Across the Heart of England

Thanks to six days of uncharacteristically glorious weather, our 100 mile canal trip across the Heart of England from Birmingham to Tring was highly enjoyable. Although the midday sun can become somewhat opressive when working a long flight of locks for several hours, and we did get a little sunburnt, despite lashings of sun cream and obsessive wearing of hats.

Everything (mostly) went according to plan, and we met-up with the "Chelonian" by the drawbridge at Shirley, where, conveniently, there is a pub - the first of several canalside hostelries we sampled. 5 days, 92 miles and 110 locks later we arrived at Tring in good time to get the train home. This was the longest trip we have done so far on the waterways. Thanks to Dave McI for giving us such a good time.

I have not really been to this part of the country much before, and travelling by canal is a great way of both experiencing the countryside and getting a different perspective on the towns and villages that you pass through. I particularly liked the Stratford Canal, with its small, attractive single-width locks, and the Oxford Canal section of the Grand Union Canal, which has a more peaceful rural feel that the main section. The Grand Union itself s bigger and more functional and industrial in feel (in a 19th century sort of way), but still has a great deal of charm (and some great pubs).

We are looking forward to the next trip on the "Chelonian".