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Home , Basingstoke Canal, River Wey

Pull out and kee p CRUISE GUIDE YOUR COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO THE WATERWAYS AROUND THE UK • Easy-to-follow route map • Information for boaters • Ten top pubs guide

Basingstoke The is back in business again after a few years when a series of engineering problems kept it shut, so once again you have the opportunity to cruise through over 30 miles of southern ’s finest woodland and heathland text and pictures by derek pratt Cruise Guide Basingstoke Canal Cruise Guide

he description ‘secret waterway’ Left, from top: descending the six Woodham MUST SEE Above: canalside gardens at Brookwood. Right: locks now and (inset)during after the has become a bit of an overused Locks; moorings at the Bridge Barn pub, ; restoration. Top right: Cowshot Bridge, Deepcut, and (inset) being rebuilt in 1981. famous cliché. However, there is a canal towpath walkers near Woking town centre and England cricketer Alec Bedser which maybe deserves that title, the two county councils and supported by Woodham to save losing precious water into and his twin brother Eric. Both spent their mainlyT because of its geographical location. produce. It was never a huge commercial SHCS, which has recently renamed itself to the , thereby helping to overcome last years resident in Woking. Also close to It’s also not been the easiest of waterways to success and plans to extend the navigation the Basingstoke Canal Society. the water shortages which have been a the new bridge and by the canal is the visit for some time, with a recent history of to the south coast did not materialise. The The canal has an inauspicious start problem on a canal which does not have an Lightbox Gallery and Museum (see inset). closures due to engineering problems. But last cargo was timber to Woking, a trade beneath the graffiti-besmirched concrete abundant water supply. After the top lock, The Bridge Barn is a large pub and now the Basingstoke Canal is open again which ceased around 1949 after which the pillars of the elevated M25 motorway and a the canal passes houses with pleasant restaurant with hotel and convenient after four years, thanks to £2m being spent canal fell into decay and became unusable. busy railway towering over the junction with gardens as it continues to Woking. The moorings about half a mile from Woking’s in renovating and rebuilding leaking locks. The Surrey & Canal Society the River Wey Navigation. Don’t be put off, approach to the town is through an area of town centre. Five locks on the St Johns flight A closure owing to a landslip at its western was formed in 1966 and successfully though, for as soon as you leave the junction mature woodland, so typical of what you will soon follow and there is good mooring with end just slightly spoiled the party, but in campaigned for the canal’s restoration. Castle also known as King John’s behind you begin to tackle the six Woodham discover along the rest of the route. shops and pubs nearby at Kiln Bridge at the early July it reopened. This means the entire Hampshire County Council, followed by its Castle was built in 1214. In 1215, King John rode Locks in an atmosphere of tranquillity that At the moment there is a large top of the locks. Hermitage Woods have restored length of the canal is navigable: 31 neighbour in Surrey, eventually took over from here to Runnymede to sign the Magna Carta. will persist for most of the journey to redevelopment scheme in progress by the housing on one side and woodland on the miles long with 29 locks, and probably the the ownership of the waterway in 1976. It was besieged by French invaders and in the 14th Odiham. Note an interesting variety of canal in the centre of Woking. A new other, hiding the railway which runs parallel most wooded waterway on the system. Much of the restoration was achieved by Century saw a sitting of Parliament. Later it houseboats permanently moored between footbridge has been constructed that to the canal all the way to Deepcut. The The Basingstoke Canal opened in 1794, volunteer labour and the canal eventually became a hunting lodge and fell into ruins by the locks 1 and 3. West station and shops crosses the canal opposite a large modern, handy Brookwood Station is close to the and for years the principal cargoes it carried reopened in 1991. It is now administered by 17th Century. It is open to the public. are a short walk from Lock 3. traffic-free shopping and leisure complex . canal above the three Brookwood Locks. were timber, coal, flour and agricultural the Basingstoke Canal Authority on behalf of Back pumping has been installed at The bridge has been named Bedser Bridge A gate from the station leads to

Journey Planner Follow the route with our map showing distances, locks and pubs r wey to woking brookwood woodham 4 miles / 6 locks 1 4 miles / 5 locks Distances/locks Direction Tunnel Waterway Our top ten pubs 2 3 between pins of locks junction see panel overleaf r wey to

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waterside THE ROUTE To Weybridge Location The Basingstoke Canal is accessed Woodham Woodham Junction Pubs Locks 10 from the River Wey Navigation, River Wey Navigation Canal Boat’s pick of watering holes on the West Basingstoke Canal which is reached from the Thames St Johns Byfleet To and Godalming Wharfenden Locks Deepcut Lake Locks Catherine of Aragon Station Road, West Woking 1 Brookwood Farnborough Byfleet. 01932 345048. 5 mins south ofL ock3. Locks Winchfield Large town pub with real ale, reasonably priced bar Fleet Mytchett Lake Crookham North Great Bottom Flash meals and recently refurbished B&B accommodation. Warnborough Basingstoke Ash Ash Lock Tunnel Odiham Bridge Barn Woking. 01483 763642. By (blocked) 2 Canal unnavigable Arthur’s Bridge. Down-to-earth locals’ pub, beyond Greywell family friendly, affordable food, garden and play area

Rowbarge St Johns. 01483 761618. Just south 3 Distances of Woodend Bridge and right into St Johns Road. Original length from Woodham to Now repaired, reopened and modernised after being Basingstoke 37 miles 29 locks. damaged by a fire in 2011. Restaurant meals and Restored length to Greywell 31 miles snacks, real ale and beer garden Picturesque flight of three locks at 4 Cricketers The Green, . 01483 Hazelhurst 473198. 10 mins south from Pirbright Bridge. Above: cruising on the 13 mile long July 1995 to cross a new main road. Show, is close to the canal. wooded. Some of the properties have their Traditional village local with selection of real ales, summit level at Winchfield. Soon afterwards comes Ash Lock, the last Pondtail Bridge, which is at the entrance own private moorings. There is a popular reasonably priced bar meals, open fire and outside Left: canoeists enjoying the canal lock on the canal. There are now 13 miles of to Fleet, has a useful supermarket close to pub serving food, with a canalside garden. seating overlooking the village green near glorious lock-free cruising before reaching the canal. There are more shops in the has a swing bridge and the end of navigation. Much of the next four centre of Fleet with mooring near Reading a variety of fine waterside properties. At Old Wheatsheaf . 01252 locks have possibly the most miles of waterway between Ash Lock and Road Bridge. Boaters and walkers should be Crookham Wharf some remnants of World 5 835074. 10 mins north west from Guildford Road exquisite setting of locks anywhere Fleet passes through military land which aware that this bridge and two others in the War II anti-tank defences can be seen partly Bridge. Cosy friendly village local with real ale, in the entire country. has probably kept the area clear of area have only about 6ft headroom – see buried in the undergrowth beside the restaurant and bar food, and outside seating The top lock is followed by the development. At one point Farnborough boaters’ notes. Houses with pleasant towpath. The canal is now completely rural wooded Deepcut cutting which is Airfield, which stages the Farnborough Air gardens line the canal which is very and will stay that way for most of the 6 Swan Ash Vale. 01252 352212. By Heathvale a mile long and 70 feet deep. At the Bridge. Traditional pub, now part of Chef & Brookwood Cemetery which was originally end, the canal turns sharply to the south see also The aqueduct over a main road at Ash Brewer chain. Food recommended, real ales including established in the mid-19th Century for the and crosses the railway on the Frimley guest beer, garden. Busy at times burial of thousands of Londoners at a time Aqueduct where there is a pub and of major cholera epidemics when London restaurant. has lots of Oatsheaf Crookham Rd, Fleet. 01252 819508. was running out of burial space. The leisure facilities, plus look out for the 7 5 mins north from Reading Road South Bridge. cemetery had its own stations and sidings miniature steam railway parallel to the Smart pub with restaurant food, real ale and garden for funeral trains arriving on the London canal, which gives public rides on the first Necropolis Railway Company’s trains from Sunday of the month. 8 Exchequer Crookham. 01252 615336. 5 mins the company’s station adjacent to Waterloo Leave plenty of time for the Basingstoke north of Chequers Bridge. Refurbished pub with Station. Brookwood Cemetery is still one of Canal Visitor Centre at Mytchett (see inset). emphasis on food. Real ale, garden, outside seating the largest burial places in Europe. Various boat trips leave from here and there Pirbright Bridge is the location for the first is an excellent café, boatyard and a pub with Barley Mow Winchfield. 01252 617490. By of the 14 Deepcut locks. Pirbright Army restaurant. Afterwards the canal passes the The Lightbox is a gallery and museum 9 Barley Mow Bridge. Large pub and restaurant camp and the Bisley shooting ranges are just large Mytchett Lake and enters Ash Vale. alongside the canal in the centre of Woking (handmade sausages a speciality), selection of real to the north, and the sounds of gunfire can Ash Vale was a boat-building centre under featuring exhibitions of art and sculptures. ales, outside seating at times persist as you proceed along this the ownership of Alec Harmsworth from the It is a modern building which has won awards beautiful flight of locks. The locks are 1920s up to 1947. There are moorings at Ash from the Civic Trust and the Institute of British Bell The Bury, Odiham. 01256 702282. 15 mins situated in mature woodland throughout Wharf which is convenient for shops and a Architects. Public entrance to the exhibitions is 10 south west from Colt Hill Bridge, in a little side this section and the scenery gets better as post office. Then the canal bends to the west free and it has a café. street by the church square. Friendly old-fashioned little you near the top of the flight. The top three and crosses the Ash Aqueduct, opened in local with real ale, bar food and outside seating brookwood frimley ash Pub details are likely to change at short notice: 4 4 mileS / 17 locks 5 3 miles / no locks 6 you are advised to phone ahead to be sure

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waterways factfile

boatyard services

Chandlery Diesel Elsan Disposal

Gas Holiday Hire Moorings

Pump out Repairs Slipway

Basingstoke Canal Authority Canal Centre, Mytchett 01252 370073

Galleon Marine, Odiham 01256 703691

Froghall: a squeeze, but there’s a gauge BOATERS’ NOTES

Headroom: Wharf Bridge near Aldershot, Reading Road South Bridge and Pondtail Bridge (both at Fleet) are low: various heights around 6ft are quoted. Remove chimneys etc and approach with caution. Wharf Bridge is on a slope so the south side is higher; the other two are flat

Licence: visiting craft will need a licence from the Basingstoke Canal Authority. Contact 01252 370073 or see basingstoke- remaining journey. After Double Bridge the intrude on the idyllic surroundings where Above left: new tripboat John Pinkerton II cruising in attractive surroundings near the canal’s canal.co.uk. Craft based on waterways canal takes a two-mile loop to the north the silence is only broken by birdsong or the see also western end. Top: cruising near Odiham. Above: journey’s end, the overgrown other than the River Wey will also need a before returning to its westerly course. This occasional boat engine. Wey licence from the National Trust in section includes , where a The first road bridge is encountered after next to the boatyard. More pubs and see the overgrown entrance to Greywell order to get there. The NT issues cheaper landslip blocked the canal earlier this year, Broad Oak, and then comes Galleon Marine shopping can be found in Odiham village Tunnel, now home to a large colony of bats. ‘transit licences’ for boats using the length but a through channel is now open again. at Colt Hill. The boatyard has a hire fleet for which is a pleasant half-mile walk from Colt The more energetic can walk over the top of of the Wey from Weybridge to Woodham Winchfield, with its wharf, moorings and a a day or longer, facilities for visiting boaters, Hill. In the next mile the canal passes the tunnel to the other side, where there is a to get from the Thames to the Basingstoke nearby pub is at the top of the loop. The and hires rowing boats and canoes. Colt Hill through open farmland to North short section of canal still in water, near a house next to Barley Mow Bridge, originally is the base for the John Pinkerton II, which Warnborough where there is a mechanised former brickworks which once had its own Keys: you will need a CRT Watermate Key built as a pub (hence the name) is now a recently came into service replacing the lift bridge requiring a CRT key. Odiham private canal arm. Little remains of the final for the lift bridge at private house with an attractive waterside original John Pinkerton which has been Castle is a short distance beyond the lift stretch into Basingstoke, which has been garden. Winchfield Wharf is one of the main carrying passengers since 1978. The boat is Basingstoke Canal Visitor Centre at Mytchett bridge on the towpath side. (see inset) obliterated by infilling and road building. Restrictions: the canal has just reopened stopping places for the Basingstoke Canal licensed to carry 50 passengers and is has all the information you need about the canal. Navigation of the Basingstoke Canal It might not be the most inspiring after several years’ closure for engineering Society’s trip boat John Pinkerton II. crewed by trained volunteers, with all It has a gift shop, a large detailed map, a replica effectively ends just past Odiham Castle terminus, but it brings to an end one of the work which is still in progress. Lock flights Is there a finer two miles of cruising or proceeds going towards future maintenance boat cabin and a café with children’s play area where there is a . Boaters finest lengths of canal in the south of are limited to booked passages on certain towpath walking to be found anywhere in of the canal. Incidentally, the boat is named nearby. There are boat trips during the summer should not attempt to proceed any further England. Whether you are a boater or a days. The Basingstoke Canal Society, IWA the country than the length from Winchfield after the canal’s original contractor. months, a camping area and a boatyard. as the channel is shallow and weeded and walker, do come and visit the Basingstoke and Basingstoke Canal Boat Club are to Colt Hill, Odiham? No roads or railways The Water Witch pub and restaurant is there is no turning point. But do walk on, to Canal – you won’t regret it! CB working to get limits eased, but this may take time. Contact BCA for details. Slow ash fleet down when passing the site of the bank 7 miles / 1 lock 7 8 9 9 miles / no locks 10 greywell slip at Dogmersfield, pass in single file, formerly navigable to basingstoke and give way to unpowered craft

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