The Leicester Ring — Canal Cruising Ring

Overview

The Leicester Ring is a long, varied cruising circuit in the East Midlands, taking in Leicester, Coventry and the southern reaches of the Trent & Mersey. It runs to approximately 145 miles with around 100 locks. Most crews complete it in 12 to 16 days at a relaxed 4-hour-day pace, making it a solid two-week cruise — too long for one week.

Route

The ring links five canals and one river in a clockwise loop:

• Grand Union Canal Leicester Line (Norton Junction to Leicester and onward to the River Soar)
• River Soar (through Leicester to the River Trent at Trent Lock)
• River Trent (Trent Lock to Shardlow / Derwent Mouth)
• Trent & Mersey Canal (Derwent Mouth to Fradley Junction)
• Coventry Canal (Fradley to Hawkesbury Junction)
• Oxford Canal (Hawkesbury to Braunston Junction, then Grand Union back to Norton Junction)

Highlights

• Foxton Locks — a ten-lock staircase in two flights of five, plus the remains of the Foxton Inclined Plane
• Watford Locks — a smaller staircase on the Leicester Line
• Saddington Tunnel and the long, lock-free pound through Welford and Husbands Bosworth
• Crick Tunnel and the Crick Boat Show site
• Leicester city centre and the Mile Straight on the River Soar
• Loughborough, Sileby and the Soar villages
• Hawkesbury Junction and the Greyhound Inn
• Braunston Junction and the Stop House

Difficulty

Approximately 100 locks across 145 miles is a low-to-moderate ratio, with locks concentrated at Foxton (10), Watford (7), Hillmorton (paired) and the Trent & Mersey end. The Soar through Leicester and the lower Soar to Trent Lock are river navigations subject to flood warnings — both can shut for days after heavy rain. The short stretch of the River Trent between Sawley and Derwent Mouth is gentle and well-marked. Saddington Tunnel (880 yards) and Crick Tunnel (1,528 yards) are unlit but straightforward. Husbands Bosworth Tunnel (just over 1,160 yards) is also on the route.

Suitable for

A two-week cruise for first-time hirers comfortable with rivers; a relaxed 16-day cruise for crews who want to take their time. Not realistic in one week. The river sections require crews to check flood warnings and be willing to lay over a day if needed. Two crew minimum; three is more comfortable for the staircases.

Where to start

Common hire bases include Braunston, Norton Junction (Welton Hythe, Gayton), Crick, Market Harborough (off-ring), Sileby, Barrow upon Soar, Stone, Great Haywood, Atherstone and Hillmorton. Braunston and Crick are popular launch points; starting on the Soar at Sileby gives crews an early taste of the river before committing to the Trent.

Practicalities

• Stoppages and pinch points: Foxton and Watford staircases are the main pinch points — both queue in summer and Watford requires lock-keeper supervision in season. The Soar can shut on flood warnings.
• River sections: the Soar and the Trent are flow-controlled; check Environment Agency / CRT notices daily once on the rivers. Floating pontoons are available at most Soar locks.
• Saddington, Crick and Husbands Bosworth tunnels are long, unlit, and have limited width — keep central, headlight on, and watch for oncoming boats (particularly at Crick in show season).
• Mobile signal is good through Leicester and the Soar valley, patchy on the Leicester summit pound around Welford and Husbands Bosworth.

Best time of year

Late spring through early autumn. The Soar and Trent are most reliable from May to September. Avoid November to March unless you are happy to lay over for river closures. The Crick Boat Show (late May Bank Holiday) brings a noticeable spike in traffic on the Leicester Line around Crick.