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