Oxford Canal (Northern Section - Main Line)

Managing the safe movement of wide beam boats on the North Oxford Canal

The North Oxford Canal between Braunston Junction and Hillmorton Locks is a narrow canal, not designated for wide-beam craft. However, wide-beam craft access to and from Dunchurch Pools and Barby Moorings is permitted, in a single journey (i.e. not mooring on the towpath or offside between Braunston and Hillmorton Locks).

Boaters with wide-beam craft planning travel on the North Oxford Canal, to or from Dunchurch Pools or Barby Moorings, should notify enquiries.westmidlands@canalrivertrust.org.uk one week ahead (where possible * ) of the boat movement with the following information:

• Boat index and name
• Planned date of movement (if a you cannot provide an exact date please provide a range e.g between x date and x date)
• Direction of movement
• Contact number for the person who will be navigating the boat

* If you are unable to give a week’s notice, please email the West Midlands team as soon as possible so that they can make others aware of wide-beam craft movement on the north Oxford canal

Planned wide-beam boat movements on the north Oxford will be published on the Trust’s notices and stoppages web page.

The maximum craft dimensions for boats on the canal are:

• Length 21.96m (72ft)
• Beam 2.13m (7ft’) **
• Draught 1.09m (3ft 7’’)

** Subject to the above exemption for access

 Oxford Canal Walk - Part One - Oxford to Thrupp - YouTube — associated with Oxford Canal

A walk along the Oxford Canal (Southern Section) from Oxford to Thrupp Wide

  Canal and Narrow Boat Equipment | Midland Chandlers  — associated with Midland Chandlers (Braunston)

We have the largest and most diverse range of inland waterways related equipment in the UK. From day to day consumables like coal and toilet chemicals, to more technical products like gearboxes and inverters - we've got it all. Need a new stove? A fresh lick of paint? Perhaps it's a new cooker you're after? Don't worry, we have you covered!

 Barley Mow — associated with The Barley Mow PH (Newbold)

Website for the Barley Mow

 Hillmorton Locks — associated with Hillmorton Bottom Locks Nos 2 and 3

Hillmorton Locks website for local information and history

 Waterside Pub & Carvery  — associated with Waterside Pub and Carvery (Rugby)

Pub

 Dunchurch Pools Marina — associated with Dunchurch Pools Marina

 Barby Moorings — associated with Barby Moorings

 Newbold Quarry Warwickshire Wildlife Trust — associated with Newbold Quarry Country Park

Newbold Quarry Country Park

Wikipedia has a page about Oxford Canal

The Oxford Canal is a 78-mile (126 km) narrow canal in central England linking Oxford with Bedworth (between Coventry and Nuneaton on the Coventry Canal) via Banbury and Rugby. Completed in 1790, it connects to the River Thames at Oxford and is integrated with the Grand Union Canal—combined for 5 miles (8 km) close to the villages of Braunston and Napton-on-the-Hill, a canal which soon after construction superseded much of its traffic.

The canal was for about 15 years the main canal artery of trade between the Midlands and London; it retained importance in its local county economies and that of Berkshire. Today the canal is frequently used for weekend and holiday narrowboat pleasure boating.

The Oxford Canal traverses Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire and east Warwickshire through broad, shallow valleys and lightly rolling hills; resembling the bulk of the Grand Union Canal and its branches, much of the landscape is similar to the those of the Llangollen and Lancaster canals. It has frequent wharves and public houses, particularly if including the parts of the Grand Union Canal immediately adjoining. North of about a third of its distance, namely from Napton, the canal's route northeast and then northwest forms part of the Warwickshire ring. At its southern extremity it forms a waterway circuit within Oxford known as the Four Rivers.