Amber34 Posted August 21, 2010 Report Share Posted August 21, 2010 We're off on our third canal holiday on Tuesday and I can't decide which way we should go. Sadly, we only have a week, so it will be an 'out n back' on either the Trent and Mersey or the River Soar to Market Harborough. Which would you recommend? We're taking our 9 year old so need interesting things to look at, as well as nice places to stop and eat as well as moor. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted August 21, 2010 Report Share Posted August 21, 2010 (edited) We're off on our third canal holiday on Tuesday and I can't decide which way we should go. Sadly, we only have a week, so it will be an 'out n back' on either the Trent and Mersey or the River Soar to Market Harborough. Which would you recommend? We're taking our 9 year old so need interesting things to look at, as well as nice places to stop and eat as well as moor. Thanks Personally I like the river Soar, not sure if you could do Foxton and Back in a week, but it might be worth considering. The route should have a far bit of interest. Ron Route from http://www.canalplan.org.uk Preferred route from Sawley Marina to Sawley Marina via Foxton Bottom Lock River Trent (Western End) From Sawley Marina to: Trent Junction Junction of River Trent, Grand Union Leicester Section and Erewash Canal 1 mile, 1¼ flg, 1 lock Grand Union Canal (Leicester Section - River Soar Navigation) From Trent Junction to: Soar Mouth 0 miles, ½ flg, 0 locks Normanton-on-Soar Wharf 6 miles, 5½ flg, 5 locks Loughborough Branch Junction 2 miles, 3¼ flg, 2 locks Barrow upon Soar Junction Between Barrow upon Soar road bridge and Barrow Deep Lock No 51 3 miles, 5¼ flg, 1 lock Barrow upon Soar Bridge 28. Barrow upon Soar village a quarter of a mile north 0 miles, 3¼ flg, 1 lock Mountsorrel Railway Bridge Also known as 1860 Bridge 1 mile, 3¼ flg, 0 locks Sileby Road Bridge No 24 0 miles, 1 flg, 0 locks Sileby Changline Bridge 0 miles, 5½ flg, 1 lock Junction Lock No 47 2 miles, 5½ flg, 2 locks Syston Bridge No 19 0 miles, 7 flg, 1 lock Thurmaston Lock No 46 Thurmaston on east bank 1 mile, 1¾ flg, 0 locks Memory Lane Wharf 3 miles, 3½ flg, 4 locks Soar Lane Bridge 0 miles, 7¾ flg, 1 lock Leicester Moorings for city between Newarke and West Bridges 0 miles, 4½ flg, 0 locks Great Central Railway Bridge Now the Great Central Way - Route No 6 of the Sustrans National Cycleway 2 miles, 3½ flg, 3 locks River Soar Junction Junction of GU Leicester Section and River Soar Navigation 0 miles, ½ flg, 0 locks Grand Union Canal (Leicester Section - Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Union Canal) From River Soar Junction to: Blaby Bridge No 98 Blaby half a mile south 2 miles, 3 flg, 4 locks South Wigston Crow Mill Bridge No 92. South Wigston on north bank 1 mile, 4¾ flg, 2 locks Kilby Bridge No 87 A50 1 mile, 5 flg, 3 locks Newton Harcourt Newton Church Bridge No 80. Newton Harcourt to the north 2 miles, 2 flg, 7 locks Great Glen Station Bridge No 77. Great Glen village 1 mile north 0 miles, 6¾ flg, 0 locks Fleckney Bridge No 73 Fleckney half a mile west 2 miles, 1½ flg, 5 locks Saddington Tunnel (Northwest end) 0 miles, 2¼ flg, 0 locks Saddington Tunnel (Southeast end) 0 miles, 4½ flg, 0 locks Smeeton Westerby Smeeton Hills Bridge No 70. Smeeton Westerby half a mile north 1 mile, 2 flg, 0 locks Gumley Bridge No 69. Gumley village three-quarters of a mile south 0 miles, 1 flg, 0 locks Foxton Junction Junction of Grand Union Market Harborough Branch with Leicester Section 2 miles, 2½ flg, 0 locks Grand Union Canal (Leicester Section - Old Grand Union) From Foxton Junction to: Foxton Bottom Lock 0 miles, 0 flg, 0 locks Turn round here Foxton Junction Junction of Grand Union Market Harborough Branch with Leicester Section 0 miles, 0 flg, 0 locks Grand Union Canal (Leicester Section - Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Union Canal) From Foxton Junction to: Gumley Bridge No 69. Gumley village three-quarters of a mile south 2 miles, 2½ flg, 0 locks Smeeton Westerby Smeeton Hills Bridge No 70. Smeeton Westerby half a mile north 0 miles, 1 flg, 0 locks Saddington Tunnel (Southeast end) 1 mile, 2 flg, 0 locks Saddington Tunnel (Northwest end) 0 miles, 4½ flg, 0 locks Fleckney Bridge No 73 Fleckney half a mile west 0 miles, 2¼ flg, 0 locks Great Glen Station Bridge No 77. Great Glen village 1 mile north 2 miles, 1½ flg, 5 locks Newton Harcourt Newton Church Bridge No 80. Newton Harcourt to the north 0 miles, 6¾ flg, 0 locks Kilby Bridge No 87 A50 2 miles, 2 flg, 7 locks South Wigston Crow Mill Bridge No 92. South Wigston on north bank 1 mile, 5 flg, 3 locks Blaby Bridge No 98 Blaby half a mile south 1 mile, 4¾ flg, 2 locks River Soar Junction Junction of GU Leicester Section and River Soar Navigation 2 miles, 3 flg, 4 locks Grand Union Canal (Leicester Section - River Soar Navigation) From River Soar Junction to: Great Central Railway Bridge Now the Great Central Way - Route No 6 of the Sustrans National Cycleway 0 miles, ½ flg, 0 locks Leicester Moorings for city between Newarke and West Bridges 2 miles, 3½ flg, 3 locks Soar Lane Bridge 0 miles, 4½ flg, 0 locks Memory Lane Wharf 0 miles, 7¾ flg, 1 lock Thurmaston Lock No 46 Thurmaston on east bank 3 miles, 3½ flg, 3 locks Syston Bridge No 19 1 mile, 1¾ flg, 1 lock Junction Lock No 47 0 miles, 7 flg, 0 locks Sileby Changline Bridge 2 miles, 5½ flg, 3 locks Sileby Road Bridge No 24 0 miles, 5½ flg, 1 lock Mountsorrel Railway Bridge Also known as 1860 Bridge 0 miles, 1 flg, 0 locks Barrow upon Soar Bridge 28. Barrow upon Soar village a quarter of a mile north 1 mile, 3¼ flg, 0 locks Barrow upon Soar Junction Between Barrow upon Soar road bridge and Barrow Deep Lock No 51 0 miles, 3¼ flg, 1 lock Loughborough Branch Junction 3 miles, 5¼ flg, 1 lock Normanton-on-Soar Wharf 2 miles, 3¼ flg, 2 locks Soar Mouth 6 miles, 5½ flg, 5 locks Trent Junction Junction of River Trent, Grand Union Leicester Section and Erewash Canal 0 miles, ½ flg, 0 locks River Trent (Western End) From Trent Junction to: Sawley Marina 1 mile, 1¼ flg, 1 lock Total distance is 88 miles, 3¾ flg and 86 locks. There are at least 2 tunnels. This is made up of 0 miles, ¼ furlongs of narrow canals; 30 miles, 5¾ furlongs of broad canals; 57 miles, 5¾ furlongs of small rivers; 44 broad locks. This will take 47 hours, 32 minutes which is 6 days, 5 hours and 32 minutes at 7 hours per day. For calculation purposes this is taken as 7 days. Overnight stopping places This is calculated based on 7 full days travelling. Each full day will be approximately 6 hours and 47 minutes travelling. First day of trip On the Grand Union Canal (Leicester Section - River Soar Navigation), at Meadow Farm Marina, Barrow-upon-Soar (a third of the way between Barrow upon Soar and Mountsorrel Railway Bridge) 14 miles, 7¾ flg and 10 locks. Second day of trip On the Grand Union Canal (Leicester Section - River Soar Navigation), at Freestone Bridge No 106 13 miles, 5¾ flg and 12 locks. Third day of trip On the Grand Union Canal (Leicester Section - Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Union Canal), at Newton Harcourt 8 miles, 4¾ flg and 17 locks. Fourth day of trip On the Grand Union Canal (Leicester Section - Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Union Canal), at Great Glen 14 miles, 2 flg and 10 locks. Fifth day of trip On the Grand Union Canal (Leicester Section - River Soar Navigation), at Aylestone Mill Lock No 39 (just past Great Central Railway Bridge ) 9 miles, 3¼ flg and 16 locks. Sixth day of trip On the Grand Union Canal (Leicester Section - River Soar Navigation), at Meadow Farm Marina, Barrow-upon-Soar (two thirds of the way between Mountsorrel Railway Bridge and Barrow upon Soar) 13 miles, 1 flg and 12 locks. Seventh day of trip On the River Trent (Western End), at Sawley Marina 15 miles, 3 flg and 10 locks. Edited August 21, 2010 by Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Maestro Posted August 21, 2010 Report Share Posted August 21, 2010 We're off on our third canal holiday on Tuesday and I can't decide which way we should go. Sadly, we only have a week, so it will be an 'out n back' on either the Trent and Mersey or the River Soar to Market Harborough. Which would you recommend? We're taking our 9 year old so need interesting things to look at, as well as nice places to stop and eat as well as moor. Thanks I would plump for the T&M. It's better maintained so mooring is easier and the locks work better. I couldn't move some Soar locks [single handed] and had to wait for help from other boaters or passers by. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amber34 Posted August 22, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2010 Thanks for your opinions - I guessed they would be mixed The dodgy locks on the Soar do concern me a bit, although there are two of us, I generally do the locks. The industrial aspect of the T&M appeals a bit, although my partner is now trying to convince me we could do the whole ring in a week . Although we generally like long days, I am not for convincing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight Rider Posted August 22, 2010 Report Share Posted August 22, 2010 If you want something interesting/different, do the Soar. I'm not sure that I would want to take on Sawley to Market Harborough & return in a week, but each to his own. Also bear in mind that a couple of days of heavy rain can put the Soar in flood. Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickfryer Posted August 22, 2010 Report Share Posted August 22, 2010 We're off on our third canal holiday on Tuesday and I can't decide which way we should go. Sadly, we only have a week, so it will be an 'out n back' on either the Trent and Mersey or the River Soar to Market Harborough. Which would you recommend? We're taking our 9 year old so need interesting things to look at, as well as nice places to stop and eat as well as moor. Thanks Were just back today from doing Redhill to Market Harborough and back, lovely trip, no long days apart from going through leicester. Did the trip in 8 days easily, it was a good trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redeye Posted August 24, 2010 Report Share Posted August 24, 2010 <!--quoteo(post=574679:date=Aug 21 2010, 05:57 PM:name=Amber34)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Amber34 @ Aug 21 2010, 05:57 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=574679"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->We're off on our third canal holiday on Tuesday and I can't decide which way we should go. Sadly, we only have a week, so it will be an 'out n back' on either the Trent and Mersey or the River Soar to Market Harborough. Which would you recommend? We're taking our 9 year old so need interesting things to look at, as well as nice places to stop and eat as well as moor. Thanks<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> Were just back today from doing Redhill to Market Harborough and back, lovely trip, no long days apart from going through leicester. Did the trip in 8 days easily, it was a good trip. We are doing Braunston back to Shardlow next week via the Soar, I think its a great waterway and really enjoy it. My vote goes for the Soar unless it lashes down for the rest of the week! Cheers Redeye Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted August 24, 2010 Report Share Posted August 24, 2010 In case of bored moments for 9 year old take plenty of stale bread to feed Ducks. ... entertainment for all ages! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amber34 Posted September 1, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2010 Well, despite our decision to take the Soar, the hire company were not having it as the rain had caused the river to rise and they were concerned that any more rain could mean we wouldn't get back in time, so we set off up the T & M. We stocked up on bread at 30p a loaf at Aldi in Rugeley and our 9 year old was rationed to 2 loaves a day for duck feeding - mostly all gone by lunchtime! We passed the Ash Tree just after the thefts and OH was quite proud to be filmed by the local TV crew as we passed under the bridge, although completely forgot to watch TV at 6 pm to see if he was famous! We realised that the map given to us by the hire company wouldn't see us for many days so reverted to the laptop and CanalPlanner and decided to nip off at Great Haywood along the Staff and Worcs. From there our sense of adventure took over and we managed to make it down to the BCN Main line, the Birmingham and Fazeley, back up the Coventry and back along the T&M, reaching Sawley Marina with 15 minutes to spare before our hire period ended!! It was jolly hard work but we managed to stop off each day for a lunchtime drink and a meal in the evening. I just need a week off now to get over the 115 locks! Spotted this (just in time) at Minworth, under the bridge just above the top lock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooby Posted September 3, 2010 Report Share Posted September 3, 2010 Well, despite our decision to take the Soar, the hire company were not having it as the rain had caused the river to rise and they were concerned that any more rain could mean we wouldn't get back in time, so we set off up the T & M. We stocked up on bread at 30p a loaf at Aldi in Rugeley and our 9 year old was rationed to 2 loaves a day for duck feeding - mostly all gone by lunchtime! We passed the Ash Tree just after the thefts and OH was quite proud to be filmed by the local TV crew as we passed under the bridge, although completely forgot to watch TV at 6 pm to see if he was famous! We realised that the map given to us by the hire company wouldn't see us for many days so reverted to the laptop and CanalPlanner and decided to nip off at Great Haywood along the Staff and Worcs. From there our sense of adventure took over and we managed to make it down to the BCN Main line, the Birmingham and Fazeley, back up the Coventry and back along the T&M, reaching Sawley Marina with 15 minutes to spare before our hire period ended!! It was jolly hard work but we managed to stop off each day for a lunchtime drink and a meal in the evening. I just need a week off now to get over the 115 locks! Spotted this (just in time) at Minworth, under the bridge just above the top lock. must be a fishing trip....lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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