Grand Union Canal (Leicester Section - River Soar Navigation)
The Grand Union Canal (Leicester Section - River Soar Navigation) is a small river and is part of the Grand Union Canal (Leicester Section). It runs for 27 miles and 5 furlongs through 21 locks from River Soar Junction (where it joins the Grand Union Canal (Leicester Section - Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Union Canal)) to Trent Junction (where it joins the River Trent (Western End) and the Grand Union Canal (Erewash Canal)).
The maximum dimensions for a boat to be able to travel on the waterway are 72 feet long and 14 feet wide. The maximum headroom is not known. The maximum draught is not known.
It has a junction with the Grand Union Canal (Leicester Section - Loughborough Branch) at Loughborough Branch Junction.
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River Soar Junction Junction of GU Leicester Section and River Soar Navigation |
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Great Central Railway Bridge Now the Great Central Way - Route No 6 of the Sustrans National Cycleway |
½ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Footbridge No 105d Footbridge over stream that feeds directly into canal |
1¼ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Freestone Bridge No 106 Aylestone on east bank |
1¼ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Parsons Bridge No 107 | 3¾ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Aylestone Mill Lock No 39 Bridge No 108 |
6¼ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Aylestone Mill Bridge No 108 | 6¾ furlongs | 1 lock |
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Aylestone Road Arm | 1 mile | 1 lock |
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Aylestone Gasometer Pipebridge | 1 mile and 1¾ furlongs | 1 lock |
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St Marys Mill Lock No 40 | 1 mile and 3½ furlongs | 1 lock |
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Branch of the Soar Junction Near to the Railway Bridge on Leicester to Burton Mineral Line |
1 mile and 4¾ furlongs | 2 locks |
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Echo Railway Bridge Built the 1840's as the Leicester to Burton Mineral Line. Popular with generations of youth as a diving board in hot weather. |
1 mile and 5 furlongs | 2 locks |
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Leicester City Football Club | 1 mile and 5¾ furlongs | 2 locks |
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Freeman's Lock No 41 | 1 mile and 6 furlongs | 2 locks |
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Upperton Road Bridge Arm (disused) | 1 mile and 7¾ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Upperton Road Bridge | 2 miles and ½ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Swan Bridge The new Swan Bridge 1998 is paired with Walnut Street Bridge (Upperton Road Bridge) to create a roundabout |
2 miles and ¾ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Mill Lane Bridge | 2 miles and 2¼ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Newarke Bridge | 2 miles and 3½ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Leicester Moorings for city between Newarke and West Bridges |
2 miles and 4 furlongs | 3 locks |
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Castle Gardens Pedestrian Bridge | 2 miles and 4½ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Castle Gardens Visitor Moorings 48 hour maximum stay |
2 miles and 4¾ furlongs | 3 locks |
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West Bridge (Leicester) | 2 miles and 5 furlongs | 3 locks |
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West Bridge No 2 | 2 miles and 5¼ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Friar's Mills Snippet from BBC website: "Along the canal knitting and hosiery industries moved into factories. Many of these, like the Pex factory on this side of West Bridge, and Friars Mills about one kilometre further along the water, were alongside the canal." |
2 miles and 7 furlongs | 3 locks |
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Richard III Towpath Bridge | 2 miles and 7¾ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Soar Lane Bridge | 3 miles and ½ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Evans Weir Footbridge | 3 miles and 1½ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Footbridge over Disused Spur | 3 miles and 1½ furlongs | 3 locks |
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North Lock No 42 North Bridge No 6 |
3 miles and 2½ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Frog Island Bridge | 3 miles and 2¾ furlongs | 4 locks |
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Abbey Lane Bridge No. 6 | 3 miles and 4¼ furlongs | 4 locks |
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Friday Street Bridge | 3 miles and 5½ furlongs | 4 locks |
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Wolsey Chimneys | 3 miles and 6¼ furlongs | 4 locks |
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Charter Street Pipebridge | 3 miles and 7¼ furlongs | 4 locks |
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Disused Wharf near Memory Lane Wharf | 3 miles and 7¾ furlongs | 4 locks |
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Memory Lane Wharf | 4 miles | 4 locks |
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Limekiln Lock No 43 | 4 miles and ½ furlongs | 4 locks |
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Belgrave Circle Arm (disused) | 4 miles and 1 furlong | 5 locks |
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Abbey Park Road Bridge | 4 miles and 1¼ furlongs | 5 locks |
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Abbey Meadows Pipebridge | 4 miles and 4¾ furlongs | 5 locks |
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Swan's Nest Bridge No 10 | 4 miles and 6¼ furlongs | 5 locks |
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Belgrave Lock No 44 | 4 miles and 6½ furlongs | 5 locks |
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Holden Street Bridge No 11 | 4 miles and 7¾ furlongs | 6 locks |
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Thurcaston Footbridge | 5 miles and 3¼ furlongs | 6 locks |
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Thurcaston Old Bridge No 12 | 5 miles and 3¼ furlongs | 6 locks |
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Entrance to Riverside Lakes | 5 miles and 4¼ furlongs | 6 locks |
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New Bridge No 13 | 5 miles and 4¾ furlongs | 6 locks |
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Watermead Way (A563) Bridge | 6 miles and ¾ furlongs | 6 locks |
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Birstall Lock Winding Hole | 6 miles and 4¾ furlongs | 6 locks |
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Birstall Lock No 45 | 6 miles and 5¼ furlongs | 6 locks |
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Birstall Lock Turnover Bridge | 6 miles and 5½ furlongs | 7 locks |
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White Horse Lane Junction River Soar returns bypassing the Lock |
6 miles and 6 furlongs | 7 locks |
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Riverside Junction River Soar returns bypassing the Lock |
6 miles and 6½ furlongs | 7 locks |
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Lakeside Marina Entrance | 7 miles and 3½ furlongs | 7 locks |
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Thurmaston Lock Arm | 7 miles and 4½ furlongs | 7 locks |
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Thurmaston Lock No 46 Thurmaston on east bank |
7 miles and 4¾ furlongs | 7 locks |
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Thurmaston Lock Footbridge | 7 miles and 5 furlongs | 8 locks |
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MGM Boats Winding Hole | 7 miles and 5¼ furlongs | 8 locks |
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MGM Boats, Thurmaston | 7 miles and 6 furlongs | 8 locks |
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Johnson's Bridge No 17 | 7 miles and 7½ furlongs | 8 locks |
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Conveyor Bridges No 18 | 8 miles and 4½ furlongs | 8 locks |
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Syston Bridge No 19 Syston |
8 miles and 6¾ furlongs | 8 locks |
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Syston Road Bridge No 19A | 9 miles | 8 locks |
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Hill's Bridge No 20 | 9 miles and 2 furlongs | 8 locks |
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Old Junction Boatyard, Syston Entrance to Marina |
9 miles and 2¾ furlongs | 8 locks |
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River Wreake Junction | 9 miles and 3 furlongs | 8 locks |
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Junction Lock Junction River Soar exits to bypass the Lock |
9 miles and 5½ furlongs | 8 locks |
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Junction Lock No 47 | 9 miles and 6¼ furlongs | 8 locks |
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Soar Outlet by Junction Lock No 47 River Soar returns bypassing the Lock |
9 miles and 7¾ furlongs | 9 locks |
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Soar Outlet by Cossington Lock River Soar returns bypassing the Lock |
10 miles and 3¼ furlongs | 9 locks |
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Cossington Mill Stream The Mill Stream has a footbridge over it |
10 miles and 3½ furlongs | 9 locks |
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Cossington Lock No 48 | 10 miles and 4 furlongs | 9 locks |
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Cossington Lane Bridge No 21 Road Bridge between Rothley and Cossington, 1 mile to either |
10 miles and 4¼ furlongs | 10 locks |
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Cossington Lane Pipebridge | 10 miles and 4½ furlongs | 10 locks |
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Cossington Mill Stream Junction River Soar returns bypassing the Lock |
10 miles and 5 furlongs | 10 locks |
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Loughborough Road Winding Hole | 10 miles and 5½ furlongs | 10 locks |
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Sileby Pipe Bridge | 11 miles and 6½ furlongs | 10 locks |
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Sileby Mill Lock No 49 | 11 miles and 7¼ furlongs | 10 locks |
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Sileby Mill Lock Footbridge | 11 miles and 7¼ furlongs | 11 locks |
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Sileby Mill | 11 miles and 7½ furlongs | 11 locks |
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Sileby Mill Boatyard Sileby Marine Services |
12 miles and ¼ furlongs | 11 locks |
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Sileby Changline Bridge | 12 miles and ¼ furlongs | 11 locks |
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Weir upstream from Mountsorrel Lock No 50 Towpath bridge No 23C |
12 miles and 4½ furlongs | 11 locks |
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A6 Road Bridge Between Mountsorrel and Sileby |
12 miles and 5¼ furlongs | 11 locks |
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Mountsorrel Lock Junction River Soar exits to bypass the Lock |
12 miles and 6¾ furlongs | 11 locks |
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Mountsorrel Lock No 50 Travel south on the Sileby Road to Mountsorrel village |
12 miles and 7 furlongs | 11 locks |
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Sileby Road Bridge No 24 | 12 miles and 7 furlongs | 12 locks |
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Soar Outlet by Mountsorrel Lock | 12 miles and 7½ furlongs | 12 locks |
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Mountsorrel Railway Bridge Also known as 1860 Bridge |
13 miles and ¼ furlongs | 12 locks |
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North End Changeline Bridge | 13 miles and 1¾ furlongs | 12 locks |
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Mountsorrel A6 Bridge | 13 miles and 4 furlongs | 12 locks |
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Meadow Farm Junction Tributary enteres here |
13 miles and 6½ furlongs | 12 locks |
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Meadow Farm Marina Barrow-upon-Soar |
13 miles and 7½ furlongs | 12 locks |
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Barrow Weir River Soar exits to bypass the Lock |
14 miles and 3 furlongs | 12 locks |
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Barrow Boating | 14 miles and 3¾ furlongs | 12 locks |
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Barrow upon Soar Bridge No 28 Barrow upon Soar village a quarter of a mile north |
14 miles and 4 furlongs | 12 locks |
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Barrow Deep Lock No 51 | 14 miles and 7 furlongs | 12 locks |
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Barrow Lock Bridge No 29 | 14 miles and 7 furlongs | 13 locks |
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Barrow upon Soar Junction River Soar returns bypassing the Lock |
14 miles and 7½ furlongs | 13 locks |
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Barrow Road Bridge No 30 | 14 miles and 7¾ furlongs | 13 locks |
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Pilling's Flood Gate | 15 miles and 4¾ furlongs | 13 locks |
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Pilling's Flood Lock No 52 | 15 miles and 5½ furlongs | 13 locks |
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Pilling Lock Marina www.pillingslock.com |
15 miles and 6½ furlongs | 14 locks |
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Pilling's Flood Lock Winding Hole | 15 miles and 7 furlongs | 14 locks |
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Top Bridge No 32 | 16 miles and ¼ furlongs | 14 locks |
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Woodthorpe Bridge No 33 | 16 miles and 2¼ furlongs | 14 locks |
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Miller's Bridge No 34 | 16 miles and 5¾ furlongs | 14 locks |
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Moor Lane Bridge No. 35 | 17 miles and 1½ furlongs | 14 locks |
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Little Moor Lane Bridge | 17 miles and 3 furlongs | 14 locks |
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Great Central Railway Bridge (disused) | 17 miles and 4¾ furlongs | 14 locks |
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Nottingham Road Bridge No 38 | 17 miles and 6¼ furlongs | 14 locks |
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Meadow Lane Bridge No 39 | 18 miles | 14 locks |
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Chain Bridge No 39B | 18 miles and 4 furlongs | 14 locks |
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Loughborough Branch Junction | 18 miles and 4 furlongs | 14 locks |
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Aqueduct by Belton Road Bridge | 18 miles and 5¼ furlongs | 14 locks |
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Belton Road Bridge No 40 With accompanying pipebridge |
18 miles and 5½ furlongs | 14 locks |
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Loughborough Lock No 53 | 18 miles and 6¾ furlongs | 14 locks |
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Belton Road West Extension Bridge | 18 miles and 7¾ furlongs | 15 locks |
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Swingbridge Road Bridge | 19 miles and 1 furlong | 15 locks |
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Bishop Meadow Lock No 54 | 19 miles and 4 furlongs | 15 locks |
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Bishops Meadow Bridge No 42 | 19 miles and 6¼ furlongs | 16 locks |
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Bishops Meadow Junction River Soar returns bypassing the Lock |
19 miles and 7 furlongs | 16 locks |
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Saint James Church, Normanton-on-Soar | 20 miles and 4¾ furlongs | 16 locks |
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Normanton-on-Soar Wharf | 20 miles and 5¼ furlongs | 16 locks |
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Soar Boat Club | 20 miles and 7½ furlongs | 16 locks |
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Zouch Road Flood Gate | 21 miles and 1¾ furlongs | 16 locks |
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Zouch Road Weir River Soar exits to bypass the Lock |
21 miles and 2¼ furlongs | 16 locks |
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Zouch Road Bridge No 43 Mooring between here and Zouch Lock. Public house by canal. |
21 miles and 2½ furlongs | 16 locks |
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Rose & Crown Inn | 21 miles and 3¼ furlongs | 16 locks |
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Footbridge over Zouch Cut No 44 | 21 miles and 5 furlongs | 16 locks |
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Zouch Lock No 55 | 21 miles and 5¾ furlongs | 16 locks |
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Zouch Lock Junction River Soar returns bypassing the Lock. This arm is navigable, but mooring is very restricted. |
21 miles and 6½ furlongs | 17 locks |
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London Road Marina (entrance no 1) | 23 miles and 4½ furlongs | 17 locks |
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London Road Marina (entrance no 2) | 23 miles and 5¾ furlongs | 17 locks |
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Kegworth Deep Lock Weir River Soar exits to bypass the Lock |
24 miles and ¾ furlongs | 17 locks |
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Kegworth Deep Lock No 56 | 24 miles and 2¾ furlongs | 17 locks |
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Kegworth Deep Lock Junction River Soar returns bypassing the Lock |
24 miles and 3¼ furlongs | 18 locks |
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Station Road Arm No exit at other end of arm |
24 miles and 5½ furlongs | 18 locks |
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Kegworth Road Bridge | 24 miles and 6 furlongs | 18 locks |
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Kegworth Flood Lock No 57 Known also as Kegworth Shallow Lock |
24 miles and 6¼ furlongs | 18 locks |
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Kegworth Flood Lock Junction No access to arm |
24 miles and 7¼ furlongs | 19 locks |
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Kingstone Road Wharf | 24 miles and 7½ furlongs | 19 locks |
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Ratcliffe Weir River Soar exits to bypass the Lock |
25 miles and 6¾ furlongs | 19 locks |
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Ratcliffe Weir and Manor Farm | 25 miles and 7¼ furlongs | 19 locks |
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Ratcliffe Weir Road Bridge | 26 miles | 19 locks |
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Ratcliffe Lock No 58 The current lock replaces an older lock which is still pretty much intact, albeit buried, parallel to the new lock |
26 miles and 1½ furlongs | 19 locks |
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Ratcliffe Lock Junction River Soar returns bypassing the Lock |
26 miles and 1¾ furlongs | 20 locks |
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Redhill Marine Ltd | 26 miles and 4¼ furlongs | 20 locks |
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Boat Hoods Marina | 26 miles and 6½ furlongs | 20 locks |
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Redhill Lock Weir No access at this end. River Soar exits to bypass the Lock |
26 miles and 7¾ furlongs | 20 locks |
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Redhill Lock No 59 Used as a flood lock so both sets of gates may be open. Bridge is over the middle of the lock |
27 miles and ¼ furlongs | 20 locks |
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Redhill Lock Junction Arm is navigable around to other end |
27 miles and ¾ furlongs | 21 locks |
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Soar Mouth Red buoys protect Trumpton Wier |
27 miles and 3½ furlongs | 21 locks |
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Trent Junction Junction of River Trent, Grand Union Leicester Section and Erewash Canal |
27 miles and 5 furlongs | 21 locks |

