Canal Boat — January 2018

52 January 2018 Canal Boat canalboat.co.uk

THE CRUISE GUIDE

Braunston Marina 01788 891373

Dunchurch Pools Marina 07491 650909

Barby Moorings 01788 890486

Grantham Bridge Boat Services

Hillmorton 01788 578661

Clifon Cruisers, Rugby 01788 543570

Willow Wren, Rugby 01788 562183

Rose Narrowboats, Stretton

01788 832449

Brinklow Marina 07711 803430

Lime Farm Marina 01788 570131

Try also: The Boat Shop, Braunston

(01788 891310), Braunston Boats (01788

890179), Midland Chandlers, Braunston

(01788 891401), Union Canal Carriers,

Braunston (01788 890784), Brinklow

Boat Services (01788 833789)

MAIN BOATYARD SERVICES

Chandlery

Gas

Pump-out

Diesel

Holiday Hire

Repairs

Elsan Disposal

Moorings

Slipway

WATERWAYS

FACTFILE

3 MILES / NO LOCKS

STRETTON UNDER FOSSE

Oxford Canal (North)

cuttings. Cathiron has two marinas, both

attractively situated on old canal loops. A

little further on, Brinklow once had a

twelve-arched aqueduct which was filled

in when the canal was widened and

straightened in the 1830s, and is now a

long embankment. Look out for the fine

Horseley Iron Works bridge that spans the

entrance to the old Brinklow Arm, which

once led into the centre of Brinklow

village.

The boatyard at Stretton Stop has all

boating facilities plus a hire fleet, boat

building, provisions shop and chandlery.

This is the site of a former canal toll office.

The old loop arm to Stretton Wharf is now

used for moorings. The Euston main line

railway joins the canal at Stretton Stop

and remains a close companion for the

next two miles. At this point the noisy

railway is replaced by the equally noisy

M6 motorway, followed by a deep cutting

at Nettle Hill where the boater can

disappear into the countryside again.

This quiet rural length leads to the

village of Ansty, which boasts a waterside

pub with an extensive food menu. The

final two miles to Hawkesbury Junction

are overshadowed by the motorway, with

the Coventry Cruising Club’s moorings

situated on an old colliery arm that

actually runs directly beneath the M6.

Our journey finally reaches

Hawkesbury, which marks the junction

with the Coventry Canal. Originally

disputes between the two canal

companies led to the two canals meeting

at Longford, following a parallel course for

over a mile only a few yards apart. It was

twenty-five years before this ludicrous

A winding length of the original canal near Ansty

Unusual farm bridge near Ansty