Hillmorton top lock

We didn’t really plan to visit this week, only decided yesterday so had to come via Rugby to stock up with provisions on the way to the marina. Once we were unpacked and eaten lunch we plodded off out of the marina heading south. Most of the empty offside moorings now display private signs and the fly tipping is still on the towpath, including an outboard engine.. As expected the canal was very quiet with Hillmorton Locks closing at 3pm. Once moored we wandered down to the top lock to look at the level. The Braunston pound is down by 120mm. Unlike last time we were here there are very few boats moored and a queue of two for the locks in the morning, and we are the first.

 

Today’s Journey

A trip with a difference

On Sunday August 16 2026  we sailed on the restored Norfolk trading Wherry, Maud on the River Yare.
Wherry Maud Trust – Keeping Broads history alive
As it was a one way journey from Thorpe, Frostbites sailing club to Reedham ferry a bit of car shuffling was involved. We met another couple at Reedham and then travelled in their car to Thorp, leaving ours at the Ferry Pub.
This was our planned route

After donning lifejackets and a safety briefing we boarded Maud and cast off. One of the crew quantted the bows out into the cannel, no bow thruster for this old girl and then Nicky in the tender pushed us down stream against the incoming tied, there wasn’t a breath of wind and the sail was still down. As we approached Trowse Viaduct the mast had to be dropped  quite a way to clear it.

Once through the viaduct the mast was raised again, this is done with a block and tackle right at the bows of the boat and the sail hoisted, this is done with a two handed winch just ahead of the mast. You may expect the rope on the winch to be laid out evenly across the roller but its not. There is more effort required to hoist the sail the final few feed so the rope is wound to give a smaller diameter roller for that part of the job.

A short way beyond Trowse viaduct is where the local sewage works discharges into the river. You can see the incoming tide taking the foam upstreamThankfully as the morning progressed the wind freshened  so we were able to do some sailing. The wind was south east and the tide against us, but thanks to all the twists it the river we did pick a bit of speed up in places.

One thing I didn’t expect was to see three steel Narrowboats moored along here

Another strange sight was a stand-up Paddle Board with a chair on it, the chap at the front paddling and his young lady sitting watching the world go by.

We saw a few hire cruisers about but we also saw several yachts and although or general direction of travel was into the wind, the wind was on our stern as we met a couple tacking towards us and then behind us.

While we actually had some wind and the tender wasn’t required to pus us, some of the passengers took the opportunity to go out and take photographs of Maud.

The traditional Norfolk sailing yachts look quite splendid as they glides by, if I was a tad younger I could well look at hiring something like this for a weeks holiday

As we approached Reedham we passed the Cantley Sugar factory. By now the tide had turned and was slowly running with us. British Sugar recently announced that they plan close the site down.

As we approached Reedham the crew lowered the sail ready for us to come in to moor, we carried on downstream passed the pub before turning and come into moor right in front of the pub head to tide. We then took the couple who had gives a lift to Thorp this morning a ride to pick up their car in Thorp before heading home.

Back home

Change of plan this morning and we decided we would come home today and not tomorrow. So at 9 am we cast off, chugged round the marina and headed off to Dunchurch pools, in that short journey we met 8 Narrowboats heading towards Hillmorton. Our reason for visiting Dunchurch was to fill with diesel and I was a bit disappointed to find the domestic rate was £1-30 I was hoping for better. It was nice to go there when it wasn’t too windy. Anyway diesel bought we headed back to our marina only meeting one boat coming towards us. Passing a moored boat near Dunchurch , he told us 10 boats had left there this morning heading for Hillmorton.
I rather cocked up turning into the marina, I blame it on the water level down a bit and the bow catching the silt, that sorted it was through the bridge and backwards into our berth, a bit easier than yesterday as the boat on the next finger pontoon was out giving me a good 16 foot to play with.

Today’s Journey

 

3¾ miles with no locks in 1¾ hours

Home moorings

The first couple of boat came by quite early to join the queue for the ten o’clock flight opening so we were away about half nine. Three hire boats who looked to be one big family traveling together asked if the had to go down the locks to wind and then come back up. That should be fun with the boats queuing below the flight and them trying to wind. They are putting yet another floating chalet in the basin that was once full of boats at Blue Haven. Since we have been out the land at Barby Straight has been sold and lots of the other plots with no boats have private signs up. I wonder if the stuff left on the towpath opposite has anything to do with it, including an outboard and a generator. The past two days we have seen lots of small plastic cruisers in varying states of decay. Once back at our mooring we went for a ride round in the car, ending at The Wharf Inn on the N Stratford for lunch.

Today’s Journey

2 miles with no locks in 1 hour

Hillmorton

We were away earlier today as we decided we would head through Hillmorton in case they reviewed the opening hours on Monday, so off at 9am.Crossing the second aqueduct coming into Rugby the off side railing have rotted away, it will probably be put down to vandalism.As we approached bridge 58 it all looked a bit strange, not a boat in sight, the first one was round the corner, even all the moorings offside weren't taken.

It looks as if most of Clifton Cruisers are out, with a couple getting ready to go as we passed. Thankfully we met this beautiful craft on a straight section. It may look like she is built with wooden planks and

over 100 years old, but she is brand new and made of steel, fitted with a Kelvin engine and looks absolutely splendid.

We carried on to Hillmorton where I accidently jumped the queue when the boat I was following pulled in at the water point rather than carrying on to the lock moorings where two boats were waiting. We gave our apologies and explained out thought to which the steerer said well we could do with a fill up so carry on. One of the bottom locks is broken so they have locked off one of the top locks to save water, with a Volockie at the top and bottom controlling the flow. The water above the flight is probably down 100mm. Once at the top we passed these young Belted Galloways not only in the shade but also the canal. You have to look hard to see them.

Rather than mooring on the first vacant mooring above the flight we slipped into a gap half way to the first bridge to leave room for people arriving to queue for the morning. 
There are two things in the flight a bit unusual, a boat abandoned on the lock moorings of the second Lock and this chap between the bottom and middle lock towpath side

 

  
Today’s Journey

7½ miles with 3 locks in 3½ hours

All Oaks Wood

Away just before 10 and went over something hard just before bridge 15, that’s a little less 2 pack on the base plate. Round passed Charity Dock and there looked to be a few boats missing so this old wooden hulk was on display.

About half a mile further on out in mid channel we scraped on something else. As I turned at Hawkesbury Junction I didn’t expect to meet a Coaster and a Gun Boat, so I didn’t get round in one.

Hawkesbury Lock was like a real lock today with the Coventry being so low,just a bit more difference in level.

When we last came under this bridge at Ansty it was being repainted to cover the graffiti, it looks as if it may have worked.

This wouldn’t be my chosen spot for a mooring for the night but maybe they like trains.

It looks as if work is finally complete at the two breaches in the narrows between All Oaks and Rose Narrowboat, unlike the one further north hat has had nothing done and the towpath closure fences put to one side . We will see what happens when it rains, if it ever does. Floating in the narrows was a flower arrangement complete with miniature solar panel. I may walk back and see it it illuminates tonight.

We moored on pins at All Oaks Wood until the boat ahead who was moored to the piling left, then with great difficulty we moved down a boats length once we were clear of the mud.

Today’s Journey 10½ miles with 1 lock in 4 hours