To the end of the Ashby Canal
Monday 3rd January 2022
What an absolutely beautiful day for a cruise. It was cold but lovely and sunny with gorgeous blue skies and we were heading to Snarestone at the end of the Ashby Canal.
We set off at 10.30 from our mooring at Shenton and it was great to see the steam train chugging along the Battlefield Line again. We cruised past Bosworth Marina where there are some lovely houses overlooking the canal and you can moor up before the bridge if you want to walk up to Market Bosworth.
We cruised past Congerstone and just before reaching Shackerstone there is an aqueduct that crosses the River Sence, which eventually finds its way to the North sea. Shackerstone is where the steam train goes to from Shenton and the station is the headquarters of the Battlefield Line.
The countryside views are just stunning today and we were living every minute. Our cruise continued through Gopsall Woods and back in 1741, Handel is said to have spent three weeks composing his masterpiece “The Messiah” in a temple in the grounds of the now demolished Gopsall Hall!
This picture is Pare’s Bridge, where the Ashby & Nuneaton Railway used to cross the canal.
Snarestone Tunnel is just 250 yards long and the canal’s most distinctive engineering feature.
After emerging from the tunnel we passed the remains of a boathouse, which was once very grandly decorated in canal art.
We reached our destination and moored just before the winding hole. If your boat is no more than 52’, you go through a swing bridge and cruise to the end of the navigable part of the Ashby Canal and there is another winding hole there - however it is temporarily closed at the moment.
The canal once continued another eight miles through Measham to Moira, until mining subsidence resulted in its closure. At Moira a length of about 1.5 miles has been restored, including a swing bridge and a lock and work has now started at Snarestone.
This canal is absolutely beautiful- it’s peaceful and relaxing and we are thoroughly enjoying it. There is so much to explore and so many lovely walks - the only downside for me are the really muddy towpaths - but that’s pretty much the same on most canals in this weather!
Map of our Journey
Distance = 8 Miles
Locks = No Locks
Time Taken = 3 hours