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Date: Thursday 4th July 2024
Canal: Oxford
Direction: North
Locks: 8
Swing bridges: 0
A bridge on the Oxford Canal
The cruise:
It was a very long cruise today because we need to get off the Oxford Canal and onto the Grand Union as soon as possible (we have a commitment in Brimingham in 3 weeks).
Although it was sunny at times there was a very cold wind blowing the remaining blossom off the trees.
The wind may have been challenging for us, but the birds, butterflies and dragonflies were enjoying every moment as they swooped and soared over the boat. There is nothing quite like navigating through a lock when surrounded by swallows ducking and diving as they try to catch the water insects.
One of the rare treats in this area is to see the Water Buffalo that live in the fields next to one of the locks.
Because we were going to leave the Oxford Canal very soon, I wanted to make a stop in order to visit The Folly pub one more time, so we moored for just 1 night in Napton on the Hill. Luckily, I managed to book a table for dinner and we had a lovely evening.
Cruising to The Folly pub
Napton on the Hill:
Napton on the Hill is a village in Warwickshire. It is distinctively perched on top of a high hill and the canal winds back and forth around it, meaning that even when you are traveling a long distance along the waterway the village is (surprisingly) visible for a long time.
There was a windmill in Napton in the 16th century, but the current one was built in the late 18th or early 19th century and is Grade II listed.
The Folly pub is well known by, and very popular with, boaters. Closed during the Covid-19 pandemic, it is now a thriving and character filled venue for drinks, food and music.
Napton Cidery (a 5 minute walk from the canal) is also a very popular music venue and a well-known family run business. It is very pleasant to spend a summer afternoon sitting in their courtyard and sampling the locally fermented ciders (you can take our word for this).
The windmill in Napton on the Hill
Mooring in Napton on the Hill:
Moorings in Napton on the Hill are quite limited and always very popular. We had to move a short way past the winding hole before we could find a gap, but it was still only a short walk to The Folly pub. This is a busy mooring with lots of other boats nearby (it might be described as crowded).
We found a space on the Armco (after cutting back a lot of grass) and used chains to tie up.
The towpath is uneven and very narrow. We had to take care when walking because there are pieces of iron and old mooring rings embedded in the towpath (creating potential trip hazards).
The area itself is quiet and, because there are plenty of other boaters around, it feels very safe.
The offside of the canal is reasonably open but the towpath side has dense foliage and trees, so it is difficult to find a mooring with good solar.
The internet is very limited but there is some TV signal.
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We are John, Lorraine, and Boasley the Boat Dog.
Follow our adventures as we learn to live the life of contiuous cruisers on the British waterways.
