Ashby Boat Company

Holiday in a narrowboat from the Ashby Boat Company and enjoy all that's best in canal cruising. The carefully designed interiors are extremely comfortable and superbly equipped. Ashby Boat Company take great pride in their narrow boats, both inside and out, with many people returning year after year.

The Ashby Canal is an unspoilt and lock-free rural canal winding its way through picturesque countryside south to Marston Junction. From here it joins the Oxford and Grand Union canals. It is possible to visit Rugby, Braunston, Warwick and Leamington to the south and Market Bosworth, Tamworth, Great Heywood, Stoke on Trent and Birmingham to the north. Stoke Golding is a picturesque village situated in the heart of the English countryside but with excellent access by both road and rail. It has a 13th Century church, three pubs, a post office and a grocery shop. A couple of miles away are two supermarkets.

Routes

MOST POPULAR ONE WEEK ROUTES
The Ashby Boat Company's base is situated right at the very centre of the inland waterways system. From here you have an excellent variety of cruising routes to choose from.
There are many permutations of routes available from our yard and of course the distance travelled depends greatly on you.

One Week Routes
Ashby and North Oxford to Braunston - 18 hours + 4 locks each way
The Ashby Canal is a tranquil 22 mile, lock free canal, ideal for first timers or people looking for a relaxing week. The picturesque waterway passes near Market Bosworth, you can explore Bosworth Battlefield ground and visit Shakerstone Steam Railway. The Ashby Canal and North Oxford have a number of excellent public houses with superb food. The Greyhound at Hawkesbury, Horse and Jockey at Congerstone to name only two! On the way to Braunston you can divert five miles to the 'Basin' close to Coventry to visit the cathedral. Heading towards the spires of the church towards Braunston you travel through Rugby, an old market town, with the public school in the centre. This relaxing week takes you through only 4 locks.

The Warwickshire Ring - 49 hours + 93 locks each way
A fairly energetic circular route taking you through very beautiful countryside with a glimpse into the canals industrial past. This boating circuit is one of the more popular routes for our hirers. A recent television series focused on the many delights and interesting historical landmarks to be found on the heart of England's canals. The castle town of Warwick with all its antiquated beauty as well as the Victorian shopping extravaganza of Leamington Spa are to the south of the ring. Further north are the award winning canals and development of Birmingham and Gas Street Basin after which you slip back into quiet countryside for the homeward journey.

South Oxford to Banbury and return - 25 hours + 26 locks each way
The Southern Oxford canal is a beautiful rural route. It meanders gently through mile upon mile of unspoilt countryside. After rising up the hill at Napton it passes through Fenny Compton, giving some breathtaking views of the Warwickshire countryside. The canal then enters into the centre of the picturesque market town of Banbury.

Grand Union to Stoke Bruerne - 48 hours + 17 locks each way
Meander South past Hawkesbury, Brinklow and Rugby. Join the mighty Grand Union Canal with its wide locks and twisting tunnel at Braunston. Outward through Long Buckby to the almost 2 mile tunnel at Blisworth where you escape underground for 30 minutes (but not to worry, you can pass in the tunnels as they are 16 feet wide). Finally immerse yourself in waterways history at the enjoyable Stoke Bruerne Museum.

Trent and Mersey to Great Haywood or Burton - 21 hours + 18 locks each way
This route includes several interesting canal junctions and passes some beautiful countryside near Cannock Chase. You may prefer to turn right at pretty Fradley Junction and along Brindley's Trent and Mersey.

Two Week Routes
Given two weeks, a whole variety of circular and out and return trips become possible. The Leicestershire Loop which encompasses the River Soar, Trent & Mersey and Coventry offers a particularly attractive mix of river and canal cruising, The varied route with 5 tunnels, several aqueducts even allows time for a couple of brief detours along stretches of other waterways. Two week return trips could also include destinations as far as Oxford, Nottingham, Stratford-Upon-Avon or the splendid Caldon Canal.

Features
Our award winning narrowboats at Ashby Boat Company all have:
Shower and fresh water flush toilet
Refrigerator and cooker
Radiator central heating and airing cupboards
Duvets provided (sleeping bags on request)
Interior sprung mattress on fixed double beds
Quality carpets and curtains
Dralon buttoned upholstery
CD players or radio cassettes
12v socket for mobile phone, etc. (visitors own 12v car leads required).
Superbly fitted and crafted interiors in teak, oak and ash
Quiet water cooled engines with sound insulation
Large cruiser cockpits fore and aft (except Shenton)
FREE colour TV
FREE secure car parking
FREE fuel
FREE considerate pets
FREE hair dryer
FREE helmsman's waterproofs.
Facilities available
FREE collection from local rail/coach station.

Find us: Our Location
Stoke Golding, is a delightful, peaceful village situated close to the site of the Battle of Bosworth, only 3 miles from the A5 and A444 and within easy reach of the M1, M42 and M6 motorways. Nuneaton, 3 miles away, is the nearest railway station

If you approach via the A5 (whether from North or South), turn off at the roundabout signposted to Higham. In Higham turn right at the T-junction. The road takes you out into the countryside, and over the Ashby Canal.
In Stoke Golding you will come to a T-junction where you turn left. 200 yards down, on
your left, you will find Ashby Boat Company.

If you approach from the North via the A444 turn left in Fenny Drayton signposted Stoke Golding. Take the next right approximately 1.5 miles along the lane. In approximately 1.5 miles you reach a canal bridge and the Ashby Boat Company is on the right hand side just over the bridge.

JUNCTION EXITS FOR MOTORWAY APPROACH
From M1 South leave at junction 18 then take A5 North
From Ml North leave at junction 23A then take M42 at junction 11 take (A444) South
From M42 junction 10 (A5) South
From M5 West take M42 to junction 10 (A5) South
From M6 North junction 12 (A5) South
From M54/M6 junction 12 (A5) South

Services offered:

• Canal boat holidays
• Moorings

This mooring site is not managed by British Waterways. The facilities may or may not be available for general use.

« Back