First canal walk of 2016 and we enter a tricky section where there are few public transport links at either end.
This walk starts at Wolverton which is easily reached by train from Milton Keynes (or from Euston). The tricky part is timing the end to match the only 2 late afternoon trains which would get me to either Milton Keynes or Northampton. Had to ensure I was at the bus stop by 5:00 pm – as it turns out, I was lucky!
The start of the walk in Wolverton
The path meanders to the west of Wolverton
Oh Oh! Footpath closed. Let’s see how bad it is…
Yup – closed for quite a way – better find a diversion
At the end of the diversion looking back
Back to the normal path
Looking down from the iron duct aqueduct
Boat crossing the iron duct aqueduct
Cosgrove canal festival in full swing
New houses in traditional stone at Cosgrove
Solomon’s bridge, just after Cosgrove – the sandstone facing seems to be wearing away in places
Close view of Solomon’s bridge
Heron studying the water for fish
Looking back at mixed skies
Approaching bridge 64 – note the path end its left side run and crosses the bridge but appears on the side before the bridge, then goes under the bridge
Looking ahead from bridge 64 towards Thrupp Wharf
Bridge 63 near Isworth Farm
Rope wear marks
Bridge 62
Bridge 60 and the approach to Yardley wharf
Going quackers in Yardley Gobion on the approach to the marina
Bridge 59, north of Yardley Gobion
Bridge 58 north of Yardley Gobion
Approaching a weir
Bridge 57 near Grafton Regis
The canal curves ahead towards bridge 56, beside Bozenham Mill lane
Bridge 56 near Bozenham
Looking back on top of another weir
Pumping water from the River Tove into the Canal
Approaching the bottom of the Stoke Bruerne flight of locks
Mooring up as the lock is cycled
Top gates closed, bottoms open, boat entering the bottom of the Stoke Bruerne flight
Mid way up the flight at Stoke Bruerne
The penultimate lock rising up the Stoke Bruerne flight
Approaching the Navigation pub. Note the wider canal and the double bridge but only one lock (RHS)
Double bridge at Stoke Bruerne – note the different constructions
Canal museum, Stoke Bruerne
Top lock and canalside museum at Stoke Bruerne
Lots of boats on the canal north of Stoke Bruerne
Heading north from Stoke Bruerne towards the tunnel
End of this walk for now – the southern entry to Blisworth Tunnel