Stoke Bruerne, short village walk

This is a short stroll taking in the lovely village centre which is a hive of activity on pleasant weather days. You are likely to see boats going through the locks on the canal, which is the Grand Union Canal.

The walk takes you up to the Blisworth tunnel entrance, where you will also see the blacksmith’s premises, then double back along the canal to the A508 roadbridge, and back again towards the Village Centre. There are lots of points of interest in the village, we will mention them as we get there in the directions. The Canal Museum at the start is well worth a visit.

Walk details

Parking

There is a small car park in the village, behind the canal museum (NN12 7SE) and also an overflow carpark (a field) a short walk away from village centre. The two pubs have parking for patrons.

Accessibility

The towpath can be uneven in places and may be muddy during the winter months.

Stoke Bruerne Walk Map

Begin The Walk

1. Canal Museum

Start outside the canal Museum, facing the canal, take the towpath to the right. This takes you to the tunnel entrance. Check out the Smithy while you’re here. And notice the ‘winding hole’ this is where the canal widens to allow boats to turn around, its a little before the tunnel entrance.

2. Head back to the village

Double back to the village. Look out for the historic boat called ‘Sculptor’ usually found outside the canal museum. Sculptor was built in 1935. She was a motor boat of one of 12 pairs of motors and butties and was delivered to the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company in November 1935 along with the butty Toucan, with which she was originally intended to pair. A butty was like a trailor, towed behind the motor boat, and enabled more cargo to be carried.

3. Walk towards the Top Lock

Continue past the canal museum up to a lock, which is the Top Lock, where you may well see it being operated by boaters. You could loiter and watch or in boating parlance ‘gongoozle’.

4. Under the road bridge

Then pass under the road bridge, the Navigation PH is on your left, and another lock is in front of you.

5. A508 Road Bridge

Continue on along the towpath, there are 3 further locks on this stretch. In a short time you will come to the A508 road bridge. Stay on towpath going under the road. Notice the decorative art works as you go under.

6. Bottom Lock

Just after the 2nd of two more locks is the ‘Bottom Lock’ no.20. At the far end of this is a pedestrian bridge across the canal. Take this.

7. Turn back towards the village

Now on the other side of the canal, turn back towards the village. You pass some side ponds, which are now a good habitat for wildlife. They originally served to help maintain the water levels for lock operation.

8. Nature reserve

As you walk back with the canal on your right, there is a nature reserve on your left, the entrance is approximately half way back to the village, via a wooden gate. You could easily while away some more time wildlife spotting in here.

9. The Village Centre

When you approach the Village centre again you will pass back under the 1st road bridge. Here you will see a dry dock and a boat weighing machine (which came from the Glamorganshire canal) . You can visit the Boat Inn, or get back to the other side via the pedestrian bridge just after the road bridge.

Explore Nearby

Branch

IWA Northampton Branch

Waterway

Grand Union Canal – London to Braunston

Navigable

Related activities

Walk

Braunston Village & Canal Circular Heritage Walk

Braunston

Walk