From Gayton Marina to where ?

[Spyder]

Hi, we are taking 2 boats from Gayton for 6 days a 45 and 55 foot. We were thinking of going as far up the Ashby as possible. Would this be too optimistic ? We are used to cruising for 7-8 hours a day weather permitting.

The other options are Coventry and Market Harborough. Any suggestions either way and is there some really good places to eat and moor on the way-we will have 4 11/12 year olds with us as well.

 

Any advise would be most welcome.

[ditchcrawler]

Hi, we are taking 2 boats from Gayton for 6 days a 45 and 55 foot. We were thinking of going as far up the Ashby as possible. Would this be too optimistic ? We are used to cruising for 7-8 hours a day weather permitting.

The other options are Coventry and Market Harborough. Any suggestions either way and is there some really good places to eat and moor on the way-we will have 4 11/12 year olds with us as well.

 

Any advise would be most welcome.

I would suggest turning round at Coventry and visit the Transport Museum

[OldGoat]

What about a blast down the Nene.

It's a lovely river and the locks are broad so you can breast up, more fun than waiting at each lock for the other boat to finish.

 

The first set of narrow locks looks a bit challenging but are OK if you work as a team.

[adam1uk]

What about a blast down the Nene.

It's a lovely river and the locks are broad so you can breast up, more fun than waiting at each lock for the other boat to finish.

 

The first set of narrow locks looks a bit challenging but are OK if you work as a team.

 

 

Your logic seems a bit strange, given that there are 17 narrow locks before you reach the Nene. If they go to Coventry or up the Ashby it's mostly broad locks, with just the 3 at Hillmorton and the Hawkesbury stop lock being narrow.

[Spyder]

Your logic seems a bit strange, given that there are 17 narrow locks before you reach the Nene. If they go to Coventry or up the Ashby it's mostly broad locks, with just the 3 at Hillmorton and the Hawkesbury stop lock being narrow.

 

Well if i wasn't confused before. To be honest I had not given much thought to breasting up, as we have always gone out on our own before, but time will be short and this will make a huge difference.

We also do not want a route without locks as that is afterall half the fun

 

So in light of that will Coventry or Market harbourgh be any different ?

[OldGoat]

Your logic seems a bit strange, given that there are 17 narrow locks before you reach the Nene. If they go to Coventry or up the Ashby it's mostly broad locks, with just the 3 at Hillmorton and the Hawkesbury stop lock being narrow.

 

 

The logic - if ther was any logic, is that the Northampton flight is closely spaced so they could work two boats as a team. Getting on to the nene the boats could breast up and remain so, for the rest of the journey and back to the bottom of the narrow flight. The nene is broad throughtout, so a breasted pair shouldn't inconvenience other boaters. Less stress all around and the Nene doesn't get the use it deserves. The two boats then work as one big party - better for social interraction

 

Going to the Ashby / Coventry it only makes sense - especially for inexperienced boaters - to breast up for the two flights and untie for the tunnel and the rest of the trip.

 

 

It's a different approach that's all.

 

Well if i wasn't confused before. To be honest I had not given much thought to breasting up, as we have always gone out on our own before, but time will be short and this will make a huge difference.

We also do not want a route without locks as that is afterall half the fun

 

So in light of that will Coventry or Market harbourgh be any different ?

 

Both canals are essentially narrow (the relatively short length of the GU is effectively narrow due to traffic and silting).

 

Only the first flight could be breasted up.

The GU to MH is narrow and Watford and Foxton locks are narrow as well.

 

There are more locks on the Leicester arm to MH, but apart from the waiting at each flight you whistle through. Perhaps if you went to Leicseter (lots of broad locks), you could breast up below Foxston.

[adam1uk]

Well if i wasn't confused before. To be honest I had not given much thought to breasting up, as we have always gone out on our own before, but time will be short and this will make a huge difference.

We also do not want a route without locks as that is afterall half the fun

 

So in light of that will Coventry or Market harbourgh be any different ?

 

Both the Coventry and Market Harborough routes have their plusses, but I'd choose Market Harborough. You'll be able to breast up to go up the Buckby flight, but after you've turned onto the Leicester Line the locks are narrow. However, because most of the locks at Watford and all of them at Foxton are staircases, the two boats will be able to follow each other without having to turn locks. Foxton particularly is worth the journey on its own. It's true that there's a long lock-free section between Watford and Foxton, but it's much more pleasant than the long lock-free section on the North Oxford.

 

When are you going? The time of year will have an impact on opening times for Watford and Foxton.

[Spyder]

Both the Coventry and Market Harborough routes have their pluses, but I'd choose Market Harborough. You'll be able to breast up to go up the Buckby flight, but after you've turned onto the Leicester Line the locks are narrow. However, because most of the locks at Watford and all of them at Foxton are staircases, the two boats will be able to follow each other without having to turn locks. Foxton particularly is worth the journey on its own. It's true that there's a long lock-free section between Watford and Foxton, but it's much more pleasant than the long lock-free section on the North Oxford.

 

When are you going? The time of year will have an impact on opening times for Watford and Foxton.

 

Thank you for all your replies gentlemen, all are greatly appreciated.

We are leaving tomorrow afternoon/Friday morning. Are some of the locks closed earlier this time of the year ?

[adam1uk]

Thank you for all your replies gentlemen, all are greatly appreciated.

We are leaving tomorrow afternoon/Friday morning. Are some of the locks closed earlier this time of the year ?

 

Watford and Foxton have a lock keeper, at least until the end of October. After that, the opening hours are usually shorter, although I'm struggling to find what they are. However, from 29-31 October, they're doing some work at Watford Locks which means they're closing at 2pm each day.

[Spyder]

Thanks again for all the replies . We opted for Coventry today after a late start . Will get to Wilton and Buckley locks first thing in the morning and hopefully sleep over at Willoughby on Saturday.