The South Oxford Canal

There is a very small shop by the canal at Napton but the post office in the village itself is much better stocked. The Folly at Napton is a cosy pub that specialises in pies. Beer is Banks's Bitter, Cameron Strongarm and Morrells Varsity. The first thing we noticed about the locks on the Oxford was how easy they were to operate. The summit was long and winding just as Rolt described but most enjoyable, and what's more, we didn't touch bottom once! The Wharf, Fenny Compton has a nice eating room to the side that is worth booking. We had a nice meal accompanied by Bass, and Pedigree. A good boatyard and chandlers here. 

Claydon museum of bygones is an interesting place. It is a twenty minute walk from the locks. We moored above Cropredy locks. We liked the little streets of Cropredy, the well-stocked shop at bridge 15 and the Red Lion (Ruddles, Courage Directors, Theakston BB) but found the Brasenose Inn unfriendly. Banbury has plenty of shops. The lift bridge is popular with gongoozlers and I thought the Sani station next to the Shroppie (Audlem) fly was in a peculiar place until I saw the open elsan at Banbury lock adjacent to the coach station! Good mooring below this lock. 

There is NO laundrette in Banbury. Best pub by far is the Old Reindeer in Parsons Street which serves the full range of Hook Norton ales including the delicious mild. All the locks are single gated now, though speed of opening is outweighed by the weight of some of them. The Great Western at Aynho (three Hook Norton ales all in excellent nick) was one of our favourite pubs of the trip. Excellent food. At the shop by the wharf we tried Banbury cakes. They remind me of long, spicy Eccles cakes. We went back for more! Lower and Upper Heyford both have pubs. The Barley Mow at the latter is 10 minutes walk from the canal and serves Fullers London Pride but I preferred the Bell near the lift bridge at Lower Heyford. This unspoilt pub serves ABC, Burton ale, Benskins and Flowers Original. The section of canal between the Heyfords and Thrupp is very pretty indeed. The part where the Cherwell is canalised is particularly attractive.

  Thrupp moorings get filled quickly due, no doubt in part, to the lure of the Boat an excellent Morrells (Bitter, Graduate, Varsity and seasonal ale) pub serving high quality food. The Boatman further along also serves Morrells and is pretty good. There are no shops in the village but there is a Spar five minutes walk from bridge 224. There is now more mooring space at Thrupp. At Oxford itself there is plenty to do and we've spent a number of days moored near the end of the canal opposite College cruisers yard. Water and the Sani Station are awkwardly located down the end of the cut which is full of residential boats. 

There is plenty to do in Oxford. I can recommend the University and Pitt Rivers museums, the White Horse in Broad St, Kings Arms nearby in Holywell St and round the corner the Turf Tavern in Bath Place. Closer to the canal lies Jericho with a laundrette and coffee shop next door, a Londis all on Walton Street. The Harcourt Arms is a friendly pub on Cranham Terrace serving the excellent Fullers Ales. The pub specialises in board games.