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LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOODDerek Harwood's Walking Records If you have any queries about the pictures or discriptions e-mail me at: derek@harwoodonline.com | ||||
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| GRAND UNION CANAL WALK LEICESTER LINE Kibworth Beauchamp to South Wigston Friday 22nd April 2005 ............Walk No. 615 |
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Grand Union Canal Walk No. 65 Total 268 miles Time Taken: 2.25 hrs Distance: Enjoyment: Weather: Spring Sunshire 17:10 pm - 19:25 pm 6 miles 80% Warm & Sunny Temp: Cloud: Rain: Visibility: Ground Conditions: Wild Life: Butterflies 13oC 40% 0% Good Muddy in Cuttings Ducks, Sheep Total AA: Total MH: Total LD: Total AW: Other: Total Distance: 850.5 mls 850.5 mls 1741 mls 148 mls 908 mls 4499 miles Companions: (Derek) Points of Interest & Links: Dursley Breakheart Hill Millend Village Pitt Court Village North Nibley Village Tyndale Monument Nibley Knoll Cotswold Way Laughton Hills Lubenham Lodge Foxton Staircase 75 feet Foxton Village Bridges 52, 53, 54, 55, 56 Morton Bridge, 57, 58 Lubenham Lodge Bridge, 59, 60, 61, 62 Market Harborough Arm 5.75 miles Bridges 3 Foxton Bridge, 4 Foxton Swing Bridge, 5 Clarkes Bridge, 6 Foxton Stepbridge, 7 Johnson's Bridge, 8 Gallow's Hill Brdige, 9 Sedgley's Bridge, 10 Bowden Hall Bridge, 11 Saunt's Bridge, 12 Uncle Tom's Bridge, 13, 14. 'Old Union' Line to Leicester Twelve Locks (Kilby) One Moving Barge - NameGeneral: Parked by the boat yard in Market Harborough. Started cycling at 2:05pm through Market Harborough to the A4304. Steep ascent and descent before Lubenham Village. Cycled from Lubenham down quiet lane to Lauhgton Hills. Steep ascent to top of hills before turning left down steep single track lane to GUC bridge 52 and start of walk at 2:50pm. Cycled for 6 miles. Asked directions from a traditional Hedge Layer outside house on top of hills. I explained that he was doing a good job and that my wife's father was a professional hedge layer many years ago. He explained that the completed work looked very pleasing to the eye but was very expensive compared to the crude method the farmers now employ, a hedge trimmer on a tractor arm. Parked bike next to bridge and started walking alone a slippery and sometimes narrow towpath towards Foxton Staircase. Care was necessary with every step to ensure that a stumble did not result in wet clothes. Towpath changed completely from bridge 60 by car park for Foxton Locks. Much wider and level with a gravel surface, shere luxury. A carpet compared with the previous umpteen miles. Foxton Locks very impressive and steep (opened 1812). No barges travelling through locks unfortunately due to the late time and the winter season. Passed the old engine house & closed museum and wished I could have seen the old 'Inclined Plane' mechanism in action. It operated from 1900 to 1912, improving the barge journey time from 70 to 12 minutes. Towpath changed canal sides at bridges 60 and 62, from east to west and back again. Sign at canal junction for trips on horse drawn barge during the summer season. This obviously explained the good towpath on the Market Harborough Arm. Walked past the Foxton Swing Bridge alongside a couple of women walking their many dogs. Sniffs all round. Unfortunately there were no barges around to operate the bridge. Maybe another time. Good views across valley as the sunset. Spotted a Kingfisher in the tree on the opposite bank near bridge 8. It had flown on before I could take a photo. I followed it along the canal but it flew on each time before I could take that all important photo. As the light faded a Kestrel flew passed near bridge 11. Again, too quickly for a photo. After bridge 14 passed a barge and numerous impressive houses, all with large gardens and barge moorings. I was just pleased to enjoy the fresh air, wildlife and excellent views. Finally reached the impresseive boatyard with lots of moored holiday barges and newly converted apartments in the original warehouses. The bargeman's heaven. www.streepmap.co.uk, start Laughton Hills Bridge 52 466290/287555, finish Market Harborough 472760/287885, via Foxton Staircase 469145/289550. (Use Zoom). Hazards: Cycle on quiet country lanes if possible. No pleasure using todays busy main roads. Towpaths can be slippery after rain, especially in the winter season. Take care not to slip into the canal when the towpath is narrow and uneven. Foxton Locks are very deep and high sided in places, take extra care when being curious and nosey. | |||||
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Derek Harwood: Copyright 2005 Devised: May 2005 | |||||