Wormleighton to Napton on the Oxford Canal - the bendy bit!l

Sunday, 12 October 2008 20:52

This section of the Oxford canal is a brilliant example of James Brindley's skill as a contour expert! He built the canal following the contours of the land to save having to "Cut and Fill" his way across the countryside.

At times it seems that you are going to where you are coming from and vice versa! The bends are not just bends - they are hair pin bends, some blind, some with bridges just on the bend and others that seem never ending, narrow and shallow.

All good fun if you do not take them too fast and over or under steer as then you are likely to lose your ability to steer at all. Epiphany behaved in an exemplary manner, very responsive to the helm and being only 57 ft, took the bends easily.

The countryside is beautiful and once the mist rose and the sun burned it off we had a very warm day again. Luverly!

There are quite a number of brick arched bridges - all photogenic.


At Marston Doles the well known Napton windmill comes into view and the Napton flight of 9 locks begin. 16, 15 and 14 are spaced out. We were now going down off the summit.

Just above Napton Adkin's lock (14) the Old Engine House arm leaves to the right. Once it led to a pump House, now it is moorings.


The next locks follow each other in quick succession and it was fairly busy as we were following a boat down and there were a number of boats coming up. At times we had to wait on the lock landings.


The BW work meant that there were hoppers and barges to avoid also. But the good news was that they were widening the very shot pound between 10 and 9 so passing will be much easier in the future.

Possibly because of this they have created temporary 48 hr moorings above lock 8.


When we spotted these we decided to moor up. We were both tired - John from doing all the locks, me from jumping on and off to temporarily moor up to wait and again to either shut the top gate or a top paddle.

A quick wander down to the shop at the bottom lock and we discovered it had closed. Maybe we will try tomorow! Soon we were joined by 2 other boats one behind and one in front and it is all quiet now in this warm clear evening.

I suspect we will wake early as the first boats come up the bottom lock!

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