Marston Junction, Bedworth
Trip duration 1 hour each way
Marston Junction is where the Ashby Canal joins the Coventry Canal and where evidence of the original stop lock remains.
The trip to Marston Junction takes 1 hour each way, plus any time you want to spend moored up somewhere nice as you have your self-catered lunch.
There are no pub options for this trip.
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.
The first point of interest is on the right, as we pass All Saints School and the allotments.
We soon reach a point where the canal is on an embankment (look at height of the trees and down where the steps are).
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).
This now forms a winding hole (place wide enough to turn a narrowboat).
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. If you visit Arbury Hall you may see remnants of the canal route which was for smaller boats that used the main canal network.
At Marston Junction the Ashby Canal entrance is on the left, under Marston Junction Bridge, number 15a (though the sign may be missing).
See Hargreaves II at Marston Junction from the air
Catering
There are no options to stop and get food on this trip, so self-catering is your only option.
It works well and is particularly good for the less mobile as by self-catering it is possible to eat on board either when moored or when cruising if return time is critical.