The Napton And Return From Rugby.php Canal Boating Cruising Route

Pleasant country cruise along the Oxford canal, past the canal village of Braunston to the small village of Napton-on-the-hill where 7 counties can be seen from the top of the hill, along with a lone windmill.

The Napton And Return From Rugby.php cruising route map

Rugby is a large town with many shops and of course is the home of the game of Rugby. It is 30 minutes walk to the town centre. There is a pedestrianised shopping centre and an open market with a town crier.

The Web Ellis Rugby football museum tells the story of the game of Rugby over the last 160 years

As part of your tour of the birthplace of the game be sure to take a walk along the Pathway of Fame, a unique tour which celebrates the history of the game and some of its most notable players.

The town and borough has much more to offer than its unique connection with the famous game. It has links to great literary figures such as Rupert Brooke, Matthew Arnold and Lewis Carroll.

Day 1

From the marina cruise south down the Oxford canal, leaving Rugby behind.

There are shops to the south of bridge 59 and a picnic area below bridge 58 with a huge Tesco supermarket nearby.

Your first & only locks are by Hillmorton and you can stop for the night by Bridge 71 where there is Bardsey's Lock stop Cafe bistro, which is open Wednes-Sat for meals or takeaways & has won awards for the best waterside restaurant.

If your 1st night is a Sunday or Monday, cruise onto Bridge 73,where the Royal oak is canalside.

Cruising hours to Bridge 71 is 1.25 hours

Day 2

You have a lock free cruise today.

After passing under the M45 motorway the canal leaves all civilisation behind, and does not pass any villages until it reaches Braunston Turn. The village of Braunston is set up on a hill to the north of the canal, and is a very well known canal centre. You make a right hand turn along the Grand Union Canal away from Braunston to rejoin the Oxford canal at Napton junction, where you go straight on instead of turning right.

The windmill on top of Napton hill can be seen from Napton Junction, if you cruise on to Bridge 113 there is a water point and The Folly pub is canalside at bridge 113, and there is a useful shop next door. The shops and pubs are at the bottom of the village, but if you want to climb over 400 feet to the top of the hill you can see the 13th century church, and seven counties can be seen from this vantage point.

It is 6 hours cruising to here

You can turn just before the locks before Bridge 113, or before bridge 111.

Day 3

It is just over 6 hours back to Rugby marina