 | The RouteThe route covers
> Warwickshire Ring
Including (parts of)
> Grand Union Canal (Birmingham Section)
> Birmingham & Fazeley Canal
> Coventry Canal
> Oxford Canal
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 | DVDsGreat DVDs showing the Warwickshire Ring.
> Popular : Like a television programme.
> Bowcam: For a little fun - a speeded up forward facing camera.
> Combined: Both Popular and Bowcam in one box, saving you money. |
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 Oxford Canal, from Braunston Turn to Napton JunctionStarting from Braunston Turn we'll proceed clockwise around the Warwickshire Ring.
The lock free section from Braunston Turn to Napton Junction was constructed as the Oxford Canal running from Hawkesbury Junction, near Coventry, to Oxford. When the Grand Union Canal was constructed it made sense to share the route for a few miles.
There are great views across the countryside, and many mooring opportunities, often with moored boats, with passage taking longer than might be expected with the frequent slowing to pass the moored boats. |
 Grand Union Canal (Birmingham Section), from Napton Junction to Budbrooke JunctionTurning right at Napton Junction the broad canal starts the descent almost immediately with three broad locks and continues through a total of 23 broad locks, including a staircase of two locks.
The lowest pound takes us through Leamington Spa and Warwick before we climb through two locks to reach Budbrooke Junction. |
 Grand Union Canal (Birmingham Section), Saltisford ArmThe Saltisford Arm, managed by the Saltisford Canal Trust, provides a peaceful haven with visitor and permanent moorings, and a range of services for boaters.
An ideal spot to moor to visit the market town of Warwick. |
 Grand Union Canal (Birmingham Section), from Budbrooke Junction to Kingswood JunctionThe climb continues with the mighty Hatton Flight of 21 Broad Locks, providing plenty of exercise for the crew.
The long pound above the locks provides a welcome break for the crew and the novelty of passing through Shrewley Tunnel, where the towpath passes through its own tunnel at a higher level.
At Kingswood Junction we meet the Lapworth Link providing a route to the Stratford Upon Avon Canal. |
 Grand Union Canal (Birmingham Section), from Kingswood Junction to Bordersley JunctionContinuing along the Grand Union Canal the pound continues for several miles before we climb through the five broad locks at Knowle, the last broad locks on our cruise around the Warwickshire Ring.
A surprisingly green corridor leads us through the outskirts of Birmingham to reach the narrow Camp Hill Locks and Bordersley Junction where the Digbeth Branch continues straight ahead to reach Digbeth Junction and the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal. |
Grand Union Canal (Birmingham Section), from Bordersley Junction to Salford JunctionA final length of the Grand Union Canal descends through Garrison Locks to reach Salford Junction.
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 Birmingham & Fazeley Canal, from Salford Junction to Fazeley JunctionHeading out of Birmingham on the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal we pass through the three locks at Minworth and the eleven locks at Curdworth.
There's several mooring opportunities from Curdworth onwards and it's not long before we reach Fazeley Junction. |
 Coventry Canal, from Fazeley Junction to Marston JunctionThe sharp right turn under the bridge at Fazeley Junction brings us onto the Coventry Canal and, almost immediately, the two Glascote Locks.
Gentle cruising through the valley of the River Anker brings us to Atherstone with eleven locks and the visitor moorings in the middle of the flight. A further seven miles of cruising brings us to Marston Junction where we meet the Ashby Canal. |
 Coventry Canal, from Marston Junction to Hawkesbury JunctionJust over two miles of level cruising brings us to Hawkesbury Junction where a sharp left turn will take us under the bridge onto the Oxford Canal, but first we will continue ahead towards Coventry. |
 Coventry Canal, from Hawkesbury Junction to Coventry BasinContinuing straight ahead the canal twists and turns as it follows the increasingly urbanised route into Coventry.
Coventry Basin has moorings on two arms, providing a base to visit the city. |
 Oxford Canal, from Hawkesbury Junction to Braunston TurnA stop lock at Hawkesbury Junction leads us onto the Oxford Canal for the final leg of our journey. A modernisation scheme many years ago replaced many of the extravagant contour following loops with straighter sections, usually in cuttings or on embankments to shorten the route and improve trade.
The three locks at Hillmorton are paired, that's two locks side by side, doubling the chance of finding one in our favour and minimising queues.
The spire of Braunston Church is soon visible in the distance and provides a handy landmark to judge our progress as we return to Braunston Turn. |
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