The Grand Union Canal

The last time we travelled the section from Birmingham centre to Lapworth, we found the experience frustrating. There was a lot of debris in the channel and we thought it badly needed dredging near Solihull. Once you get past Knowle locks things get better but this isn't the nicest canal I've been on. At Lapworth / Kingswood junction, we recommend the Navigation. A GBG listed pub with excellent ale (interesting guest ales) and splendid food. The portions are huge! The Navigation is easily walkable from either canal. apart from an off-licence, the only useful shop is a small general store near the Boot pub.
The Tom O' the Wood at Rowington (bridge 63) is set in a pretty village. It is a good pub serving 6X, Old Speckled Hen and their own ale brewed for them by Wyre Piddle. The food looked excellent. Hatton is best done in pairs. The paddles of these double locks are slow to lift but the locks do empty quickly. The Cape is our favoured mooring spot but the factory opposite is noisy from 7am to 7pm. The Cape of Good Hope at Warwick serves Boddingtons and two guest ales. Excellent food particularly the S & K pie and garlic mushrooms. Warwick town centre isn't close to the canal so allow at least half an hour to get to the main shops.

Alternatively go on to Leamington. We noticed a MacDonalds, Sainsburys and two modern canal pubs at bridge 43. There are plenty of good shops at Leamington about 15 min walk from the canal. The Royal Exchange is close to the canal and serves Hall and Woodhouse IPA. Long Itchington is a good place to stop. The food and beer (Hook Norton Bitter and guest) at the Two Boats is good but the walk into the village is well worth it. There is a pretty tudor house on the way (Apparently Queen Elizabeth I stayed here), a picture book green with pond and a very friendly pub, the Harvester serving Hook Norton and a guest beer.

The Blue Lias just up a few locks is comfortable and serves London Pride, Pedigree and Whitbread Original. The Ploughmans was awful though! A useful, little canal-side shop near the top of Stockton locks. On to Braunston for the night. The beer at the Mill House is fine (I reckon Braunston Brew is ABC brewed by Carlsberg Tetley) but I much prefer the Plough a short walk up the path past the church. This is a 'proper' pub with good food, Ansells Bitter, Burton ale and a guest. One thing we notice about Braunston is that every boat seems in an almighty rush. We had to get up at 11pm out of bed to rescue a dog from the cut.