Trips
The Canal and River Trust seem to be slowly removing all the useful information provided by BWB and replacing it with links to external web sites. So far we have lost the individual canal cruising guides, the interactive map and the facilities listings. Their web site now redirects you to other organisations for similar information. Its a sad day when an organisation has to rely on 3rd party information, some of it provided as a hobby, to document its own resources.
For an overview Map of the canals click here Provided by the Inland Waterways Association
For route Planning try canaplan.org.uk provided by Nick.
For Live Location Tracking try Waterexplorer
2019 Initial Planning
2018 cruising over thoughts turn to 2019 and some first ideas on routes and destination.
Starting as usual at Crick Show over the late May bank holiday, though this year as Chelonian is moored at Crick the years cruising will start after the show.
Dates are very approximate at the moment.
Crick to London
End May to Mid June.
Approx 2 - 3 weeks.
South on the Grand Union all the way to Brentford and the junction with the Tidal Thames. Passing Northampton, Milton Keynes, Aylesbury and Watford before arriving at Brentford and the junction with the Tidal Thames.
Possible detour to Aylesbury and the Wendover Arm.
Brentford to Reading
Mid June to End June
Approx 7-10 days
From Brendford onto the Tidal R. Thames to travel with the incoming tide to Teddington at the head of the Tidal river. From Teddington travel iupriver to Reading passing through Richmond, Kingston, Weybridge, Winsor, Slough, Maidenhead, Marlow and Henley before reaching the mouth of the Kennet and Avon canal in Reading.
Reading to Bristol
End June to mid July
Approx 2-3 weeks
West from Reading through Newbury, Pewsey, Devizes, Bath to join the River Avon into Bristol and a mooring in the floating Habour right in the city centre.
Bristol to Reading
mid July to Early Aug
Approx 2-3 weeks returning from Bristol to Reading.
Reading to Cricklade at the Head of the Thames
late Aug - mid Sept
Approximatly 10 days
From Reading rejoin the Thames and head upstream through Pangbourne, Goring, Wallingford, and Oxford then onto the rural upper Thames to Cricklade and the navigable head of the river at the mouth of the Thames and Severn Canal which is under restoration.
Cricklade to Crick
mid Sept to early Oct
Approx 14 days
Returning down the Thames to the Oxford and then back onto the canal system to travel north through Banbury to Napton, then East through Braunston to the Junction with the Leicester line then north to Crick.
This assumes Crick as Winter 2019 mooring. Other options include Cropredy, Fenny Marina or any of the marinas around Napton - Braunston.
