Takara Hotel Narrowboat

Cruise 11 Warwick to Droitwich With Florence, Linda and Eric. As we left Warwick we headed up the Hatton Flight of 21 locks. Next we traveled through Shrewley Tunnel passing some lovely countryside before we arrived at Lapworth and joining the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal, heading up the 18 locks towards Hockley Heath, Dickens Heath and King’s Norton going through a guillotine lock. We then turned left headed for Alvechurch going through Wast Hill Tunnel. We next headed towards Tardebigge Flight of 30 locks before turning right onto the Droitwich Canal dropping down 3 deep locks before arriving at our destination. A great time had by all.

Going through Shrewley Tunnel

Cruise 10 Warwick to Warwick via Stratford-upon-Avon with Jean, Ruth, Corby and John. On leaving Warwick at our lovely moorings at Saltisford Arm we traveled up the Hatton flight of 21 locks and through the Shrewley Tunnel. We then turned left onto the Lapworth Link turning left down The Stratford-upon-Avon Canal through 10 locks before arriving in Lowsonford. After another 7 locks we came to Wootton Wawen. Next we traveled across the Edstone Aqueduct before arriving in Wilmcote. Dropping now down the 16 locks into Bancroft Basin in the centre of Stratford-upon-Avon. After spending a night we retraced our way back to Warwick. We had a fun, wet and lovely trip

Cruise 9 Oxford to Warwick Picking up our guests Trevor, Helen and Bethan on the River Thames, we traveled about 1 mile then joined the Oxford Canal at Isis lock having passed through The Sheepwash Channel. We headed north towards Kidlington and the lovely Village of Thrupp arriving at Shipton Lock which has 6 sides plus the 2 gates then we cruise on The River Cherwell. The countryside was beautiful as we travel through the villages of Heyford, Somerton and King’s Sutton. W...e then traveled through the centre of Banbury before getting back into the countryside and the villages of Cropredy and Napton On The Hill where we saw a field of Buffalo 🐃 and a Windmill. We changed canals as we turned left onto the Grand Union Canal which has double locks. We passed a old steam narrow boat Adamant before going through Stockton flight of locks. As we head west towards Warwick crossing the River Avon before arriving at our destination The Saltisford Canal Centre.
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Cruise 8 Newbury to Oxford With Christl, Rhona, Jenny and John On leaving Newbury at the picturesque and friendly Greenham Lock Marina we headed east towards Aldermaston and stopping for the night at Frouds Bridge Marina. Having passed through turf sided lock and lovely countryside with a Mill. We then arrived in Reading and it’s canal boat traffic light system, before turning on the River Thames heading north. Back in the countryside passing some beautiful houses, weirs at... the locks and some grand bridges. Having seen lots of wildlife on the way. We than saw a lovely old boat from the 1920s. On arriving in Oxford having navigated lots of large rowing boats having a regatta, we went up the Oxford Canal passing through the Sheepwash Channel under some lift bridges and small locks, before turning at Duke’s Cut getting back onto the River Thames and going back to the centre of Oxford passing some sailing boats.
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The deep lock at Bath

The Bruce Tunnel near Marlborough

Cruise 7 Bristol to Newbury With Maureen, Arthur, Jenny & John. On leaving Bristol floating harbour and passing the SS Great Britain we headed up the Avon through lovely countryside with weirs at the locks before arriving in Bath. Heading east up the locks onto the Kennet and Avon Canal towards Dundas and Avoncliff Aqueducts, arriving in Bradford-on-Avon passing its Tithe Barn. We then traveled up the famous Caen Hill locks to Devizes. We saw the 2 white horses and I think a Tyrannosaur Rex heading out of Devizes before traveling through the Vale of Pewsey towards Bruce Tunnel and the locks down to Crofton Pumping Station. Heading towards Hungerford through some lovely countryside with swing bridges arriving in Newbury.

A thank you card from our guests this week. Thank you all so much we loved having you on board with us.

Exiting the deep lock at Bath

Cruise 6 Devizes to Bristol Sue & Mike, Gaynor & Judith Having met in Devizes Wharf we started our descent of the Caen Hill Flight of 29 locks, half way down we saw a family of swans with cygnets. We got news of a large boat stuck in a lock so we were hoping they would get the boat out before we got there. We got word that we could carry on as the lock was free. We passed the junction with the old Wilts & Berks Canal on way to Bradford-on-Avon traveling through lovely countr...yside and old buildings. We arrived in Bath dropping down the 6 locks onto The River Avon, one being 19 foot deep. We then traveled on the Avon towards Bristol passing some weirs by the locks. We saw some more swans and cygnets, herons and cormorants going through the valleys before the suburbs of Bristol and the amazing floating harbour passing the SS Great Britain and arriving at our mooring.
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A swing bridge near Bathampton

Cruise 6 Bristol to Devizes Linda, Christine & Michael joined us for a lovely cruise. We passed the SS Great Britain on the way out of Bristols floating harbour, traveled East through some lovely countryside on the River Avon to Bath, where we joined the Canal going up the deep lock on way to Bradford-on-Avon. We went through the beautiful valley of Avoncliff and Dundas Aqueducts. After going through some more locks and swing bridges we arrived at the famous Caen Hill flight of 29 locks before arriving in Devizes Wharf. A great trip was had by all.

Cruise 4 Pewsey to Bristol Had a great week with Gill, Barbara & Graham. We started at Pewsey Wharf traveling through some lovely countryside with 2 chalk white horses on the hills. Had a birthday girl on board so had a cake. We arrived in Devizes and watched the start of the Devizes to Westminster canoe race. We then traveled down the Caen Hill flight of 29 locks which was fun, after going through some swing bridges on way to Semington where the start of the old Wilts & Ber...ks Canal can be seen, we keep traveling west through beautiful countryside towards Bradford-on-Avon followed by the Aqueducts at Avoncliff & Dundas before arriving in Bath, going down a deep lock to join the River Avon. Through Saltford & Keynsham before arriving in Bristol & mooring near the SS Great Britain.
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Swing bridge just outside Hungerford

Cruise 3 Aldermaston to Pewsey via Devizes We picked up Jill, Ruth & Pam and travelled West towards Newbury going through Monkey Marsh Lock with grass sides taking longer to fill, we passed a group of children on canoes doing their Duke of Edinburgh Gold. We then arrived in Hungerford with lots of gongoozlers and an old sign, we travel onwards towards Kintbury and it’s lovely Vicarage, next the Crofton Pumping Station and some ducklings before we enter Bruce Tunnel followed by Burbage Wharf. We now arrive in Pewsey Vale with it’s lovely countryside and hills with 2 Chalk White Horses before we arrive in Devizes and retrace our way back to Pewsey Wharf.

Great start to the season starting from the friendly winter moorings of Frouds Bridge Marina. We headed to Crofton Pump Station traveling through Woolhampton, Thatcham and the town on Newbury. A huge wood carving of a cormorant stood near the lock and kingfishers in the towns gardens. Also the historical Fire Insurance signs on the houses. The first of the season 13 ducklings only just hatched swimming with their mum. Kintbury we saw a swan sitting on her nest and then the town of Hungerford, the historic market town with lots of people milling about. Back in the countryside we went through Little Bedwyn and Great Bedwyn. Arriving at Crofton pump station we retraced our journey back. watching a canoe race of 100+ between Hungerford and Newbury.

Had a pre season trip on the Kennet & Avon Canal to check everything was ok and it went great, the weather was fantastic and the countryside was lovely. Everything ready now for start of the season.