Routes & Information
English Nature 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 to take it slow and easy, meandering at 2 m.p.h. through an environment abundant with both plant and wildlife. Admire the Water Violets with their pagodas of lilac flowers; look for the rare Red Eyed Damsel Fly; capture the brilliance of the diving Kingfisher; watch the fish beneath you at Greywell or simply feed the swans.

King John's castle

Visit the remains of King John's 13th century castle from where he rode out to sign the Magna Carta in 1215.
Original canal bridges carefully restored, the 1,000ft long Ash Embankment, including the aqueduct over the new A331, are among the architectural features of the canal, and not forgetting of course the Greywell Tunnel, home to many species of bats.
David Bellamy is quoted as regarding the Basingstoke Canal as an outstanding wildlife habitat of National importance. Why not see what you think, but beware you may well find that one visit is just not enough.

Short Breaks:
Saturday to Monday and Tuesday to Friday. (It is sometimes possible to extend your weekend break and pick up the boat at approx. 6pm Friday. The additional cost will be 15% of total hire fee. Please make request at time of booking).
The short break holidays give you ample time to explore the top 22 miles of the canal from King John's castle in the west to the top lock of the Deepcut flight towards the east. There is one lock to pass through, Ash lock.
Please note, short break hirers are not allowed to descend the Deepcut flight of locks.

House in Greywell village

Start your trip by cruising west towards the castle, passing through North Warnborough lift-bridge, turn your boat and stop here for a late lunch and walk up to the eastern portal of the Greywell Tunnel and peer into its gloomy depths. By contrast the water here is very clear with white sands and you may be lucky to see one of the natural springs bubbling up in the canal bed, which help to keep the canal in water. The village of Greywell has the very pleasant Fox and Goose and some very old and interesting houses. If you are feeling particularly adventurous, find the path over the hill which follows the line of the tunnel underneath and try to discover the collapsed western end of the tunnel. An ordnance survey map is strongly recommended!

Taking a break

To continue your cruise, return past the hire base, towards Broad Oak and continue in extremely rural and peaceful surroundings where you will reach Winchfield. Here there is a public slipway and the 'Barley Mow'. Soon you pass on your right the large Tundry Pond part of the estate of Dogmersfield House and Park dating back before 1191 and once a medieval bishop's palace.
In the next section towards Crookham there are remnants of World War II defences. Look out for canalside pillboxes and concrete tank traps. You may wish to stop at Crookham Wharf and visit the local pub or continue on into Fleet, after going through Crookham swing bridge. From Reading Road Wharf it is a short walk into the town centre and the usual shops including 2 supermarkets, post office, all the major high street banks and plenty of restaurants to choose from.
From Fleet the canal continues under 2 very low road bridges past the backs of houses, some with lovely gardens towards Farnborough. Most of the land you pass through from here until Ash Lock is MOD property and the canal features three flashes which act as nature reserves and boaters are requested not to enter.

Ash Lock

After Ash Lock (there is a water point just above the lock on the wharf-side) the canal follows along Ash embankment to Ash Wharf. Here there is a supermarket, chemist, baker, take away fish & chips, Chinese and an Indian restaurant. The canal soon enters Great Bottom Flash, home to many water fowl and then passes the old Ash Vale Boat House where working barges were built in days gone by. There are several smaller flashes and you pass the Swan Inn where you can moor alongside and visit for an excellent evening meal. Further on is the Canal Centre at Mytchett which has a canal exhibition, clubroom, picnic area, tea room, adventure playground and information, together with water, rubbish and pump out facilities.

'Waterwitch' Pub, Odiham

Continuing on you pass Frimley Lodge Park on your left and pass by the King's Head bridge which leads into the large Wharfenden Lake, part of Lakeside Country Club. Soon after you enter the cutting at Deepcut you will immediately notice a drop in temperature as this cutting is very deep and overhung with trees, so whatever the time of year it is cool. You can turn by the entrance to the dry dock by the top lock.

Week or longer:
Saturday to Friday and Tuesday to Monday
(or combination of week + short break - ask when booking)
The longer break holidays give you time to use the Deepcut, Brookwood, St. John's and Woodham flights of locks to Woking and beyond.

To cruise to Woking will require a week, or if you wish to go further, leave the Basingstoke Canal and join the Wey Navigation below the Woodham flight, at least 10 days will be required. It is important when you make your booking to also contact the Basingstoke Canal Authority ( Tel: 01252 370073 ) to book both your outward and return passage through the locks and tell them if you will be passing beyond Woking.

For navigating the Wey, a visitors licence will be required. Full details and lock opening times etc. are available from us when making your holiday booking. In times of severe drought, passage through Deepcut locks may not be possible, so it is important that the arrangements are made at least 7 days before the start of your holiday to avoid disaappointment. You will need to allow 2 days for passage from the top of Deepcut to the junction with the Wey Navigation at the bottom of the Woodham flight.

The Deepcut flight consists of 14 locks evenly spaced out. The environment is spectacular and peaceful except for the occasional passing train which may give you a hoot as it passes by. Look out for the old army 'swimming pool' indicated by 2 sets of steps and railings set in the brick wall on the non-towpath side of the canal just above Lock 22.

Rhododendrons rule!

There is a short pound (lockfree stretch) between Deepcut Lock 15 and the start of the 3 locks of the Brookwood flight and you are permitted to moor here overnight. You will find a hotel/pub a short distance from the bottom of lock 12 and a petrol station with a small shop for essentials. The canal then follows along Brookwood Lye, pass the moored houseboats, around the Hermitage Woods estate towards St. John's. You can stop here at the village moorings to visit the small shops. After St. John's locks is Woking with it's theatres, cinemas, shopping centre etc. The six locks at Woodham drop the canal down to meet the Wey Navigation. From here you can turn right onto the Wey and head up towards Guildford or left towards the Thames. To reach the end of the Wey Navigations at Godalming you will need to allow 1-2 days, while access to Thames Lock, the first lock on the Wey takes about 3 - 4 hours cruising time. Thames lock operates opening times, so you may have to wait until you can gain access to the Thames and on your return. It is recommended that you check the opening times with the navigation authority, The National Trust at Dapdune Wharf, Guildford Tel: 01483 561389.

Ash Aqueduct	Zebon Copse swing bridge

approaching Crookham Wharf

Reading Guides:
For further information, you may wish to read:
the 'Guide to the Basingstoke Canal' available from us
Various guides on the Wey Navigation available from Dapdune Wharf
Nicholson/Ordnance Survey Guide to Waterways 7: Thames, Wey, Kennet & Avon available from most good bookshops.

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