Canal Boat Holiday Destinations from Napton.

Our Napton narrow boat hire base is next to Napton Junction, where the Grand Union Canal meets the South Oxford Canal, so there’s a great choice of routes.

The 137-mile long Grand Union Canal links the River Thames at Brentford with Birmingham city centre. There are 158 locks along its length and seven arms linking to Paddington, Slough, Wendover, Aylesbury, Northampton, Leicester and Market Harborough.

The 77.5-mile long Oxford Canal links the City of Oxford and the River Thames with the Coventry Canal at Hawkesbury Junction. It’s a narrow canal with 46 locks.

3-night destinations from Napton

Rugby Wharf and back (31 miles, 6 locks, 12.5 hours)

Cruise east through the Warwickshire countryside to Braunston.  When you reach Braunston Junction, you can turn right and pass under the cast-iron bridge. Turn around at the Marina, and moor up to explore the village and its choice of pubs, including the canalside Admiral Nelson.

Next go back to the Junction and turn right, heading up the North Oxford Canal.  This stretch is lock-free until you reach Hillmorton. There’s is a pub near Wharf Bridge (No. 73) before you continue north to Hillmorton. Go through the three locks, where Canal & River Trust volunteer lock keepers are usually on hand to help.  The Stag & Pheasant pub is in the village, and there’s a village shop. Continuing north you’ll go through the 250-yard long Newbold Tunnel and you’ll pass the remains of the Norman Brinklow Castle.  Moor up just after Bridge No.58 and you can easily walk into Rugby. Continue cruising north and turn at the Rugby Wharf Arm to return to Napton.

Crick Wharf and back (29 miles, 26 locks, 14 hours)

Cruise east through the Warwickshire countryside to Braunston.  When you reach Braunston Junction, you can turn right and pass under the cast-iron bridge. You can moor up to explore the village and its choice of pubs, including the canalside Admiral Nelson and The Plough up the hill in the village.

Cruise on along the Grand Union Canal, going through the Braunston flight of six locks and then Braunston Tunnel (1.16 miles long). After the tunnel the canal leads to Norton Junction, where you head north onto the Leicester Line of the Grand Union Canal.

After Watford Locks, you’ll pass through the 1,528-yard long Crick Tunnel. Turn the boat around in Crick Marina (home of the annual Crick Boat Show) and then moor up at Crick Wharf. From there it’s a short walk into the village, where you’ll find a village shop and the Red Lion pub. Cruise back to Napton.

Weedon Wharf and back (30 miles, 26 locks, 14 hours)

Follow the route above as far as Norton Junction, but stay on the Grand Union Main Line (turn right). You’ll find the canalside New Inn next to Buckby Top Loc. Head south through the 7-lock Buckby Flight. Moor up at Weedon where there are several pubs, including the canalside Narrow Boat, and severl shops and takeaways. Turn at Weedon Wharf, just before Bridge 25, and return to Napton.

4-night destinations from Napton

Bugbrook Wharf and back (37 miles, 26 locks, 16 hours)

Follow the 3-night route to Weedon and continue south past the village of Nether Heyford.  At Bugbrooke Wharf you’ll find the canalside Wharf pub and The Bakers Arms in the village. Turn around just after Wharf Bridge No.36 and return to Napton.

Cropredy and back (35 miles, 34 locks, 19 hours)

Cruise south along the Oxford Canal past Napton-on-the-Hill. Follow the canal past Folly Bridge and moor up to visit the excellent village shop selling local produce, and the Folly canalside pub.  Continue on through the countryside and the nine-lock Napton Flight, which stretches for 2 miles between Folly Bridge and Marston Doles Bridge.  This contour canal meanders on through countryside and farmland with a few tight bends to negotiate at times.

The next 3 hours cruising are lock-free. When you reach Bridge 136 at Fenny Compton, you’ll find the canalside Wharf Inn. Go through Fenny Compton Tunnel and then the Claydon Flight of five locks. In the village of Claydon, you’ll find the quaint Marton Museum of Country Bygones. There are three more locks before you reach Cropredy Lock. Turn around in the winding hole soon after Cropredy Lock.  In the pretty village of Cropredy, famous for its annual folk music festival The Fairport Convention, you’ll find the Brasenose Arms.

Warwick and back (29 miles, 50 locks, 20 hours)

Cruise West on the Grand Union Canal and you’ll soon reach the flight of 3 locks at Calcutt.  Two miles later you’ll reach the Stockton flight of 8 locks. You’ll find the canalside Blue Lias pub at the bottom. After 2 more locks, you’ll reach the pretty village of Itchington, with a choice of pubs, including The Duck on the Pond and canalside Two Boats.

Cruise on through the Warwickshire countryside and through the 6 locks at Bascote. There are five more locks, including the three Fosse Locks, where the Roman Fosse Way meets the canal.  The canal then runs through the outskirts of Royal Leamington Spa, with shops and pubs within walking distance of the canal. At bridge 49 you’ll find a boat yard where you can turn around and moor up. There are many museums and historic attractions to visit in Warwick, including Warwick Castle, said to be Britain’s greatest medieval experience.

7-night destinations from Napton

Coventry and back (66 miles, 8 locks, 28 hours)

Follow the 3-night route to Rugby and continue heading north along the Oxford Canal. You’ll pass through the village of Ansty, home of the Rose & Castle pub.  When you reach Hawkesbury Junction, transfer onto the Coventry Canal, through a single lock. You’ll go past the canalside Greyhound pub.  Five miles later you’ll reach Coventry Basin. There you can moor up to explore the city, including its famous Cathedral.

Banbury and back (46 miles, 44 locks, 25 hours)

Follow the 4-night route to Cropredy and continue heading south down the Oxford Canal. There are three more locks before you reach the outskirts of Banbury. You’ll find a lift bridge, over looked by shops and restaurants, then Banbury Lock, next to Tooley’s Boatyard Museum. Moor up where possible just after Albion Bridge 166 and walk into the town, famous for its Banbury Cross and Ye Olde Reindeer Inn. Turn at the winding hole after Bridge 168 and return to Napton.

Linford Wharf and back (75 miles, 42 locks, 32 hours)

Follow the 4-night route to Bugbrooke and continue cruising along the Grand Union Canal. You’ll pass Gayton Junction, where the Northampton Arm meets the main line. Soon after you’ll arrive at Blisworth Tunnel. At 1.74 miles long it’s the third longest navigable canal tunnel in the UK. After the tunnel you’ll find Stoke Bruerne where there’s a choice of pubs and the Canal & River Trust’s Canal Museum.

Descend the 7 locks at Stoke Bruerne and continue south past Thrupp Wharf to Cosgrove, crossing over the Iron Trunk Aqueduct. The scenery becomes more suburban as you skirt around Milton Keynes to Linford Wharf. You can turn the boat around at Linford Wharf then moor up and walk into Great Lindford to the Nags Head pub with thatched roof. There’s also the canalside Black Horse pub at Great Linford and Linford Lakes Nature Reserve to visit. Gullivers World is also nearby.

Market Harborough and back (76 miles, 46 locks, 38 hours)

Follow the 4-night route to Crick and continue cruising through the countryside. At North Kilworth, you’ll find the White Lion pub.  After that you’ll go through the 1,166-yard long Husbands Bosworth Tunnel. When you reach Foxton Locks, you’ll find Canal & River Trust lock keepers helping boaters negotiate the 2 staircases of 5 locks.  There’s a small museum dedicated to the Foxton Inclined Boat Lift that once operated there, and a choice of pubs.

Continue on, transferring onto the Market Harborough Arm, with amazing views of the Laughton Hills. Turn your boat around in the canal basin and moor up to explore the historic town of Market Harborough, where there are regular markets, and a range of independent shops and restaurants.

10 or 11-night destinations from Napton

Leighton Buzzard and back (102 miles, 54 locks, 43 hours)

Follow the 7-night route to Lindford Wharf and continue cruising south down the Grand Union Canal through Milton Keynes. You’ll find the Red Lion canalside pub at Fenny Stratford. At Water Eaton Mill the scenery returns to woodland and countryside. You’ll pass the canalside Three Locks pub at Soulbury, close the village of Stoke Hammond. A little further south you pass through Leighton Lock and you’ll arrive at Linslade and Leighton Buzzard, either side of the canal.  There’s a choice of places to eat and shop and there’s an arts centre at next to Waitrose. Turn around after Bridge 114 and return to Napton.

Oxford and back (99 miles, 78 locks, 56 hours)

Follow the 7-night route to Banbury and continue heading south down the Oxford Canal. There are lots of lift bridges to negotiate, but many will already be open for you.  Winding on through the Oxfordshire countryside, you’ll pass through and close by to a series of hamlets and villages with historic pubs, including the Barley Mow at Upper Heyford and the Dashwood Arms at Kirtlington. You can stop at Lower Heyford to visit Rousham House and gardens. You’ll find the canalside Boat Inn and the Jolly Boatman at Thrupp.

Next you’ll go through Kidlington and after a few more lift bridges and 2 locks you reach the outskirts of Oxford City Centre.  Moor up after Aristotle Bridge or Jericho Footbridge free of charge for up to 24 hours and walk into Oxford city centre. This world famous city has so much to explore, including the Ashmolean Museum and the Bodleian Library. You can turn the boat around next to Isis Lock.

14-night destinations from Napton

The Warwickshire Ring (104 miles, 121 locks, 60 hours)

Follow the 4-night route to Warwick. After you’ve passed the Saltisford Arm you’ll soon reach the bottom of the magnificent 21-lock Hatton Flight, with the Hatton Arms pub at the top.  Next you’ll go through Shrewley Tunnel (433 yards) and on lock-free to Kingswood Junction, also known as Lapworth Link. Here there is a very sharp turn to the left under a footbridge leading to the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal.

Turn right, heading up the North Stratford Canal and go through the 18 narrow locks of the Lapworth Flight to Hockley Heath village, home of the Cake Rider café.  Near the top of this canal is Brandwood Tunnel (352 yards) followed by a ‘Guillotine Lock’ just before King’s Norton Junction. Turn right on to the Worcester & Birmingham Canal. From there it’s lock-free all the way into central Birmingham. You’ll pass Cadbury World at Bournville.

When you reach Gas Street Basin, you can moor up to explore the city centre, including the Sea Life Centre at Brindleyplace, the Jewellery Quarter and China Town. Continuing on, at the next junction turn right towards Cambrian Wharf.  You’ll then go downhill through 13 locks at Farmers Bridge and under Aston Road Bridge. Take the next left at Aston Junction and through a further 11 locks before you reach Salford Junction. Here you’ll turn right on to the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal. After Tyburn Bridge there are three locks at Minworth. At the bottom of the flight you’ll find the canalside Hare & Hounds pub.

At the 11 locks at Curdworth you’ll find the Dog & Doublet pub next to Lock 9 and the White Horse pub in the village. Kingsbury Water Park is also nearby. Between Salford Junction and Curdworth bottom lock there are pubs and shops within walking distance. At Fazeley Junction turn right to connect with the Coventry Canal. You’ll go through 2 locks past Tamworth and Polesworth, and next you’ll tackle the 11 locks at Atherstone.

The canal then continues lock-free, passing Marston Junction, where the Coventry Canal meets the Ashby Canal. Turn left and left again at Hawkesbury Junction and cruise down the North Oxford Canal.  You’ll pass through Newbold Tunnel (250 yards) then it’s lock-free again all the way to Hillmorton. There are three locks at Hillmorton, where Canal & River Trust volunteer lock keepers are usually on hand to help.  The Stag & Pheasant pub is in the village, and there’s a village shop. Around 2 hours later you’ll reach the Braunston Turn. Braunston has a great choice of pubs and a village shop.  Continue on along the Grand Union Canal back to Napton.

*For a slightly shorter Warwickshire Ring option, stay on the Grand Union Canal at Kingswood Junction and continue up to Knowle. Then it’s lock-free as you cruise through Solihull. The next five locks start at Small Heath. When you reach Bordesley Junction, turn right and then go through five more locks before you reach Salford Junction. Then continue to Fazeley Junction, and you’ll be back on the longer ring route above.

Aylesbury and back (132 miles, 109 locks, 64 hours)

Follow the 10/11-night route to Leighton Buzzard and keep heading south down the Grand Union Canal. You’ll pass the canalside Grove Lock pub. There are more locks now as the canal rises up towards the summit at Tring, home of the Tring Reservoirs SSSI and Tringford Pumping Station.

At Marsworth you transfer onto the Aylesbury Arm. You’ll go through 8 locks, passing through peaceful countryside with lovely views of the Chiltern Hills.  When you reach Aylesbury, moor up to explore this historic market town, including the Roald Dahl Children’s Gallery and the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre.