Thursday 13th June 2013 Ramble 18: Braunston , Bridge 91 to Napton Junction

Thursday 13th June 2013

Ramble 18: Braunston , Bridge 91 to Napton Junction.

This walk we estimated to be about 6 miles.

We were joined by John, Julie, Ian, Sue, Peter and Margaret making 8 of us. The weather was rather blustery and unsettled.

 We started this walk with a return trip to Gongoozlers café, aboard a canalboat moored near to the Stop House at Braunston, for some light refreshments. We tried to convince ourselves it was necessary as it was unlikely that there would be places to stop on today’s walk to Napton Junction. 

 So, later than anticipated, we started off and walked the short distance to Braunston Turn. This is situated at the junction of the Oxford Canal (Northern Section), the Grand Union Canal (Oxford Canal Section) and the Grand Union Canal (Grand Junction Canal - Main Line) and forms a triangle with a central island. A footpath goes over two black and white, iron bridges (made using mass production techniques at Horseley Ironworks in the 1830s) and carries the towpath over the canals. This triangular junction is unique to the canal system, but I guess, as one of the most photographed sites, pretty well known.

 We headed westwards along the towpath and over a grand brick built bridge complete with farm track/road one side and rounded towpath for people and horses pulling the boats on the other. It is designed so that the horses didn’t need to be unhitched from the boat whilst travelling under the bridge.

Soon after here we crossed from Northamptonshire into Warwickshire.

Next was a very straight section where the rebuilt Oxford canal goes along a long embankment, called Braunston Puddle Banks, over the River Leam valley (low lying, marshy ground). Originally, in the 1770s, the canal had been built cheaply hugging the contours of the land, but later it was improved by straightening, making wider and shorter. All this was an attempt to compete for trade after the Grand Junction Canal was opened, providing another route to London.

Around here, we saw disused railway lines that were never really profitable and nearby is St. Peter’s Church of Wolfhampcote, a church that was once part of a medieval village, now deserted.

Once we were away from Braunston, where there is a big gathering of historical canal boats in two weeks’ time, the countryside becomes very open with a few rolling hills in the distance. There are no locks, no villages and few bridges along the 5 mile stretch to Napton. The canal is fairly wide with winding holes in places.  We saw several fields of sheep and cows, as well as some chickens in small allotments and gardens on land adjacent to mooring on the far side of the canal to the towpath. 

While it was sunny we had a picnic besides the canal and watched a mother mallard with her brood of ducklings. A drake was around but not with the family, looking rather worse for wear.

Towards the end of the walk the dark clouds loomed over and it began to rain fairly heavily. We sheltered under the bridge at Napton Junction for a short while before quickening our pace and heading for the car parked at the Marina nearby.

 At Napton Junction the Oxford Canal goes south and the GUC heads off north towards Birmingham. Next time we will continue, northwards, and leave the Oxford Canal section of the Grand Union Canal behind.