The final bit to Banbury, twins and a strange light

Wednesday, 21 December 2011 17:16

It was turning out to be a long day cruising on the South Oxford Canal. We left Aynho and made for Banbury on our six and three quarter hour cruise. This is a journey we know so well! The sky was still gloriously blue and it was perfect for winter cruising. The moorings above Aynho wharf are very pleasant and we have moored here a number of times, but it was onwards and upwards. 

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Fields at Aynho

But it didn't last ......

Aynho Weir lock is another of those diamond shaped locks that mean that there is a lot of water used in the lock for a small drop - like Shipton Weir Lock - but Aynho is slightly different. Above the lock the River Cherwell crosses the canal, so we do not join it but rather cut across it. 

Waiting at Aynho Weir Lock

The flow across the canal was not very much but I put the throttle down anyway as I came out of the lock and John walked on to the next lock. It is only a short distance and the cut to it terminates in the lovely old Nell Bridge, now covered by a horrible modern concrete monstrosity.

The stretch after this is very pretty. First there is Haddens Lift Bridge (always open), then the small holding with spotted pigs, buffalo ice cream for sale and a few moored boats. The canal bends around and under the M40 and approaches Kings Sutton Lock. From here onwards the railway, very close at Aynho, is joined by the motorway, both accompanying the  canal closely. 

Soon Tywford Wharf came into view. This is now a holiday complex and has permit only moorings beside it, with visitor moorings opposite. We have never moored here, maybe one day.

Twyford Wharf

The River Cherwell floods easily here and I remember seeing it spread over all the fields and iced over last year. The Stevens twins (lift bridges with the same name) are always open and the upper one (175) looked dramatic as the weather changed.

You can just see the rainbow

We had two more locks to go, Grant's Lock and Banbury Lock, would we make it in time before the rain really set in? 

The light was really strange

The Bridge at Grant's Lock had been pretty dilapidated for a long time and at last they are doing something about it. It once had railings, but what are they going to replace them with?

Grant's Bridge under wraps

The outskirts of Banbury were on the hill to our left and the motorway crosses once again. Nadkey Bridge has a sign "Welcome to Banbury". We always chuckle at it it says "have a safe and enjoyable time" and underneath are the prohibition signs!

Nadkey Bridge and sign

We tootled past the moorings at the Tramway, into the lock by the Mill Arts Centre and found our mooring, just where we wanted by Castle Quay. Had we ever been away? 

South Oxford Canal, Aynho to Banbury,
3 hours 30 minutes, 6.83 miles, 5 locks