visit www.southnorthants.gov.uk Explore Canals in South Northamptonshire Welcome to the Canals of South Northamptonshire Approximately seventeen and Although originally associated with the industrial revolution, today the local canal a half miles of the Grand Union network is a tranquil haven from which Canal winds its way through to enjoy the unspoilt countryside. Many pretty canal villages sit alongside the Grand South Northamptonshire, from Union where you will find welcoming pubs, the Iron Trunk Aqueduct at restaurants and shops, as well as interesting historic features such as the Iron Trunk Cosgrove up to Stowe Hill bridge Aqueduct¸ Ornamental Bridge and horse on the A5 near Nether Heyford. tunnel at Cosgrove, the Canal Museum and flight of locks at Stoke Bruerne and the A short stretch of the 77-mile Blisworth Tunnel. Oxford Canal, which goes from If you spend even a short time along the Oxford to Coventry, also slips banks of the canal you’ll no doubt end up in conversation with one of the many people into South Northamptonshire, who are holidaying on, or who live or work approximately one mile on the water. Delightful flower and herb gardens adorn the brightly painted boats from Aynho. and you’ll encounter plenty of friendly dogs – and even cats - who like to watch the world go by from their floating vantage points. If you have time, combine your trip with a visit to one of the area’s lovely attractions, such as Castle Ashby Gardens, Evenley Wood Gardens, Salcey Forest, Silverstone Circuit, Stoke Park Pavilions, Sulgrave Manor, Towcester Racecourse and the pretty market towns of Brackley and Towcester. History of the Grand Union Canal Canalside activities The demand for quicker and standards. To overcome this, in the 1930s, a CYCLING AND FISHING STOKE BRUERNE BRICK PITS number of canal companies amalgamated with NATURE RESERVE cheaper means of transport the Grand Junction Canal Company to form You can cycle along much of the towpath. Created in the late 18th century, the area is caused by the Industrial the Grand Union Canal Company. This would Fishing is allowed with a rod licence on now home to a reed bed, grassland, ponds Revolution and the poor state of form a continuous route, linking London with nearly the entire length of the canal through and a redundant side arm of the canal. It is an Birmingham and the rest of the country. A angling clubs. Fish include roach,perch important habitat for a variety of plant life, roads between London and the and bream, chub, pike and carp. Certain Midlands, led to the passing of modernising programme saw improvements invertebrates and dragonfly species, including to boats, locks and bridges and with increased restrictions apply to both cycling and the white-legged damselfly. The grassland is an Act of Parliament in 1793, capacity, the canal provided vital support fishing. Please check with The Canal & River good for small mammals, making it an ideal authorising the building of the carrying supplies during the Second World Trust for details. feeding ground for barn owls. Other fauna Grand Junction Canal between War. However with the arrival of the motorway and flora includes field voles, red foxes, grass Braunston and Brentford. network, canal freight declined. WILDLIFE snakes, frogs and toads, great crested newts, orange tip and ringlet butterfly, redwing, As part of the programme to nationalise Whether you’re walking or boating along fieldfare, reed warbler, sedge warbler, reed The existing route via the Oxford Canal and transport, ownership of the Grand Union Canal the canal, or visiting one of the four nature bunting, marsh-marigold, water mint and River Thames was long, narrow in parts and (with most of the rest of the canal network) reserves, some of the things you’re likely water forget-me-not. difficult to navigate. The same year, a group passed to the British Transport Commission to encounter are swans, ducks, geese, grey of businessmen and investors, including local in 1948 and in 1963 to the new British heron, wild birds, rabbits and hares, deer These natures reserves are managed by landowners the Marquis of Buckingham of Waterways (now The Canal & River Trust). and foxes. You’ll also see lots of insects and The Wildlife Trusts for Bedfordshire, Stowe, The Duke of Grafton, Earl Spencer wildflowers. Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire The Grand Union Canal has always of Althorp and the Hon. Edward Bouverie, www.wildlifebcn.org. devised a plan that would cut the route by remained open. Today it is one of South MILL CROOK AND GRAFTON RegiS 60 miles. Setting up the Grand Junction Northamptonshire’s most popular attractions, MEADOW THE QUARRIES, COSGROVE Canal Company, they hired Banbury for its heritage, boating, walking, fishing and These are the last fragments of traditionally Formerly a medieval limestone quarry, this surveyor, James Barnes and civil wildlife. In 1993, the 145-mile Grand Union managed hay meadows in this part of the haven of wildlife has lots of limestone-loving engineer, William Jessop. Over 3,000 walk opened creating a continuous route from Tove Valley. They still show evidence of plants, including the spotted cat’s ear and men were employed along the route. Little Venice in London to Gas Street medieval ridge and furrow farming. In the fragrant orchid. You might also see ground in Birmingham. summer, they are full of wild flowers and beetle, skylarks and barn owls. Opening in 1805, the Grand Junction grasses - saxifrage, meadowsweet, bog Canal became one of the busiest stitchwort, meadow vetchling, great burnet, arterial canals in the country. quaking-grass, meadow foxtail and yellow However, the opening of the rattle, an indicator species of old grassland. London and Birmingham Insects and birds include orange-tip Do you enjoy Gongoozling? Railway in 1838 initiated a slow and meadow brown butterflies and five- If you find yourself leaning over a decline as canals struggled spot burnet moths, kingfishers, curlews, bridge, or standing by a lock watching against the competition. lapwings, long-tailed tits, bullfinches, the boats go by, don’t be surprised if yellowhammers and wrens. Grafton Regis Constructed by different someone calls you a Gongoozler - old Meadow is accessible via the Grand Union companies, the region’s canals canal slang to describe people who Canal walk. For access to Mill Crook, contact were of different sizes and 01604 405 285. stood idly by on the towpath! EATING AND DRINKING There are many lovely places to eat and drink within easy walking or driving distance of the canals. For full details, see South Northamptonshire Council’s food and drink guide, A Taste For All Canal services Seasons, available to download at www.southnorthants.org.uk, or to pick up in local restaurants, pubs and cafés. MARINAS OTHER SERVICES BOAT TRIPS AND BOAT HIRE AYNHO WHARF WALKER SERVICES, NEAR AYNHO BLISWORTH TUNNEL NARROWBOATS Great Western Arms, 01869 338 288, BLISWORTH MARINA, GayTON JUNCTION Offers moorings, boatyard services, chandlery Day boat hire is available on one of two www.great-westernarms.co.uk A traditional and attractive marina that offers and narrowboat repairs. The shop sells basic 30-foot day boats. 01604 858 868, private and temporary moorings. AYNHO food provisions, gifts, supplies and ice creams. www.millwharfboats.co.uk. 01604 879 827, www.blisworthmarina.co.uk Cartwright Hotel and Restaurant, 01869 338 483, www.walker-services.co.uk COSGROVE NARROWBOAT COmpany 01869 811 885, GayTON MARINA, BETWEEN GayTON MILL WHARF BOAT COmpany AND Private charter, public trips and day boat www.cartwright-hotel.co.uk AND BLISWORTH BLISWORTH TUNNEL NARROWBOATS, hire on narrowboats, Elizabeth of Glamis and A large marina offering holiday boat hire, BLISWORTH BLISWORTH Skylark. Public trips from Easter to October private moorings, full boatyard facilities Royal Oak, 01604 857 676, Run by the same family, the two companies between Cosgrove and Northampton and and a shop. 01604 858 685, www.blisworthroyaloak.co.uk are situated next to bridge 51 in Blisworth. Cosgrove and Milton Keynes. 01525 372 853, www.gaytonmarina.com The Walnut Tree, 01604 859 551, The Mill Wharf Boat Company offers a www.cosgrovenarrowboats.co.uk www.walnut-tree.co.uk NETHER HEYFORD FIELDS MARINA boat building service. Blisworth Tunnel INDIAN CHIEF, STOKE BRUERNE Strictly long term, private moorings. 07902 Narrowboats offers boat yard services, repairs BUGBROOKE Public and private charter cruises from 216 870, www.heyfordfieldsmarina.co.uk and day boat hire. 01604 858 868, The Wharf, 01604 832 585, Stoke Bruerne along the canal and through www.millwharfboats.co.uk www.the-wharf.co.uk THRUPP WHARF MARINA, NEAR the Blisworth Tunnel on the luxury narrowboat, COSGROVE COSGROVE THE NEW & USED BOAT CO, Indian Chief. 01604 862 428, Navigation Inn at Thrupp Wharf, A family run marina with 60 private moorings BLISWORTH MARINA www.boatinn.co.uk 01908 543 156, www.navigationinn.net situated next to the Navigation Inn at Bridge Specialises in new and used boat sales. STOKE BRUERNE BOAT COmpany Barley Mow, 01908 562 957, 64 overlooking the countryside. 01908 542 01604 859 376, www.newandusedboat.co.uk Return trips from the Canal Museum to the www.thebarleymowcosgrove.co.uk 113, www.thruppwharfmarina.com COSGROVE LAKESIDE STORE, COSGROVE Blisworth tunnel on narrowboat Charlie, on NETHER HEYFORD LEISURE PARK weekends and school holidays from Easter to Foresters Arms, 01327 340 622 Situated a few minutes’ walk from the canal, October. Longer trips through the tunnel to the shop sells general supplies and gas. Blisworth Village available for private charter. STOKE BRUERNE It is open seven days a week, 1 April to 07966 503 609, www.stokebruerneboats.co.uk The Boat Inn, 01604 862 428, 31 October. 01908 565 797 www.boatinn.co.uk Spice of Bruerne, 01604 863 330, GRAND JUNCTION BOAT COmpany www.spiceofbruerne.com Situated on the Blisworth Arm.