: P4, N4, L10
From Gailey 3 nights, 6 hours per day, 36 locks
An alternative cruise takes you up the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal to Great Haywood Junction, enabling you to visit Shugborough Hall.

Short breaks in Warwickshire & Chilterns

Leicester & return

Guides: P7
From Union Wharf 4 nights, 6.25 hours per day, 48 locks
Travel north on the Leicester Section of the Grand Union through charmingly unspoilt countryside and onto the city of Leicester.

Snarestone & return

Guides: P7, N3, L14
From Rugby 3 nights, 6 hours per day, 0 locks
For the non-energetic, this is a relaxing lock free trip to Snarestone, travelling up the North Oxford Canal and the Ashby Canal.

Crick & return

Guides: P7, N1, L14
From Rugby 3 nights, 6 hours per day, 6 locks
From Gayton 4 nights, 6.5 hours per day, 28 locks
From Union Wharf 3 nights, 6.5 hours per day, 20 locks
Crick and back, along the Grand Union Canal (Leicester Section).

Welford & return

Guides: P7, N1, L14
From Gayton 4 nights, 8.5 hours per day, 30 locks
From Rugby 4 nights, 6 hours per day, 16 locks
From Union Wharf 3 nights, 5 hours per day, 22 locks

Braunston or Napton & return

Guides: P7, N1, L18
From Gayton to Braunston 3 nights, 8 hours per day, 26 locks
From Gayton to Napton 4 nights, 6.5 hours per day, 26 locks
Heading north from Gayton through Weedon and Norton takes the Grand Union to the busy junction with the Oxford Canal. Onwards to Napton is peaceful, lock free and rural.

Great Linford or Fenny Stratford& return

Guides: P7, N1, L18
From Gayton to Great Linford 3 nights, 8 hours per day, 16 locks
From Gayton to Fenny Straford 4 nights, 6.5 hours per day, 18 locks
Heading south towards Aylesbury, this route has a taste of everything even in just a weekend break. The two destinations are separated by the ‘new town’ of Milton Keynes, where the Grand Union Canal forms the centre piece of the linear park.

Short breaks in the Pennines, Chester and Yorkshire

Lymm & return

Guides: P5, N5, L5
From Anderton 3 nights, 9 hours per day, 2 locks
Cruise above the River Weaver and its valley, where the only lock has a drop of just six inches! Preston Brook has a tunnel of nearly a mile, and there are also two shorter ones on this route.

Beeston or Nantwich & return

Guides: P3 or P4, N4, L5 or L8
From Anderton – Nantwich 3 nights, 8.5 hours per day, 16 locks
From Anderton – Beeston 3 nights, 10 hours per day, 16 locks
Easy cruising south from Anderton with splendid scenery and good pubs. The lovely medieval town of Nantwich, with its distinctive black & white architecture, is a brisk 1/4 hour walk from the canal.

River Weaver via Anderton Boat Lift & return

Guides: P5, N4, L5
From Anderton 4 nights, 5 hours per day, 10 locks
A stunning feat of 19th Century engineering, re-opened in Spring 2002, the Anderton boat lift carries two boats at a time hydraulically, one up and one down. At the centre of the Cheshire salt-making region, the River Weaver is steeped in industrial history, yet bristling with wildlife and beautiful scenery.
Visit the Salt Museum at Northwich. 01606 41331 www.saltmuseum.org.uk
Head south to the head of the navigation and the wildlife haven of the Winsford Flash lakes.

Short breaks in Wales and the Marches

Whitchurch or Wrenbury & return

Guides: P3, N4, L8, G20
From Wrenbury 3 nights, 6 hours per day, 20 locks
From Whitchurch 3 nights, 6 hours per day, 20 locks

After cruising through remote countryside, Grindley Brook is quite a contrast. With 6 locks, 3 as a staircase with a lock-keeper, waiting in turn gives time to unwind and fully take in this relaxing holiday experience.Whitchurch town is very good to explore within a weekend break as is Wrenbury.

Ellesmere & return

Guides: P3, N4, L8, G20
From Wrenbury 3 nights, 8.5 hours per day, 20 locks
From Whitchurch 3 nights, 5.5 hours per day, 0 locks

The run into Ellesmere is through an area of outstanding beauty, with a series of Ice-Age lakes known as ‘meres’ very close to the canal.

Hurleston Junction & return

Guides: P3, N4, L8, G20
From Whitchurch 4 nights, 8 hours per day, 32 locks
From Wrenbury 3 nights, 8 hours per day, 16 locks

For those wanting a bit more activity you can cruise east towards the English end of the canal.

Chirk & return

Guides: P3, N4, L8, G20
From Wrenbury 4 nights,
8.5 hours per day, 24 locks

Chester or Ellesmere Port & return

Guides: P3, N4, L8
From Wrenbury to Chester, 4 nights, 8 hours per day, 46 locks.

For Ellesmere Port add 2.5 hours per day and 8 locks

On this popular countryside route the locks are well spaced for easy cruising. You can choose to travel to Chester and then retrace your steps back to the marina or continue along the Shropshire Union main line to its historic terminal on the River Mersey at Ellesmere Port. Mooring in Chester is within easy reach of the walled city centre with its medieval ‘rows’ where there are a variety of shops, galleries and the majestic cathedral. Chester Tourist Information Centre 01244 402111

Chester Zoo is just a short walk from the canal. 01244 380280 www.chesterzoo.org

The fascinating Boat Museum 0151 355 5017 at Ellesmere Port is a few locks beyond Chester, near to the junction with the Manchester Ship Canal. The museum has an extensive collection of preserved inland waterway craft and display areas in many of the former warehouses. www.boatmuseum.org.uk

Llangollen & return

Guides: P3, N4, L8, G20
From Whitchurch 4 nights, 8+ hours per day, 4 locks

The Llangollen Canal is arguably the most beautiful canal on the whole system and combines the gentle countryside of Shropshire and the more dramatic landscape of the Welsh border. It boasts one of the most striking features on the UK canals - the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct which can be reached from both Whitchurch and Wrenbury in a week or 4 night mid week break (you will not be able to cross over the aqueduct in a 3 night weekend break). Unusually, this canal has a flow of 2mph as it feeds other canals, so the outbound journey will always be slower than on the way back. The last locks are at New Marton, half way between Ellesmere and Chirk. From there on, as it clings to the hillside contours, an enchanting blend of aqueducts and tunnels takes the canal, lock free, to Llangollen. New visitor moorings in Llangollen are now available, but charges do apply (£5.00 per night per boat, need to arrive by 4.30pm).

Take a steam train ride from Llangollen up the Dee Valley or visit the ruins of Castell Dinas Bran. www.llangollen-railway.co.uk

Short breaks in Wessex and the Cotswolds

Devizes & return

From Hilperton, 4 nights, 6 hours per day, 72 locks

The spectacular Devizes flight consists of 29 wide beam locks, rising by 237 feet over just two miles. The flight opens at 8am each day and navigation must start no later than 2pm to ensure that ascent or descent is completed by dark. Devizes Visitor Centre 01380 729408 has information about the town's medieval history with the Canal Visitor Centre at The Wharf for details more specific to the waterways. 01380 721279 www.katrust.org

Reward yourself after the strenuous rise studying the history of Wadworth & Co , local brewers who still make local deliveries with a shire horse team! www.wadworth.co.uk

Bradford on Avon / Bottom of Caen & return

From Hilperton, 3 nights, 4.5 hours per day, 14 locks

For an easy weekend to combine cruising and exploring, spend a day in Bradford and another cruising to the base of the Devizes flight. Perhaps use this as a 'taster' weekend to take a look at the impressive rise to Devizes, incorporating the notable Caen Hill Locks.

Bath & return

From Hilperton, 3/4 nights, 4-6 hours per day, 2 locks (east of Bath), 14 locks (west of Bath)

The canal passes very close to the city centre and Bath is, without doubt, worthy of at least a couple of days of exploration. www.bath.co.uk

The medieval town of Bradford on Avon, just an hour from Hilperton, offers a very pleasant stopping point.

The splendid Dundas and Avoncliff Aqueducts both take the canal over the River Avon as it follows the river valley between Bradford and Bath.

Claverton's pumping station (www.claverton.org) and American Museum 01225 460503 and www.americanmuseum.org may be incongruous with each other but will certainly satisfy differing interests.

Short breaks in Scotland, Edinburgh and Glasgow

Glasgow & return

From Falkirk, 3-4 nights, 6.5-10 hours per day, 8 locks

Four evenly spaced locks after Bonnybridge take the canal up to the broad, straight section before Auchinstarry. The majestic Campsie Fells rise from the valley that the canal shares with the River Kelvin and the scenery is superb as the canal then follows contours for the rest of its journey to Glasgow.

The canal arm south towards Applecross Street Basin in Glasgow looks down to where the River Kelvin winds from the university past the museums and botanical gardens.
A major port with a shipping history back to the 18th century, Glasgow has a wealth of museums and collections.
The art galleries and museums of Glasgow are never without examples by Charles Rennie Mackintosh - there is even a church designed by him in the city.
Discover more at: www.glasgowguide.co.uk

Edinburgh & return

3-4 nights, 7.5-10 hours per day, 6 locks, twice via the wheel

This cruise starts via the Falkirk Wheel and the new Rough Castle Tunnel, two new locks and a mile of new canal to join the original canal at the site of the summit of the flight of 11 locks that used to join the two canals.
The stalactites and rock-hewn sections of the Falkirk tunnel, a treat for the budding geologist.

Amongst the numerous minor aqueducts en route, three to note are the 12 arch, 85ft Avon Aqueduct and the Almond and Slateford Aqueducts, both at 75ft high.

Beecraigs Country Park 01506 844516
www.beecraigs.com
The beautifully preserved remains of Linlithgow Palace on the shore of Linlithgow Loch are within easy reach of the canal. Tourist Information 01506 844600

Edinburgh is packed with history and the canal entry to the city does not disappoint. The western suburbs are pleasant and spacious and the canal is well used by rowers and pleasure boaters as it nears the city centre. www.edinburgh.org.uk

All routes are covered in Geo map 25