GUC : Nether Heyford to Braunston
This was an interesting walk as it marks the end of the stretch to Braunstone – all throughout the recent walks the mileposts have indicated the distance to Braunston and the bridge numbers have been decreasing. On this walk both the bridge numbers and the miles to go reduce to 1 … Also the Grand Union Canal 145 mile running race (gulp!) was coming the other way throughout the walk. I’ll let you read more about their crazy race on their website (link to 2017 race).
The walk resumes at bridge 32 – Heyford Wharf bridge
Approaching Flore Lane bridge
Bridge 27 – Flore Lane bridge
No time to stop for food or supplies – anyway, it’s shut.
Bridge 26 – Stowehill bridge
Oh deer – something’s taking a sneaky look at the canal!
Bridge 25 – Weedon Beck bridge
Weedon Wharf
Heading north from Weedon
Aha – 9 miles to go. At my usual walking speed of 3 mph, that means 3 hours left – 1/4 the way into the walk.
Looks like something is being built near the canal…
Bridge 23 – Dodford bridge
8 miles to go
Bridge 22 – so boring it has no name
Not one of the runners taking a break but looking a bit grizzly
Down to 7 miles to go – nearly half way…
Bridge 19 – Diamond bridge
Aha! Halfway point on the walk – 6 miles (2 hours left). Time to start thinking about bus times for the end of the walk. Better pick up the pace to get the 17:30 bus…
Whilton Marina – there’s a karting circuit nearby here somewhere…
Buckby bottom lock 13
Now down to 5 miles
Hand painted number for bridge 12
Runners from the Grand Union 145 mile race at the New Inn pub at Long Buckby
Norton Junction – off to the right the Leicester Canal, off to the left the Grand Union continues towards Braunston
No, not bridge 1 on the Grand Union Canal, but the first bridge on the Leicester canal
Mile post on the junction point – I think, this time, I’ll choose….. Braunston!
Looking along the start of the Leicester Canal
Nice countryside
A boat making the turn into the Leicester canal
Bridge 10 at Norton junction
Better and better – down to 4 miles left
Bridge 8 – Lords Bridge
Bridge 7 – unnamed
Bridge 7 – unnamed
Yay – 3 miles left – one hour of walking remaining
Approaching the eastern entrance to the Braunston tunnel
Tunnel is for boats only – a path leads away from the canal and over the top of the tunnel
First air shaft hinting at the tunnel below
Crossing the Ashby road and then onto a fairly steep if short climb
Descending the other side down towards the western end of the tunnel – this is quite a steep climb (in reverse) and the runners were mostly walking up.
Final descent to the western side of the Braunston tunnel
Braunston tunnel, western entrance
Path improvements due to some local flooding from rivulets
Approaching Braunston top lock no. 6
Bridge 5
Bridge no 3
Bridge 2 and the marina entrance is just beyond
Braunstone – end of the walk after the next bridge
1897 chimney hints at the industrial heritage of this area
Bridge 1 – Butcher’s bridge, marks the end of this sub-section of the canal – next the bridge numbering scheme changes as the canal is actually part of the Oxford canal and the numbers stem from Oxford until we get to the junction at Napton
Viewing ahead to the next walk
Looking back to the Braunston marina entrance and the wharf
Looking back to bridge no 1