Basingstoke Canal Cruise Timings

[RichLech]

Thinking of doing the Basingstoke mid-May this year and seeking advice on timing given that locks/flights are only open at certain times and that passage may not be so easy in places.

 

This year the Woodham and St Johns flights will be open Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun and the Brookwood and Deepcut flights Fri & Mon (or Wed with 7 days notice).

 

So, is it sensible to aim to go through the Woodham and St Johns locks (total 11) on one day or is this too ambitious? I note you need to exit St Johns by 1500. We generally like to cruise about 6 hours a day, but at a relaxed pace.

 

 

Moving on to the Brookwood and Deepcut flights (total 17 locks) that are only open Fri and Mon, is it practical to do this is one day? Again I note that Deepcut must be exited by 1500.

 

We would buy a one week licence so it wouldn't matter if we took two consecutive days to get through Woodham & St Johns but I don't really want to be stuck between Brookwood & Deepcut for 2 or 3 days.

 

So is it sensible to aim for :

 

Sat/Sun Woodham & St Johns

 

Mon Brookwood & Deepcut

 

Tues/Wed/Thurs to Odiham Castle and back to Deepcut

 

Fri Brookwood & Deepcut

 

Sat/Sun Woodham & St Johns

 

Looks as though this would fit within a one week licence period (max 9 days according to the Basingstoke canal website).

 

Any advice from people who have recently cruised the Basingstoke will be most welcome.

[Leo No2]

Contact Byfleet boat Club - there's an organised trip going up the Basingstoke in May - enquiries at byfleetboatclub dot com.

 

Or I can PM you a contact number if you wish.

[NBDensie]

Our itinerary early July last year...

 

Sat: Woodham Locks, moored near Chertsey Road Bridge

Sun: St Johns Locks, good mooring 1/4 mile before Brookwood Locks

Mon: Brookwood & Deepcut Locks, moored at Mytchett Canal Centre

Tue: Odiham Wharf

Wed: End of navigation/Odiham Castle (lovely spot and good moorings) then back to near Eelmoor Bridge : good moorings at end of main Farnborough runway

Thur: Frimley Lodge Park - good moorings

Fri: Deepcut & Brookwood locks, moored at Sundays moorings.

Sat: Day off

Sun: St Johns & Woodham Locks

[Mike on the Wey]

Thinking of doing the Basingstoke mid-May this year and seeking advice on timing given that locks/flights are only open at certain times and that passage may not be so easy in places.

 

This year the Woodham and St Johns flights will be open Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun and the Brookwood and Deepcut flights Fri & Mon (or Wed with 7 days notice).

 

So, is it sensible to aim to go through the Woodham and St Johns locks (total 11) on one day or is this too ambitious? I note you need to exit St Johns by 1500. We generally like to cruise about 6 hours a day, but at a relaxed pace.

 

 

Moving on to the Brookwood and Deepcut flights (total 17 locks) that are only open Fri and Mon, is it practical to do this is one day? Again I note that Deepcut must be exited by 1500.

 

We would buy a one week licence so it wouldn't matter if we took two consecutive days to get through Woodham & St Johns but I don't really want to be stuck between Brookwood & Deepcut for 2 or 3 days.

 

So is it sensible to aim for :

 

Sat/Sun Woodham & St Johns

 

Mon Brookwood & Deepcut

 

Tues/Wed/Thurs to Odiham Castle and back to Deepcut

 

Fri Brookwood & Deepcut

 

Sat/Sun Woodham & St Johns

 

Looks as though this would fit within a one week licence period (max 9 days according to the Basingstoke canal website).

 

Any advice from people who have recently cruised the Basingstoke will be most welcome.

 

We did the Basingstoke last year, and your Saturday to the following Sunday plan is perfectly reasonable. It is possible to do Woodham and St John's flights in one day either way, and you may well find a lengthsman acting as lockkeeper and walking at your pace through the flight.

 

Moorings in Woking town centre are well-positioned and safe. The country park at Brookwood is excellent for overnight Sunday; there is even a pontoon (not that long though). Shops at Ash Wharf are pleasant. Fleet shops are not far from the canal. Odiham is very nice.

 

The Brookwood and Deepcut flights are fine to be done in one day, but hard work. It is a shame that they have to be done in a day, as there are some nice spots to moor. Be aware that many of the locks do not have landing stages. Fine for hopping back on having just left a filled lock, but a pain finding somewhere to jump off at the next lock. Lock gates to be left closed with a bottom paddle raised, as they like the locks to be left empty.

 

The top pound is long and very pleasant. Be careful of Reading Road South bridge in Fleet - just 5' 10" air draught. Make sure that your water tank is full and if necessary put a few towpath ramblers in the cratch to act as ballast and get you safely under the bridge. The A325 bridge is almost as low, and coming back down you will see that it tapers - a bit concerning.

 

When you come back down, phone the ranger in good time for him to get to Woodham bottom lock at the same time as you do. Otherwise you might have to wait a while for him to come and unlock it.