The Grand Ring Canal Boat Holiday from Northamptonshire

The Grand Ring from Gayton Marina

Duration: 14-21 Nights
TOTAL LOCKS: 175
CRUISING TIME PER DAY: 6 - 9 HOURS (126 HOURS IN TOTAL)

Maps & Guides for this route: N1, N7, G29 | Click here buy maps

This ring takes a minimum of 2 weeks to complete or longer if you want to take in the sights along the way.

The Thames River Licence price will need to be paid if starting from Gayton Marina (please contact marina directly).

Take in the delights of the southern waterways including Oxford, Banbury, Leighton Buzzard, but then follow a similar route to Limehouse and return for another aspect.

More routes from Gayton Marina

Aylesbury & return

7 - 10 Nights

84 Locks

A good route for the first timer. Through delightful countryside, taking in the Great Ouse Aqueduct at Cosgrove, Milton Keynes. Then arriving at Aylesbury, with the attractive old town centre just a short walk from the canal basin.

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Banbury & Return

7 Nights

70 Locks

Your route will lead you through glorious disputed territory before meandering lazily along one of engineer James Brindley’s renowned contour-hugging canals. A journey of trade and heritage, accompanied by the rhythms of music and nursery rhymes.

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Coventry or Snarestone & return

7 Nights

34 Locks

With only 17 locks each way between Gayton and Coventry, this is one of the easiest one-week routes. The remote and rural Ashby Canal for Snarestone offers 23 miles of lock free cruising after Marston.

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Leicester or East Midlands Ring

14 Nights

115 Locks

A varied route taking in parts of the Grand Union Main Line & Leicester Line, the Oxford Canal, the River Soar, a short section of the River Trent, part of the Trent & Mersey Canal, and the Coventry Canal. This route includes five tunnels, several aqueducts, and 113 locks - can be done in 14 nights.

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Market Harborough & return

7 Nights

48 Locks

Market Harborough and return is a tranquil rural route through rolling Northamptonshire countryside. It is a 7 day cruise and has 48 locks. It is popular with those seeking something different – there are at least 4 moveable bridges, 20 small aqueducts/underbridges and 4 tunnels including Crick Tunnel and Husband’s Bosworth Tunnel.

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Oxford & Return

10 - 11 Nights

104 Locks

Your route will lead you through the disputed territory of two rival canals, the Grand Union and the Oxford, and will meander lazily along a contour-hugging canal. You’ll hear of rivalries and wars, nursery rhymes, brickwork and heritage boats, ending in a world-famous city of learning.

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The Warwickshire Ring

10 - 11 Nights

120 Locks

A route mixing rural and urban which takes in parts of the Grand Union Main Line, the Oxford Canal, the Coventry Canal, the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal and the Stratford Canal. This route from Gayton includes six tunnels, several aqueducts, and 145 locks - can be done in 14 nights.

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