Ashby
Canal:(Adjacent
canals can be viewed with
the above links)
We recommend the use of the Ashby as one end of a cruise between the Ashby and (say) Market Harborough on the Grand Union (Leics Section). Now that is a delightful cruise - but we probably wouldn't recommend the Ashby as a cruising area just in it's own right......unless you have a particular interest in it's wildlife, or perhaps want to use Willow as a base for countryside walks. (We do set out to be honest/candid with our views and impressions of the canals). There are those who rave about the Ashby, for it’s rural remoteness. There is no doubt that this canal, without locks, winds it’s way backwards and forwards through a gentle and very peaceful, reed banked, rural setting. Given that one gets good weather, this can be stunning with dragonflies, grass snakes, and even water voles - but, if it should be wet and windy, there's nothing much else to look at, other than the wind blowing the reeds. There would still be a visit to the Bosworth Field Battlefield Centre, and the steam railway which runs alongside the canal for some distance but, basing a full weeks cruising on this canal, might be a bit of a risk.
We recommend the use of the Ashby as one end of a cruise between the Ashby and (say) Market Harborough on the Grand Union (Leics Section). Now that is a delightful cruise - but we probably wouldn't recommend the Ashby as a cruising area just in it's own right......unless you have a particular interest in it's wildlife, or perhaps want to use Willow as a base for countryside walks. (We do set out to be honest/candid with our views and impressions of the canals). There are those who rave about the Ashby, for it’s rural remoteness. There is no doubt that this canal, without locks, winds it’s way backwards and forwards through a gentle and very peaceful, reed banked, rural setting. Given that one gets good weather, this can be stunning with dragonflies, grass snakes, and even water voles - but, if it should be wet and windy, there's nothing much else to look at, other than the wind blowing the reeds. There would still be a visit to the Bosworth Field Battlefield Centre, and the steam railway which runs alongside the canal for some distance but, basing a full weeks cruising on this canal, might be a bit of a risk.
The nearby site of the Battle of Bosworth Field and it’s visitor
Battlefield centre does provide some welcome interest and it is very
much worth a visit - the walk up to the Battlefield visitor centre,
through Albion Wood from the visitor moorings at Sutton Cheyney,
doesn't take long (the path is excellent) and it's a very pleasant
stroll through the woods. A lot of hard work has gone into the centre
to make it attractive and interesting - particularly with their Ambion
Parva - a replica Medieval Village currently under construction. The
village includes timber framed buildings that are replicas of
vernacular homes, those for the common people, that would have been
used between the 13th and 15th centuries.
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| Bridge 1 (above left) on the Ashby heading into, reed lined, remote rural canal, from its starting point off the Coventry canal at Marston Junction....then (above right) at Bridge 39 on the Ashby - the scenery has hardly changed but still reed lined, remote rural canal. | Path from Bosworth Battlefield Centre down to the Ashby through Albion wood (very pleasant short walk). | Pretty moorings at Stoke Golding | ||
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| Views of the Bosworth Battle Centre. | The battle banner of King Richard III still flies above Bosworth Field (but the wind wouldn't blow it out straight for the photo). | From the hill by Albion Wood, Richard III broke ranks from his force and rode downhill to personally kill his rival Henry Tudor, who had assembled with his own men in Bosworth Field below. Richard was cut down, only feet before reaching his target. | ||
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