Objective: take train from Rugby to Coventry, and cycle back along the Coventry and Oxford canals, via Hawkesbury Junction.

Trip Type: solo cycle

Distance: 23 miles

Time to complete: 3 hrs, 8.0 mph

Nicholson Guide: Guide 1, pp 48-49, 53, 142-147

Costs: free parking at Rugby. Train from Rugby to Coventry £5.90 (11 minutes, 3 per hour but use London Northwestern/West Midlands if you haven’t booked a space)

Difficulty: moderate

Adjacent Rides: Leamington Spa to Rugby, Fazeley Junction to Bedworth

Overview

An interesting ride, with contrasting conditions, the first half coming out of Coventry being easy going, but the second half from Hawkesbury Junction much more tricky towpath-wise. There’s a good lunch pub at Hawkesbury Junction (also a nice place to picnic), and a very nice café/bar to finish.

Make sure you have lights on your bike for the Newbold Tunnel.

1. Train from Rugby to Coventry, then to Coventry Basin

Park your car in Howkins Road, Rugby, CV21 1BP for free. Cycle down Boughton Road, turn right into Mill Road to station. Trains to Coventry generally go from platform 1 (use the lift). Use a London Northwestern/West Midlands (they are the same company) train rather than an inter-city, as these do not need reservations.

Emerging from Coventry station main entrance go straight ahead across the A4053 (which is traffic-calmed) and bear left across Greyfriars Green to join Queen Victoria Road (again, very calm). Continue as the road bears slightly right around the shopping centre. Once you reach Bishop Street turn left (it is one-way, so use the pavement or walk). As you approach the ring-road there is a pedestrian ramp to your right, which takes you directly to the canal basin – you will see the big murals. Enter to the far (north) side of the small basin, which is still undergoing renovation (May 2022).

2. Coventry Basin to Hawkesbury Junction (5 miles)

Once past the basin the towpath switches to the right, over a steep bridge. The towpath is of excellent quality all the way out of Coventry to Hawkesbury Junction. There are shallow steps over the entrance to the small basin at Stoke Heath. The canal passes close to the Coventry Arena, sometime home of Coventry City FC, as well as Wasps rugby union club.

3. Hawkesbury Junction to Bedworth Bridge 13 and back (2 miles)

You only need to do this bit if you want to meet up with the adjoining ride from Fazeley Junction to Bedworth northwards.

Cross the beautiful cast iron bridge and continue north.

The towpath immediately becomes much poorer with a narrow earth path, tree roots, sloping and muddy when wet. Turn round at bridge 13 and return to the junction.

If you time it right you can have lunch and a pint at The Greyhound Inn, Hawkesbury Junction.

4. Hawkesbury Junction to Rugby (13.5 miles)

The ride continues along the right-hand side of the canal, the same side as the Greyhound pub. Although designated as the Oxford Canal Walk the towpath is very poor and unmaintained in places. There are long stretches of mud and grass with tree roots, stones, and it is narrow and muddy when wet.

The towpath is on the right all the way. There is only 1 lock, by the junction. The canal varies between contour and cut and fill, with the cut and fill sections having slightly better riding conditions. There are some stretches providing relief, including a half mile of 1 foot wide concrete paving at Ansty.

The canal passes under the M69, and then the M6. It also runs alongside the Rugby to Nuneaton mainline railway, and crosses the Fosse Way roman road near Brinklow.

The Newbold Tunnel is 230m long. The towpath continues through the tunnel, with a handrail. It is narrow as well as dark so you will need your lights. Try to avoid meeting a man with a baby in a backpack half way through as I did, as it was a bit nervy. As the canal approaches the A426 on the outskirts of Rugby the old disused canal heads north.

The towpath is excellent from the tunnel entrance to the end of the ride, which finishes at the Clifden Road Bridge (bridge 66), where you can relax inside or out with coffee and cake or a cold beer at the Canal Lounge café/bar just across the bridge. They also have decent wash facilities if you are somewhat sweaty by this time.

To return to your car cross back over the bridge from the café down to the roundabout. Turn right along Butlers Leap, and Howkins Road is about 3/4 mile along on the right, past the turn to the station you took earlier.