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The Ashby Canal - Ashby-de la-Zouch Canal

We cruised the Ashby Canal in August 2008 as part of our summer cruise.

The Ashby Canal from Marston Junction with the Coventry Canal to the present head of navigation, at a point just beyond bridge 61, about a quarter of a mile from the northern portal of Snarestone Tunnel, a total cruise of around 22 miles or 8 hours. This is just over seven miles from the original terminus at Moira's Bath Yard Basin closed due to mining subsidence.

The Ashby Canal is a picturesque contour canal, following the 300foot line, and lock free over the present length through parts of Warwickshire and Liecestershire. We found the canal to resemble a river in its style with mainly natural banking with very little wriggly tin along its course, except where 'official' moorings have been made available. We moored one night close to A5 Trunk Road Bridge #15 close to The Lime Kilns public house.

The Ashby Canal was opened in 1804 to convey limestone and coal from the mines in the Ashby Wolds and is now almost totally rural aspect but owing to its shallow sides mooring can be difficult.

The majority of the bridges are of a charming stone construction with wide high arches. There is only one tunnel at Snarestone of 250 yards, as short as it is it is decidedly crooked.

The Ashby Boat Company hires boats on daily and weekly contract availability from The Wharf at Stoke Golding and for those of you who want eateries and pubs along the way there are quite a few.

There are four water points and three sanitary stations along the course with rubbish disposal at Sutton Cheney Wharf and Snarestone.

There are Ashby Canal Association information points along the towpath that require a BW key to access the boxes.