The Lime Kilns, Hinckley
Trip duration 3 hours each way
The Lime Kilns is located on the Ashby Canal to the South of Hinckley and alongside the A5 Watling Street.
This is our longest trip which starts in Nuneaton along the Coventry Canal. At Marston Lane you turn onto the rural and tranquil Ashby Canal which weaves its way through the countryside. There are few places to turnaround on this canal so our only trip on The Ashby Canal is to The Lime Kilns. We pass the pub initially to get to the turning point and then call at the pub on the return leg.
What to See
Starting from Bridge 20 on the Coventry Canal, this trip passes through the outskirts on Nuneaton before reaching open countryside. Watch out for some creative gardens along the canalside.
Shortly we see on the right the remains of the entrance to the Griff arm of the canal which served the collieries at Griff and Clara (Bermuda Park).
Bridge 18 is known as the Turnover Bridge (and to some as Mollies Bridge). It is unusual in that it is designed to allow a horse pulling a boat to cross the canal from one towpath to the opposite side without untying the rope.
Just after the ‘pipe bridge’, there is evidence of the canal that used to serve the Arbury Estate. Look for the line of reeds across the edge of the field towards Collycroft.
At Marston Junction the Ashby Canal entrance is on the left, under Marston Junction Bridge, number 15a (though the sign may be missing). We turn onto the Ashby Canal via a long abandoned ‘stop lock’ and follow The Ashby through winding countryside. The canal is popular for holiday hire narrowboats but traffic is generally light and wildlife abounds the peaceful hedgerows and reeds beds alongside.
The Ashby Canal is 22 miles long and although holds the name Ashby Canal it never actually reached there! The original plan was for a wider canal linking the Coventry Canal and the River Trent but that never materialised. The canal ends at Snarestone after a short tunnel and the entire length is lock free following the 100m contour through the countryside. The canal was used for transport from the Measham coalfields until the 1960’s due to the high quality of the coal produced there and its suitability for the iron industry. After Snarestone the canal was abandoned many years ago due to mining subsistence but a plan is underway to restore and open the section to Measham.
The Ashby Canal has generally low traffic and is very narrow and also shallow in places. At extended times of dry weather the water levels drop and we reserve the right to change this trips destination due to the canal being inaccessible for our narrowboat.
Catering
The Lime Kilns is a canal and roadside pub serving food with an ample canalside garden as well as indoor seating
A popular canalside stop and recently under new ownership you will be welcomed for lunch or snacks. Access from the canal is via a staircase but roadside access can be achieved via the car park and roadside access.
Please ensure you book ahead if planning to stop and eat here.