Objective: take train from Rugby to Leamington Spa, and cycle back along the Grand Union and Oxford canals via Napton Junction to Rugby.
Trip Type: solo cycle
Distance: 26 miles
Time to complete: 3.5 hrs, 7.4 mph
Nicholson Guide: Guide 3, pp 119-124, 141-143
Costs: free parking at Rugby. Train from Rugby to Leamington Spa via Coventry £10.10, 2 per hour
Difficulty: moderate
Adjacent Rides: Coventry to Rugby, Solihull to Leamington Spa, Northampton to Braunston
Overview
Not an easy ride, with many stretches of difficult towpath, especially between Napton Junction and Braunston. Mostly rural, plenty of locks (most of which are rising), and plenty of moorings and travelling boats. There are several pubs between Leamington Spa and Braunston, but none after that.
1. Train from Rugby to Leamington Spa, cycle to Napton Junction (11 miles)
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. Change at Coventry for Leamington Spa.
Emerging from Leamington Spa Station (which is undergoing substantial changes to the forecourt as of summer 2022), turn left then immediately right at the lights onto Tachbrook Road. The canal bridge is 100m up and access is on the right. Cycle west along the towpath (i.e. back under the bridge), which is formed of compacted earth and gravel, but decent quality.
Heading out of town, bridge 32 is where Fosse Way (old Roman road) crosses the canal. Shortly after is Welsh Road Bridge, which has a very steep concrete slope – you will need to walk your bike up here.
The ride is rural with plenty of locks with unusual worm-driven paddle gear. The towpath slowly deteriorates, it is not maintained and will definitely be very difficult when wet.
Bascote Locks has a 2 flight staircase, and Stockton Locks is an 8 lock flight, so plenty of engineering to ogle at.
Turn left at Napton junction.
2. Napton Junction to Braunston (5 miles)
The towpath is initially very tricky with potholes, worn banking, tree roots and stones. You will need to walk your bike round some of these obstacles. Approaching Braunston Junction the last couple of miles are much improved as they are used by walkers from Braunston.
Taking lunch at Braunston is recommended – there are pubs, a café, or have your sandwiches on the cast iron bridge over the junction.
3. Braunston to Rugby (8 miles)
The towpath is again very poor heading north from Braunston Junction. There are dangerous potholes, tree roots and a sloping, narrow towpath – you will need to walk your bike at several points.
Things improve as you go under the mainline railway Bridge 73, and the last couple of miles are thankfully straightforward. The ride ends at Bridge 66, where refreshments await at the Canal Lounge café/bar over the bridge.
To return to your car from the café, cycle back over the bridge 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.