2008 Routes & Prices
The
stretch of the Grand Union Canal in our area has a lot to offer, from attractive
open countryside to history and engineering:
adjacent to our base are both Cosgrove Lock, and Cosgrove’s well-known
ornamental bridge, and within a few minutes cruising is the famous 'Iron Trunk'
aqueduct over the Great Ouse river.
Also in easy reach are the Victorian industrial buildings of Wolverton
Works, the new (1991) aqueduct over Grafton Street in Northern Milton Keynes,
and New Bradwell Windmill, as well as the rural landscape of South
Northamptonshire.
There are a number of attractive canal side pubs, for those who would like
to break their trip for a while, to eat or just to relax with a quiet drink.
We
offer a range of ‘standard’ return trips, from our Cosgrove base – the
letters relate to the accompanying map:
Cruise
1 -
A-B-A: Through
the lock to Wolverton Wharf, passing over the Iron Trunk aqueduct:
50-60
mins. approx.
£110-00
Cruise
2 -
A-C-A:
Through Cosgrove village and the ornamental bridge to Castlethorpe Wharf:
50-60
mins. approx.
Cruise
3 -
A-D-A:
Through the lock and on to New Bradwell windmill, including the Iron
Trunk and Grafton St. aqueducts: 2
hours approx.
Cruise
4 -
A-E-A:
Through Cosgrove village
and the ornamental bridge to Yardley Gobion
Wharf through
open countryside: 2 hours approx.
Cruise
5 -
A-B-E-A:
A figure-eight route passing through
the lock to Wolverton Wharf, passing over the Iron Trunk aqueduct and then
heading north
through Cosgrove village and the ornamental bridge to Castlethorpe
Wharf:
1 3/4 - 2 hours approx.
Cruise
6 -
A-C-D-A:
A figure-eight route through
Cosgrove village and the ornamental bridge to Castlethorpe
Wharf
and then heading south through the lock and on to New Bradwell windmill, including the Iron
Trunk and Grafton St. aqueducts: 3
hours approx.
Cruise
7
-A-E-B-A: A figure-eight route passing
through
the lock, over the Iron Trunk aqueduct to Wolverton Wharf and then heading North
through Cosgrove village and the ornamental bridge to Yardley Gobion Wharf: 3
hours approx.
Cruise
8 -
A-F-A:
Through the lock over the Iron Trunk and Grafton Street aqueducts passing
New Bradwell windmill, and continuing through Stantonbury Fields to Great Linford: 4
hours approx.
Cruise
9 -
A-G-A:
Through Cosgrove village
and the ornamental bridge
then through open countryside passing Yardley Gobion
Wharf and Grafton Regis to
Stoke Bruerne Bottom Lock: 4 hours approx.
Cruise
10 -A-D-E-A: A
figure-eight route passing
through the lock and on to New Bradwell windmill, including the Iron
Trunk and Grafton St. aqueducts and then heading North through Cosgrove village and the ornamental bridge to Yardley Gobion
Wharf: 4 hours approx.
Cruise 11 -A-G-B-A: A
figure-eight route passing
through Cosgrove village
and the ornamental bridge
then through open countryside passing Yardley Gobion
Wharf and Grafton Regis to
Stoke Bruerne Bottom Lock
then heading South through
the lock, over the Iron Trunk aqueduct to Wolverton Wharf: 5
hours approx.
Cruise 12 -A-G-B-A: A
figure-eight route passing
through the lock over the Iron Trunk and Grafton Street aqueducts passing
New Bradwell windmill, and continuing through Stantonbury Fields to Great
Linford the heading North through Cosgrove village and the ornamental bridge to Castlethorpe
Wharf: 5 hours approx.
Cruise
13 -
A-H-A:
Through the lock over
the Iron Trunk and Grafton Street aqueducts passing New Bradwell windmill, and continuing
through Stantonbury Fields and Great Linford to Campbell Park (near Central Milton Keynes): 6 hours approx.
Cruise
14 –A-J-A:
Our ‘All-Day’ cruise, exploring the entire length of the 11 ¾
mile pound from
Cosgrove to Fenny Stratford Lock (a short stop to stretch your legs or visit the
canal side pub at fenny is included): Nine hours approx.
Cruise
15–A-G, G-A: An
alternative Day Out, cruising to the bottom lock at Stoke Bruerne
and stopping for around three hours to explore the famous canal village, lunch
in one of the pubs and see the nearby Blisworth Tunnel.
We can provide passengers on this cruise with admission tickets to the Canal Museum
at discounted prices: Seven hours approx.
The
list above is far from exclusive – we will be happy to fit in with your
requirements wherever possible.
We can pick you up at a different location, although this does incur a
small extra charge;
or travel to different points, as long as we can turn the boat around!
All of the trips above pass by at least one decent pub, so we can stop
off on the way if you wish.
We can provide buffet catering if required, so that you can eat whilst cruising; we have a CD player for background music, or can offer a disco or live music if you prefer – for groups who may want to take in the local history of the canal, we can offer either an outline commentary by your Captain (free of charge) or a detailed commentary by a local canal historian @ £10-00/hr.
All
prices are for the whole-boat charter, for up to forty passengers, and are
zero-rated for VAT.
For information on Disco or Live Music costs, please call or e-mail.
Buffet
Catering Prices:
The Budget Buffet (pork pie, savoury egg, sausage roll, quiche, cheese
board, salad, roll and butter, fruit pie)
£7-00 per head
The Standard Buffet (ham, turkey, quiche, pork pie, salad,
cheese board, rolls & butter, dips, gateaux)
£9-00 per head
The Luxury Buffet (smoked salmon, roast beef, roast turkey, ham,
quiche, pork pie, salad, tomatoes, cheese board & biscuits, rolls & butter,
assorted dips, gateaux or cheese cake)
£10-50 per head
Cream
Teas (fresh-baked scones, double cream, jams, fresh seasonal fruit & cream,
tea or coffee )
£5.50 per head
Please note actual menus served may vary slightly from the above.