« Oxford Canal Maps are released

Grand Union Canal Maps are released »

We've just released the next map in our Cruising Maps series.

As with all the others, it is available in two formats - both for download.

The Acrobat (pdf) format for viewing and printing as individual pages, and the Memory Map (qct) format for seamless mapping on your computer, Andorid, iPhone or PDA.

The new release is
> Lee & Stort Navigations – Cruising Map

No need to keep turning from one page to another in canal guide books to trace your way along the Lee & Stort Navigations as the seamless Memory Map format is just what you have been waiting for.

The first map on the right shows the area covered by the Cruising Maps (click to enlarge)

The second map on the right shows an extract from the Cruising Map (click to enlarge)

If you are not how sure what these maps are like then take a look at our Free Droitwich Canals Map to see just how good these are.


I'm working on the Grand Union Canal Main Lines next.

« Tekey Tezey Home Mooring

Lee & Stort Navigation Maps are released »

We've just released the next map in our Cruising Maps series.

As with all the others, it is available in two formats - both for download.

The Acrobat (pdf) format for viewing and printing as individual pages, and the Memory Map (qct) format for seamless mapping on your computer, Andorid, iPhone or PDA.

The new release is
> Oxford Canal – Cruising Map

No need to keep turning from one page to another in canal guide books to trace your way along the Oxford Canal as the seamless Memory Map format is just what you have been waiting for.

The first map on the right shows the area covered by the Cruising Maps (click to enlarge)

The second map on the right shows an extract from the Cruising Map (click to enlarge)

If you are not how sure what these maps are like then take a look at our Free Droitwich Canals Map to see just how good these are.


I'm working on the Grand Union Canal Main Lines next.

« More data collection on the Grand Union Main Line

Oxford Canal Maps are released »

Heth, on Takey Tezey says she is having trouble finding her bearings. Perhaps our new series of Cruising Maps will, help - and there's more new maps being added each month as I cycle the canals to make sure everything is up to date.

Our maps are up to date and, being for electronic download, we can keep them up to date. I have personally verified almost all the information, with a few sections being kindly covered by other members of the family for me.

All the maps are up to date when published, and all within the last 9 months, and we keep track of changes that boaters are kind enough to email us with and which are published in the leading magazines or websites. If we hear of a change then the master map is usually updated within 7 days to ensure your downloads are up to date.

Neil, from The Canal Shop says, in his latest newsletter, "New Nicholson guides due out in March are numbers 2 (Severn & Avon) and 6 (North East), the remaining guides and map are just being reprinted, but with a new picture on the front cover." The existing Nicolson Guides were released in March 2009, and presumable were researched and printed well before that so they are at least 3-4 years out of date and simply putting a new cover on won't help much!

So here you are Heth, an extract showing where you are to get you started. And if you do spot a local change we don't know about we'll be very grateful to hear from you so we can keep the maps up to date.

« Data Collection on the Grand Union Canal

Tekey Tezey Home Mooring »

Continuing along the Grand Union Canal Main Line, it was just a short section from Bull's Bridge Junction (with the Paddington Arm) and Cowley Peachey Junction (with the Slough Arm).

It;s not very far and there are no locks so it didn't take long to collect the data for our Cruising Maps.

For more information see

Grand Union Canal Photo Gallery for a virtual cruise along the canal
Grand Union Canal Route Information

« Cycling the Hertford Union Canal

More data collection on the Grand Union Main Line »

The next section for data collection for our Cruising Maps was the Grand Union Canal Main Line between Brentford Junction (with the River Thames) and Bull's Bridge Junction (with the Paddington Arm).

A short section of the Thames Path from Kew Bridge station brought me to Brentford Junction. The tide was about half-way so there's some water visible in the photos for the tidal section below Thames Locks.

Then, noting the warning signs about variable headroom on the semi-tidal section from Thames Locks to Brentford Gauging Locks, it was time to head up the canal.

There were lots of people along the canal on this sunny afternoon, especially around Hanwell Locks, but not so many they caused problems. I was asked a few questions when people saw me stop to make notes and measure the lock depths, and I was please I could answer them all.

It wasn't long before I reached Bull's Bridge Junction with the Paddington Arm I've already covered.

For more information see

Grand Union Canal Photo Gallery for a virtual cruise along the canal
Grand Union Canal Route Information

« Cycling the Regents Canal

Data Collection on the Grand Union Canal »

Cycling the short Hertford Union Canal completed the data collection for the London sections of the Grand Union Canal cruising maps.

The Hertford Union Canal is part of the Grand Union Canal and runs from Hertford Union Junction with the Regents Canal to the junction with the River Lee Navigation.

It is 1.9 kilometers (1.2 miles) long with 3 broad locks.

Virtually straight from one end to the other the canal was constructed to provide a direct link between the Regents Canal and the River Lee Navigation which not only saved time but avoided the difficulties of a short trip along the tidal River Thames before the Limehouse Cut was dug.

The canal is surprisingly quiet, being bounded along its northern edge by Victoria Park. Many of the features date from the opening in 1830 and are now listed structures.

I'll be turning my attention to the main line next, heading northwards from Brentford Junction with the River Thames.

For more information see

Hertford Union Canal Photo Gallery for a virtual cruise along the canal
Hertford Union Canal Route Information

« Warwickshire Ring Maps are released

Cycling the Hertford Union Canal »

Continuing with the data collection for the Grand Union Cruising Maps I cycled the towpaths of the Regents Canal across the northern edge of central London. The Regents Canal runs from the junction with the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal at Little Venice to the junction with the tidal River Thames at Limehouse Basin.

That's a total of 14.2km (8.8 miles) long with 13 broad locks, including Limehouse Lock onto the River Thames.

Neither of the two tunnels - Maida Vale Tunnel at 249m (272 yards) and Islington Tunnel at 878m (960 yards) - have towpaths requiring walkers to take the marked route over the top of the hills.

The locks come one at a time as they are well spaced out lowering the canal from around 28.5m (94 feet) to reach sea level at the tidal River Thames.

The canal passes through London Zoo, with some of the animals visible briefly, next to the market at Camden, and close to the main line stations at Kings Cross and St. Pancras.

Hertford Union Junction, towards the eastern end of the canal, provides a link through the Hertford Union Canal to the River Lee Navigation, avoiding the route via Limehouse Basin which once required a short passage along the River Thames.

For more information see

Regents Canal Photo Gallery for a virtual cruise along the canal
Regents Canal Route Information