Shortbreak Cruises

At Willow Wren we offer ‘all season’ bookable short breaks, so if you can’t spare a week or two then try a few days away over a long weekend or during the week! A ‘long weekend’ is ideal for a friends’ reunion or as a ‘taster’ cruise.
For schools who want to keep the costs down, coming mid-week saves 40% on the whole week rates. See our price list for prices and take over and return times.

Long Weekends
There are many possible routes Here are just two. Both have a great choice of pubs, all serving excellent, sensibly priced, home cooked food.

Locks and Tunnels Cruise
Blissfully quiet countryside with much interest.
Friday afternoon head towards Braunston (4 hours cruising). Then left and ascend the six wide locks and pass through the one-plus mile long tunnel to Norton Junction. Turn left again onto the Leicester to Watford Staircase Locks and Crick, passing through another long tunnel, to turn round at Yelvertoft, where refreshment should be taken in the Knightly Arms before commencing the home run!

Windmill Cruise
Pubs a-plenty ancient countryside, peace and quiet.
Make for Braunston as 'Towards Oxford', but turn right at the junction and follow the Grand Union through rolling countryside to Napton Bottom Lock where you turn around. Take time here to explore the delightful, stone-built village of Napton-on-the-Hill. We have a recommended circular walk which includes four pubs, the Church and windmill! Back aboard, head for Napton Junction. Then left on to the wide Grand Union and make for Stockton passing through many wide locks before turning round at Bascote for the return journey

Mid Week Cruises

Stoke Bruerne and The Museum
An ideal schools run for its combination of interest, education and enjoyment. Plenty of locks for the crew to operate, two long tunnels for excitement and the fascinating Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne depicting over 200 years of canal history. Plan to allow half a day at Stoke, so a visit can be made to the Boat Inn! Follow the North Oxford through Hillmorton locks to Braunston. Turn left onto the Grand Union for the run over the 'summit pound' and on through peaceful rolling countryside to 'Stoke'. See also route 'Stoke Bruerne and Beyond'. You can see more about the Stoke Bruerne museum in Canal Junction.

Warwick and The Castle
Another route with plenty of locks (52 in fact) but no tunnels. Plan a half-day stop on the Saltisford Arm at Warwick to view the Castle, Ancient Almshouses and St. Mary's Church. Allow time for visits to the Two Boats or The Boat! Make for Braunston from Rugby Monday afternoon (4 hours cruising). Stop overnight by The Mill House before heading for Napton Junction and The Warwickshire Grand Union. From here the canals' course is entirely rural until at Radford Bottom Lock it takes on a more urban aspect for the last 6 miles to Warwick and the turn-round point at Saltisford.