THE UK'S BEST SELF DRIVE CANAL HOLIDAYS AND DAYS OUT ABOARD SUPERB NARROWBOATS
CRUISE OXFORDSHIRE AND THE COTSWOLDS
The South Oxford Canal is one of the prettiest in Britain for a narrowboat short break or holiday. Starting from the City of Oxford, at its junction with the River Thames in Jericho, it soon leaves the city as it passes Duke Cut and winds its way peacefully upstream alongside the River Cherwell almost all the way to Banbury, through classic canalside hamlets and villages such as Thrupp, the Heyfords, Somerton & Aynho. Occasional narrow locks and quaint lift bridges are key features of this lovely canalscape with plenty of opportunity to find a tranquil night’s mooring. The Cotswolds lie directly west of the canal and there are many buildings built of the local Cotswold stone or Ironstone from former quarries nearby. Banbury is the only town along the South Oxford Canal with all facilities and a variety of entertainment. Leaving both Banbury and the River Cherwell, the canal rapidly returns to its rural course, climbing steadily through Cropredy to the final small flight of locks at Claydon to reach one of Britain’s oldest and most scenic summit canal levels as it takes a sinuous course across the remote Warwickshire uplands toward Napton before joining the rest of the canal system at Napton and Braunston Junctions. From these junctions there are links toward London, Warwick & Stratford, Rugby and the Heart of England, or east across the equally pretty Leicester Line of the Grand Union Canal to the east Midlands.
For culture vultures and party animals the sights of Blenheim Place, Oxford, and Banbury might be destinations to aim for but, being a rural canal, if you wish to keep as isolated as possible, you don't even need to leave your boat. There is plenty for everyone to do: sightseeing, walking the towpath, cycling the surrounding country lanes, sampling the many local pubs which serve excellent real ale and food. The South Oxford Canal has some unique diamond-shaped locks and rustic lift bridges (many left open nowadays), none of which are too close together to make you feel like you're working!
Our Lower Heyford base is ideally placed for either a full week's canal holiday covering most of the canal, or a short canal break to Oxford or Cropredy as a weekend or midweek canal break.
WEEKEND BREAKS
A Weekend Break allows you to cruise north to reach Banbury, or south to Oxford – both taking approx.14hrs for the return journey.
MIDWEEK BREAKS
A Midweek Break allows you to cruise north to Cropredy and return in 20hrs. Heading south you could use the extra day to enjoy sightseeing Oxford, or join the River Thames (extra Thames licence required) to reach the lovely riverside town of Abingdon – which is a total of 24hrs cruising.
The Oxford Canal is justifiably considered one of Britain’s finest and is deservedly popular but it never feels overcrowded throughout most of its very rural length. A superb location for a first canal experience…
ONE WEEK
One week, heading north, would comfortably allow you to reach the summit of the Oxford Canal. If you’re keen you could even reach Braunston before returning – but Warwick, Stratford and Rugby are destinations which could only be reached on a two week hire.
One week, heading south would mean that you would reach Oxford after a day or two and thus leave a few days to either sightsee the city or cruise on the River Thames.
TWO WEEKS - THE WARWICK RING
This extended time would allow you to reach Warwick (and its famous Castle) and continue on one of the famous Midlands canal rings into Birmingham by the Grand Union Canal then returning on the Coventry and north Oxford Canals via Tamworth, Atherstone and Rugby. A real adventure for canal enthusiasts this trip includes lots of locks both wide- and narrow-beam together with three tunnels and many, many lovely villages and pubs.