We booked this canal boat today, the Teasel. I am disappointed it doesn't have Wi-Fi but it is still the best option for us with the location and timing. £1125.00 is US$1470.60 - Let the adventures begin!!!
Look at the itinerary of the various things we ill see and do:
Route Highlights:
Natural England consider the Basingstoke Canal
which runs through the counties of Surrey and Hampshire to be one of the finest
waterways in Britain. To appreciate it, all you need is to take it slow and
easy, meandering slowly through an environment abundant with both plant and
wildlife. Admire the trees, riverside plants and rural landscape; look for
heron, coots, moorhens and ducks; capture the brilliance of the shy, diving
kingfisher, the elusive water vole, badgers and bats at dusk. Seek out the
remains of 'King John's' castle and peer into the depths of the Greywell
Tunnel, now closed to navigation and well known for its colony of bats. There
is also a good choice of pubs and restaurants close to the canal to enjoy a
leisurely lunch or dine out in the evening before returning to your cosy
narrowboat. Ideal for beginners, small groups, families or great for a romantic
getaway. The sample routes below are merely suggestions. The age and nature of
our unique waterways means that there may occasionally be a need for planned or
emergency restrictions or closures and therefore it cannot be guaranteed that
every route will always be available.
This looks ideal for us:
Relaxed route: St John's Castle, Ash Lock and
Return - 29 miles, 0 locks, 10 hours total. This is the perfect beginner’s
route as there are no locks. 10 hours for a short break does not seem long, but
there are many things to do en route that you may be happy to cruise less and
explore more. You start at Odiham Wharf in Hampshire; if you arrive early, you
can take a lunch at the Waterwitch pub, just across the lane from the entrance
to the boatyard or explore the historic village of Odiham with its impressive
high street with the Bush Hotel, restaurants, Co-op and other unique shops. The
13th Century Norman church, village stocks and Odiham’s Pest House, built in
1622 as a dwelling house for the poor, tucked in a corner of the graveyard are
worth a visit either at the beginning or end of your holiday. Once onboard,
cruise west towards North Warnborough. The 18th Century Anchor Inn, is less
than 1 mile south of the road bridge. Shortly after is the mechanised lift
bridge which is operated using the BW key supplied with the boat. Before using
the bridge make sure no vehicles are waiting to cross and ensure the road barriers
are in place! A little further on Odiham Castle, also known as King John's
Castle, appears on the right hand side and marks the limit of navigation. Turn
here and moor up to visit the remains of the only octagonal keep in England.
You can also trace the remains of the moat long since cut through by the
building of the canal. It is said that King John began construction of a castle
on the banks of the local river Whitewater in 1207. It provided a convenient
and secure stopping place, half way between Windsor and Winchester, where he
could also hunt in Odiham’s Royal Deer Park nearby. It is believed that the
king and his entourage rode out from Odiham castle on the morning of 10th June
1215 to Runnymede, for the signing of the Magna Carta. From here you can walk
the last half mile along the towpath to the entrance of the Greywell Tunnel
which used to take the canal on towards its terminus in Basingstoke. The water
here is crystal clear, springs bubble up from the underlying chalk and are an
important source of water for the canal. The tunnel collapsed in the 1930's and
is not open to boat traffic, although occasional inspections are carried out to
check the roof but the tunnel is now a protected bat roost. Walk up the path
over the top of the tunnel portal into the village of Greywell and take
refreshment at the Fox and Goose. The following morning retrace the route past
the boatyard and follow the canal on its meandering route to Winchfield; moor
by Barley Mow bridge and the pub of the same name is just within sight from the
entrance to the lane. The canal continues in a large loop around Dogmersfield
Park and passes Tundry Pond where there are lovely views across the parkland
with walks by the pond accessible from Blacksmith's Bridge. The canals starts to
turn east again towards Crookham Wharf and access to The Exchequer, an award
winning country pub. Or continue for just over a mile to the waterside Fox and
Hounds on the approach to the town of Fleet. Moor on the towpath side at
Reading Road Wharf, (not too close to the road bridge as it can be a bit noisy)
and walk up the hill towards the town centre. There are 2 supermarkets, a
shopping centre, chemists and a huge choice of eateries here, as well as
takeaways; all within 10 minutes walk. The canal goes past private gardens
until Pondtail Bridge; moor here for the Sainsbury's convenience store by the
traffic lights. The canal straightens a little here and skirts the end of the
runway at Farnborough which hosts the world famous airshow and is very rural once
again. The canal passes a public slipway, then under the low Farnborough Road
bridges (the old and the new), until the Ash Lock canal depot is reached. Turn
above the lock. If times allows, lock down and cruise across the aqueduct over
the A331 to enter the Surrey section of the canal. A little further on at Ash
Wharf are moorings with access to a supermarket, chemist, Indian restaurant,
Chinese and fish & chip takeaways and pet shop.
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