Walking along the Grand Union Canal
Walking is a car-free and carefree way to appreciate the beauty of the canal - and at your own pace.
There are many railway stations within easy reach of the Grand Union Canal - particularly the southern section from Northampton to London. Why not try a one way walk, returning to your starting point by train? Many local history and special interest groups also organise walks along sections of the canal: see our events listings for more information.
With over 130 miles of waterway on the main London to Birmingham route alone, the number of walks is almost infinite. Here is a selection you might want to try.
- Gas Street Basin, Birmingham, to Kingswood Junction: 17.25 miles
- Kingswood Junction Circular Walk: 4.5 miles
- Hatton Circular Walks
- Long Itchington Circular Walk
- Stockton Circular Walk
- Kingswood Junction to Calcutt Locks: 20.25 miles
- Calcutt Locks to Weedon: 15 miles
- Lower Weedon to Stoke Bruerne: 12 miles
- New Bradwell Circular Walk: 6.25 miles
- Stoke Bruerne Circular Walk: 3 miles
- Stoke Bruerne to Fenny Stratford: 17 miles
- Fenny Stratford to Ivinghoe: 14 miles
- Ivinghoe to King's Langley: 16 miles
- King's Langley to Bull's Bridge: 20.25 miles
- Hanwell Bottom Lock Circular Walk: 2.25 miles
- Paddington Arm (Bull's Bridge to Little Venice): 13 miles
For a greater challenge, the Grand Union Canal Walk was opened in 1993 and follows the towpath all the way from London's Little Venice to Birmingham.
Keen walkers can attempt the Greensand Ridge Walk which takes you on a mammoth journey for 40 miles through some stunning Bedfordshire countryside. The route begins in Leighton Buzzard, taking you to The Globe Inn, following the towpath before arriving at Stockgrove Country Park, Woburn, Ampthill and Gamlingay.
For those preferring something a little shorter, why not try the Two Ridges Link Walk? The eight mile route takes you from the pre-historic Ridgeway at Ivinghoe Beacon to Leighton Buzzard.
You can find more walk suggestions in our walking pages.
Walking routes
- A Short Walk Along the Grand Union Canal »
- Black Poplar Trail »
- A country walk at Blue Lias, Warwickshire »
- An easy Chiltern walk at Cow Roast »
- Tom's Hill and Cow Roast (near Tring) »
- Tring Reservoirs and the Wendover Arm »
- Tring Reservoirs and the Wendover Arm 2 »
- Tring Reservoirs and the Aylesbury and Wendover Arms »
- Grand Union Canal at Rickmansworth »
- Berkhamsted and Tring circular walk »
- Hemel Hempstead and Berkhamsted »
- Kings Langley and Hemel Hempstead »
- Stoke Bruerne and Blisworth Tunnel »
- Berkhamsted to Tring »
- Hemel Hempstead to Berkhamsted »
- Kings Langley to Hemel Hempstead »
- Hanwell Flight Circular Walk - from Osterley House car park »
- Hanwell Flight Circular Walk - from Osterley Station »
- Hatton Circular Walk 1 »
- Hatton Circular Walk 2 »
- Hatton Circular Walk 3 »
- Small Heath Circular Walk »
- Tring Reservoirs Walks »
- Western Circular Walk »
- Walking around Hanwell »
- Hatton Locks to Warwick Parkway »
- Hatton Locks to The Wilderness »
- Hatton Country World Watery Stroll »
- Hanwell Flight Circular Walk from Boston Manor Station »
- Tring reservoirs walk »
- Jogging on the towpath in Watford »
- The Grand Union Canal and Syon Park »
- A circular walk around Stoke Bruerne »
- Circular walks around Braunston »
Towpath Stoppages
Stoppage: Cosgrove Iron Trunk Aqueduct
Associated Regional Office: South East WaterwaysTowpath has been closed
UPDATE (17 January 2012): The works to the aqueduct are now being carried out without dewatering the canal. However, boats being used by the contractor will be blocking the canal to navigation.
It is possible that limited passage may be possible, but British Waterways are unable to guarantee this.
For the purposes of journey planning please assume the canal is closed.
(Enquiries: 01923 201120)
