Joys of European Caravanning

Subtitle

LEICESTERSHIRE AND NORTHAMPTONSHIRE.                                                                                                                                                                      Places to visit if perhaps spending sometime in these Counties on a CL of which there are many located in the two Counties.  Not having stopped on any I cannot really recommend any.

 

VISITS TO PLACES OF INTEREST ON THE GRAND UNION CANAL. You can download a good App of the Canal & River Trust on IOS or Android which is excellent giving you places to visit all over England.

 

Foxton Locks near to Market Harborough, Leics.

These are situated just outside Harborough off the A6 Leicester Road.  There are 10 Locks in the Flight and very picturesque too.  Two Places to eat there and a short Canal Trip for £4 per person good but boat rather shabby.  Website here   Photos below.

 

 

Overview as you come over the Bridge from the Car park which is £2. for 4 hours and very well worth the money.  This is the basin with branches to Market Harborough, Leicester and up the Locks to Northampton.

The Inn and Restaurant.   Bottom Lock, Gumley Road, Foxton, LE16 7RA  Telephone No. 0116 279 1515  email:-foxtonlocks@btinternet.com 

 

Inside the Inn.

The Bottom Lock, Pub and Shop.

View to the Bridge and Canal to Leicester.  Barge waiting to enter the First Lock and then up the other 9 to Northampton.

View up the Last Locks and the Lockkeepers Office and House. 

The Whole Flight.

Info for Union Wharf.

Day Boat Hire at the Wharf is:-                                                                                                                                                                                                                            £140 per day per Weekday.                                                                                        £180 per day at Weekends and Bank Holidays.                                                                                                                                                                                                          This covers full training, insurance, diesel and VAT and use of boat between 9.30 am and 5 pm..  GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE.                                                

To Book you can call the Office to check availability. Then reserve your date with a 50% deposit (non-refundable) payable by cash, credit or debit card.

                                                                                                                                   Union Wharf is situated to the North end of the High Stree in Market Harborough near to the Police Station.  Market Harborough is 4 miles north of Junction 2 of the A14 and 10 miles east of Junction 20 of the M1.                                                                                                                                                                           The Day Boats are short Narrow Boats and are fully equipped with tableware for 12 persons.  There is also a gas hob and grill, running water, an electric cool box. a heater and toilet.  Life Jackets available for anybody 12 years or under.  

Telephone Number 01858 432123 .  Post Code LE16 7UW.    

email:- unionwharfboats@gmail.com 

 

Union Wharf.  Where you can hire small and large Barges for the Day or Week to sail up to Foxton.  The Wharf is situated just outside Harborough on the right off Leicester Road.  There is a nice Restaurant there that opens at 12 noon for Coffee, Lunch or Dinner.

Market Harborough is a thriving Town with an old Market Building and an  Indoor Market.                                                                                             Photo Old Market Building.

CANAL MUSEUM, STOKE BRUERNE, Nr Towcester, Northamptonshire,     NN12 7SE  Carpark £3 all day. 

A very interesting place to visit for Dog Walking Cycling, Pond Dipping and Walking.

Boat Trips by the Stoke Bruerne Boat Co.  For a trip into the tunnel and back. Website here 

Refreshments:

The Boat Inn, Pub with Food overlooking the canal: Website here 

The Navigation Inn Canal side Pub.  Website here 

The Museum Cafe in the Museum and Shop. Website here 

There is a Picnic Spot with Table outside the Museum.

Trails.  Audio Trail can be purchased from the Museum.

 

 

Photo's  The Lock, Cottages and Museum far right of the picture

 

 

 

This is the barge you can take a trip up to, just into tunnel, reverse out, and back to the Village on.  £3 per person, well worth it and beautiful barge which is well kept and pristine.

 

The Entrance to Blisworth Tunnel, 2.81 miles long, no lights,  just room for two narrow boats to pass.