Saturday 22nd February 2014 Oxford Canal Walk Ramble 2

Saturday 22nd February 2014 Oxford Canal Walk Ramble 2

Starting from Stretton Wharf and walking the 7.5 miles to Clifton Road Bridge No 66 in Rugby.

We were pleased to resume our towpath rambling after postponing a couple of planned walks due to the exceptionally wet weather experienced lately. The weather today was pleasant with some sunshine and very little wind, but underfoot there was certainly some mud!

Straight away we noticed that more people were around today. They included a ‘pirate’ boat and three men cutting down and trimming trees. One man was perched high above us with his chainsaw and, before passing, some of us had to wait for a short time while the latest slice of trunk was dropped down to the ground! The cutters handiwork was evident all along the rest of our walk into Rugby – quite a long stretch!

 

Also, all along our route were a great variety of bridges, including several iron ones, which added to the attractiveness of this mainly peaceful section of canal. The wrought iron ones, made at the Horseley Iron works in Tipton and recognisable all around the West Midlands area, were generally built to take the towpath over the entrances to canal spurs (now marinas and moorings). These spurs were once part of the old, meandering canal (apparently, boatmen used to say they could hear the sound of Brinklow Church bells all day while travelling about 12 miles around the village). This original Brindley-designed canal hugged the 300 foot contour line and didn’t include many locks (we haven’t seen one yet on the Oxford Canal). The northern section (Hawkesbury to Napton) was shortened by about 11 miles in the early part of the 19^th century and included a new tunnel at Newbold with towpaths on both sides.

  
So, we went through this 186m long tunnel (according to the entrance sign) some of us making echoes, others singing. In 2005 a multi-coloured lighting system was installed (cost £200k) but we saw only two lights on (perhaps the bulbs had blown). Soon after emerging into the brightness again we stopped at The Boat PH for coffees and sat outside, just where the original canalway passed before it was shortened. Whilst there, we heard the distinct sound of a “steam” narrowboat and went back to see Greyhound, a restored working canal boat in Fellows, Morton and Claytons livery, moored. I have found out since that it was built in 1926 with a Bolinder semi-diesel or hot bulb engine that runs reliably for long periods of time at a slow, steady speed. Once in a poor state, Greyhound has been restored and is now based with the South Midland Water Transport Ltd at Alvecote, near Tamworth. It goes around to many rallies and apparently will still carry loads (of coal, sand etc) if required.

   

All along our ramble we heard the sound of trains passing along the nearby railway track and went under the mainline near to Cathiron. Just before, was a pretty stretch with fields of sheep with lambs one side of the canal and wood the other, with patches of snowdrops.
 

 

After Newbold we passed the end of a disused canal arm, across a couple of aqueducts (over tributaries of the river Avon) and into the environs of Rugby. A bit further on we saw the Avon itself, a long way down, where there seemed to be a large pool area.   

Before leaving the canal at Clifton Road Bridge we passed a couple of murals on bridges depicting Rugby’s sporting and railway heritage. These were bright, clear and without graffiti. 
 

We felt good to be out walking along the towpath again, especially with John, Julie, Margaret, Clive, Dot, Margaret, Hugh, Peter and Sue making a nice and cheerful group.