| The Grand Union is truly Grand Canal featuring wide | | | | Blisworth. Blisworth Tunnel boats are based here, and |
| locks, a variety of scenery, plus classic villages such | | | | this is where our boat Stella was based for 2 happy |
| as Braunston, Stoke Bruerne and Nether Heyford. | | | | years. There is water available, and pump out facilities |
| The Central section of the Grand Union Canal carries | | | | as well. |
| the traveler from Braunston, to the Milton Keynes. | | | | The lovely village of Blisworth, with its attractive |
| Braunston sits atop the hill surveying the surrounding | | | | sandstone buildings is dominated by the lovely church, |
| Northamptonshire countryside. The locks are nicely | | | | and has some attractive sandstone buildings. In the |
| spaced out, and well maintained, so are easy to | | | | main street is a general store with off license, |
| operate. There is plenty of room in the ponds | | | | newsagent, and supplies. Moorings are plentiful, best |
| between for maneuvering around oncoming boats. | | | | ones being right opposite the boat yard. The splendid |
| Braunston Village is as delightful a village as one will | | | | building beside the boatyard was a corn mill, and was |
| find. Strolling through the main street never ceases to | | | | used by the Grand Union Carrying Company as a |
| be a pleasant experience. A fine, typically friendly | | | | depot. They are now flats. But Blisworth is most |
| butcher, Village stores, and one of the best pubs | | | | famous for its tunnel. At 3,076 yards long this some |
| around, The Old Plough. Try enjoying a fine pint by | | | | tunnel! As with Braunston Tunnel, two boats can pass |
| the open fire, or if the weather is fine, out the back | | | | in the tunnel, but it is a nervy experience trying to |
| to the beer garden. Braunston, being a busy cruising | | | | cling to the right, avoiding the occasional drenching |
| location, has its own Mariner, located under a fine | | | | from above, as another boat slowly edges towards |
| Horseley Ironworks bridge. Although a busy part of | | | | you. Luminous arrows in the ceiling indicate when you |
| the canal, good mooring spots can usually be found | | | | have passed the half way mark, and it is with relief |
| along the towpath here, from bridge 93, to just | | | | that you finally exit into the bright light at Stoke |
| before bridge 2. From here you can head up to | | | | Bruerne. As Pearson's states, Stoke Bruerne is a |
| Braunston across the bridge, walk to the mariner, or | | | | canal town without equal. We wouldn't argue, and |
| stroll to either the Admiral Nelson, or Mill House. | | | | despite all the publicity and tourist attention, maintains |
| Braunston Tunnel is 2,046 yards long. It is wide | | | | its unique quiet personality. Moor between the tunnel |
| enough for two boats to pass. It is a weird feeling | | | | and museum, take your time and enjoy Stoke |
| watching the lights of another boat slowly drawing | | | | Bruerne. The Boat Museum, with its gift shop housed |
| closer to you, while trying to keep your own boat | | | | in yet another old corn mill, sits with a group of |
| clinging to the right hand wall. | | | | equally handsome buildings along the towpath. An |
| Just to make things more interesting, Braunston | | | | interesting selection of craft are tied up there, usually |
| Tunnel has a small kink halfway along, but we couldn't | | | | including "Sculptor" |
| spot it. If you have time, moor by bridge 6, just out | | | | Opposite, the Boat Inn, the subject of many canal |
| of the tunnel, and walk in to Welton. Well worth the | | | | postcards and photographs. There is a handy little |
| pleasant stroll. At Norton Junction the canal branches | | | | shop by the Boat as well. Also, just past all that |
| off to the left, to the Leicester Section. We bear | | | | activity, is the Navigation in a fine old stone building. |
| south and prepare for the Buckby Flight, with some | | | | The two locks at Stoke Bruerne, are followed by the |
| pretty heavy locks. The double locks of the Buckby | | | | five Stoke locks. They are wide, double locks and we |
| Flight drop us down 63ft and stretch over a mile and | | | | were often able to move through them often using |
| a half. Whilton Chandlery is at the bottom, selling a | | | | only one gate. From here, it's a lock free cruise |
| good range of supplies, and the delightful Anchor | | | | through the Northamptonshire countryside, to |
| Cottage Crafts is always fun to visit between | | | | Cosgrove. The only town to tempt us along here |
| bridges 12 and 13. Accompanied by the railway on | | | | was Yardley Gobion, a lovely village with thatched |
| one side, and the M1 on the other, it is an interesting | | | | roofed honey stone brick houses. At Thrupp Wharf |
| cruise in to the town of Weedon Bec. Good mooring | | | | is the Navigation Cruising club, right next to the |
| spots here near the underpass and church. Weedon | | | | Navigation Hotel. Try relaxing in the rear dining room |
| is an interesting village, in two halves. The main | | | | overlooking the canal and surrounding countryside. |
| street, down from bridge 24, is filled with antique | | | | Superb! Best mooring spots are just opposite the |
| shops and a few pubs. But we found the other | | | | pub, and are often occupied. |
| Weedon much more appealing. The underpass by the | | | | The much photographed Solomon's Bridge welcomes |
| embankment leads to village shops including a chemist | | | | the traveler to Cosgrove. There are good mooring |
| and general store, butcher, and a couple of pubs. Not | | | | spots here out the front of the Barley Mow, and |
| too far down the canal away from the railway, is | | | | right along the opposite bank. A row of poplars |
| Stow Hill. Here is Stow Hill Marine, builders of fine | | | | extend along one bank, while a tunnel runs under the |
| looking narrow boats, a few examples of which | | | | canal from the off side to the Barley Mow. No shops |
| (William and Anne) are moored there. There are good | | | | here that we could find, but there is a kiosk by the |
| mooring spots here, nice and close to the very cozy | | | | caravan park. The peaceful quiet of the countryside |
| Narrowboat Inn And a nice rear garden overlooks the | | | | soon disappears as one enters the outskirts of Milton |
| canal as well. A lovely surprise is the village of Nether | | | | Keynes. Wolverton comes as a bit of a shock, as |
| Heyford, a short walk from bridge 32. Two great | | | | there was a lot of construction going on, but a far |
| pubs, a hairdresser, general store, another friendly | | | | from unpleasant experience, and an interesting |
| butcher, and large village green. It's a pleasant cruise | | | | change. The old Railway Works is remembered by |
| down to Bugbrooke, wide canal, and interesting | | | | illustrations on walls. At New Bradwell, the New Inn |
| scenery. Bugbrooke is a fair walk from the canal, but | | | | looked interesting. We were pleasantly surprised by |
| again, well worth the effort. It is an attractive village, | | | | Milton Keynes. Lovely wide canal, nice homes, good |
| with ochre colored houses, a news agency come | | | | mooring spots, and a couple of nice pubs. |
| general store and off license there. Plenty of mooring | | | | We moored by Bridge 81 and had a day looking |
| here near bridge 36. | | | | around the shops and enjoying a couple of the pubs. |
| The Wharf, just opposite, offers Frog Island, and | | | | The large shopping centre was superb, and we |
| garden area overlooking the canal. A very friendly | | | | bought a new video cam-corder there. There is |
| atmosphere with canal pictures on the walls, and | | | | plenty of open space and it is a nice place to get out |
| great meals. From Bugbrooke it is an easy cruise | | | | and walk. It is a very picturesque run through to |
| down to Gayton Junction If you are feeling really fit, | | | | stoke Hammond. This little village is reached from |
| take a stroll up the hill to Gayton. Moor by bridge 45, | | | | bridge 106, and it is a handy spot to grab a few |
| cross the bridge, and head over the field where you | | | | supplies from the Super Store. There is more magic |
| will be rewarded with a charming, rural village. Fine | | | | scenery cruising down to Soulbury locks, lovely |
| buildings (Gayton Manor, and Gayton House to name | | | | homes, grazing cattle, birdlife and the occasional |
| but 2). At Gayton Junction, the Northampton arm | | | | aggressive swan. The lovely, much photographed |
| heads off to the left to join the River Nene. We | | | | Globe in waits at Old Linslade. And so to Leighton |
| took one look at the 17 or so locks heading down | | | | Buzzard, where we had to visit just to see what a |
| the canal, and decided to take the bus to | | | | town with a name like that was like! It is a pleasant |
| Northampton instead! There is plenty of activity | | | | town, with friendly people, good shopping, attractive |
| around Gayton Junction, with boats moored along | | | | buildins and plenty of moorings. From here we |
| both sides of the canal and Alvechurch Boats hire | | | | headed back to Blisworth, bit the Grand Union |
| fleet base just down the Northampton arm. The new | | | | continues on to London through Berkhampton, and |
| mariner is on the right, as the canal heads towards | | | | Bulls Bridge. |