RIVER SOAR & GRAND UNION (Leics Section):
The
River Soar Navigation flows into the River Trent just south and west
of Nottingham, and forms part of an alternative route south from the River
Trent to link up with the Grand Union main line just south of
Braunston. Travelling South the first part of the river
navigation would be charming with short lock cuts bypassing
natural river weirs ('would be' due to the spoiling effect of
the pylons and low flying aircraft). The navigation takes us south to
Leicester, where mooring spots do have to be chosen very carefully to
avoid vandals (we would cruise this route more frequently, where it
not for Leicester).
Once clear of
Leicester, travelling south now on the Grand Union (Leics Sect), it's a
totally different matter and we return to
pleasant rural scenes. It's very much (we are told) the way that the
English countryside used to look decades ago - we've personally seen
water voles patrolling the reed banks, grass snakes looking for
water borne prey, and dragonflies and damselflies abound. And
it's like that virtually all the way, for about 30 miles, south to
its junction with the main line at Norton Junction - outstanding if
you want a rural meandering canal which seems closer to nature than
human habitation.
Then
there's the interest of Foxton with it's two five rise staircase
lock systems, and adjacent planned inclined plane. Whilst
passing we would pay a visit to Market Harborough via the Harborough
Arm. South from Foxton the attractive Welford Arm wouldn't,
and shouldn't, be missed (it's charming and allows for a 'wildlife
visit' to the nearby reservoirs). On the long lockless stretch between
Foxton and Watford any villages seem to keep their distance from the
river-like meandering course of the canal. On our last visit
we did visit Yelvertoft village, lured by the promise of a shop,
pub, and butcher's. The shop sold home baked bread, and only
'locals' could be seen. After two tunnels, and almost as a copy of
Foxton, there's the Watford Locks further south. Almost
as soon as we drop down Watford (as in 'Watford Gap') we hear and
see motorway, trunk roads, and railway - we are about to join the Grand Union
main line at Norton Junction near to Buckby, famous
for it's narrowboat roof water cans.
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Reed lined and
almost 'river like' - the rural vista on the Grand Union (Leics
Section) is stunningly remote. |
The Basin at Market
Harborough - could start/end location for one of our cruises. |
As Willow descends the
Foxton staircase(s), the ever present 'gongoozlers' look on. |
Now heading up the
secluded Welford Arm. |
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Welford Lock takes us
up to the summit pound for the whole of the Grand Union. |
Yelvertoft - a village
attractively slumbering in the past....... |
....... complete with
village pump. |
Near Yelvertoft,
dragonflies still abound. |
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Water point & services
at attractive Crick wharf. |
Watford Locks (not as
big as Foxton but can takes some time) |
Watford Locks from the
bottom - moor here and book your ascent with the lock keepers. |
Entering the calm of
the Leicester Section of the Grand Union off the busy GU main line. |
This route south from the Trent
would be part of an excellent cruise ring, by then turning north on the
Grand Union main
line to Braunston - then north on the North Oxford - then north continuing
to the Trent & Mersey via the Coventry. I say 'would' because of
two main drawbacks - firstly, the time that it would take (about 2 weeks and most clients
don't have that time available to them) - and then, secondly, there's Leicester
........
....... But we do have an alternative to doing the full ring - to
overcome the drawbacks. Our recommendation is a rural cruise from
Market Harborough (staying south east of urban Leicester) to Foxton; then south west
on the rural Grand Union (Leics Section) to Norton Junction; then north on the Grand
Union Main Line to Braunston. After Braunston there are number of
good options, depending on your time available (eg Ashby Canal).
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