APSLEY PAPER MILLS FROM MIDDX

 

Route Info | Boats | Map overview of route | Cruising Notes | Maps & Guides | Links | Pub Guide

 

You can do this route from :
Packet Boat Marina, Middlesex.

Packet Boat Marina, Middlesex

Middlesex

 

Lovely cruise north along the Grand Union canal, passing Lakes, canalside pubs and villages, beautiful woods, and Paper Mills

Route Info

Route Facts & Figures

Recommended Holiday
Duration : 4 nights.

Total Cruising Days : 5.00
(Partial or full days)

Total Cruising Time : 24.00 hours

Total Distance : 39.00 miles

Number of Locks : 46

Number of Tunnels : 0

Number of Aqueducts : 0

Read the Cruising Notes

Read our cruising notes to help you plan your canal boat holiday

Read our cruising notes.

 

 

 

 

 

Cruising Notes

This route takes you along the delightful Grand Union Canal, with lots of interest along the way with towns and villages to stop off and explore.

Day 1
Leaving your mooring cruise east towards the end of the Slough Arm at Cowley Peachey Junction.
The Slough Arm was almost the last canal to be built in Britain, in 1882, and on the way to Cowley Peach Junction, you pass over 3 small aqueducts as you pass over the picturesque Cowley lake.
The main traffic on the Canal is the late 1800's was bricks made from the local clay.

Turn left at the junction onto the Grand Union Canal.
You will reach your first lock at Cowley Lock as you start the climb up the Colne Valley and the Chiltern Hills.

Cowley and Uxbridge to your right are the last of the outer suburban belt that surrounds London, and you will soon leave all that behind.

There is a large shopping centre in Uxbridge, access from Bridge 186.

The Battle of Britain was directed by the late Air Marshal Lord Dowding from the RAF HQ in Uxbridge.
The town has a selection of modern and futuristic buildings.

In the early 19th Century the Paddington Packet Boat used to run daily from Paddington to Cowley, pulled by 4 horses, it made the 15-mile lock-free journey in a remarkable time, taking passengers up and down the canal.

Moor for the night along this stretch, it is 2 hours to here, the Swan & Bottle Pub is by Bridge 185 and has moorings.

Day 2
Uxbridge Lock is in an attractive setting with a lock-keepers cottage at the side and a modern flour mill with lovely landscaped gardens right down to the water's edge.

Between the A40 Road bridge and 183 Denham Bridge there is a gravel wharf on the off-side loading into large barges, so beware of them operating and allow them to manoeuvre in the deepest part of the channel.

The canal continues northwards past the village of Denham through a landscape of lakes, woods and mills across Harefield Moor, a stretch of common land with much wildlife to enjoy.

East of Bridge 80 there are shops at South Harefield.

Black Jack's lock and Copper Mill Lock are very attractive with tiny timbered cottages, a small mill, and attractive canal-side buildings.
The big mill at Copper Mill was once a paper mill, but when the Canal was built it re-invented itself and made copper sheets for the bottom of boats.

There are canal side pubs on bridge 180 and 177.

After heavy rain, there is a strong current between bridge 177 and Copper Mill Lock.

The canal turns eastwards towards Rickmansworth, and old chalk quarries adjoin the Canal.
There are some interesting 16th-century farm buildings close by to Stockers Lock.

You can Moor close to bridge 173 it is 4 hours to here, at Blatchworth Locks in a marquee on the lawn between the locks is Annis Kitchen serving drinks and snacks in conjunction with the Canal Centre there.
You will be taking the right-hand lock when continuing northwards.
Just before the lock is a Tesco supermarket with moorings for patrons.
Rickmansworth is off to your left north of bridge 173.

North of Rickmansworth is Common Moor to your right and Croxley to your left where part of the old village still survives with several attractive houses around the village green, and Watford where the canal keeps well away from the town and instead climbs through Cassiobury Park, a long and lovely stretch of wooded parkland.
The park was once part of the 17th C gardens of the Earls of Essex, and in the avenue of limes, many of the trees are 300 years old. The Park stretches for 190 acres.
You can moor here for the night if you fancy a lovely setting. It is 7 hours to Rough Wood before bridge 166


Day 3 Day 4 Day 5

If you want to have some refreshment tonight then continue northwards through the Park and Whippendell woods off to your left to Grove Mill, a water mill.
Just to the north is a famous ornamental stone bridge that the Earl of Essex insisted that the canal company build before he allowed them to build a canal through his park.

The canal follows the course of the River Gade, so twists and turns through the valley.

The lovely village of Hunton Bridge will be your mooring for tonight, it is 8 hours from last nights stop.
Moor by bridge 162, the Waterside Tavern has moorings.

Kings Langley off to your left is soon reached, there is a useful store just west of bridge 158.
Kings Langley is a small country town and there are the remains of a palace there. The tomb of Edmund de Langley, brother of the Black Price lies in the Norman church.
It is 2 hours to here.
The canal climbs steeply passing several large paper mills in Apsley.

Turn by the marina after bridge 154. It is 3.5 hours from Rough Wood to here.

To the east of the canal close to Lock 67 is the Paper trail- a fully working Victorian paper Mill, with a visitor centre and tours. - Frogmore Paper Mill is the world's oldest mechanised paper mill - the birthplace of paper's industrial revolution. Today it is still a working paper mill producing around 100 tonnes of specialist grade paper every year on historic paper machines. Open- 2017 – Every Thursday and the first Sunday of each month from 11.00 to 16.00. Open for pre-booked group visits only on all other days.

Hemel Hempstead is a well planned new town with excellent shops built around a charming old town with attractive streets. The Old Town Hall is an Arts centre in a Victorian building with an imaginative programme of theatre, comedy and music.
It is 12 hours back to your mooring , cruise for about another 3 hours today, 8 hours tomorrow, and 1 hour on your last morning

 

NB: This route has been provided as a guide only. Information may become inaccurate or out of date. You should always check with the marina that the route is possible within your time frame, current weather conditions and canal stoppages etc.

Boats

The following boats operate on this route (subject to availability)
Slipstream Canal Boat
Class : SN-Slipstream
(Sleeps a maximum of 4 People).

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Cassiopeia Canal Boat
Class : SN-Cassiopeia
(Sleeps a maximum of 6 People).

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Little Egret Canal Boat
Class : SN-Egret
(Sleeps a maximum of 6 People).

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Maps and Guides

Sorry, we don't have any maps for this route currently

Pub Guide

Sorry, we have no pub guide for this route currently.

 

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The information above is provided in good faith to assist you with planning your canal boat holiday. Information accuracy cannot be guaranteed, however, if you do see something that needs updating, please don't hesitate to contact us.