Detouring off the Black Country and Warwickshire rings for a short while, this trip is essentially an opportunity to explore the Ashby Canal – following on from all the positive comments fiends and other boaters have made.  It's shallow in places (as are more and more canals these days) but we won't let that worry us... worse case, we'll get out and bow hall if required. It SHOULD be a lazy trip with no locks to worry about and lots of rural scenery to enjoy. 

 

Our guests will join us about 1.30pm and after an introductory blah blah, we'll chug off in a southerly direction. Depending on progress we might more in Nuneaton for our first evening together, or chug a little farther and tie up in a quieter bit around Marston Junction.

 

After breakfast well pull ropes and then turn let at Marston Junction to begin our segway up the Ashby Canal. We're back on virgin territory for us again and given how many positive comments we've heard about this canal, we've high expectations.

 

Passing through Burton Hastings we'll probably pause for lunch around Hinkley – perhaps a visit to The Lime Kilns Inn on the canal-side is in order... depending on how many libations have been enjoyed, we'll chug on and if desired, pause a while in Stoke Golding -reportedly home to one of the finest churches in Leicestershire before we chug on to Market Bosworth for tonight's suggested mooring. It's here the Battelfield Steam Railway can be assessed.

 

If our guests have been train spotting (or riding) we'll have late departure the following day and motor on to Snarestone, through the tunnel and to the current canal terminus. We'll turn and retrace our steps (well chugs) back perhaps as far Shackerstone to moor for the night and allow another opportunity for the steam train.

 

Our penultimate days travel, will see us heading back to Stoke Golding – perhaps even as far as Burton Hastings before we tie up. None of the stopping places along this route are set in stone – we need to travel about 4-5 hours per day on average to ensure we get to our final mooring around Bedworth for the last night of the trip – Possibly Bridge 14 (Bulkington) or 13 (Bedwroth Hill) to allow easier access to the Train station and our guests departure following breakfast on the final morning.

 

Total distance is 52 miles with Zero locks, 4 small aqueducts 1 tunnel (Snarestone Tunnel -250 yards long