The Oxford Canal.

[Brandane]

I am on holiday this week and having checked out the weather forecast I was giving some thought to riding the Oxford canal, from about Rugby, south to Reading or London.

Any advice on the following points would be appreciated:

1. Is there a tow-path all the way?
2. Is it safe? Looking at the map it looks fairly rural most of the way, so I would guess that it is.
3. Any good camping along the way?

Thanks.

 

[Brandane]

Maybe I should have checked out the train fares before posting this. £103.20 SINGLE! . And they seriously expect us to leave the car at home and travel on public transport..............

Would still appreciate replies, but might have to travel to the start point by car. Which of course introduces logistical problems about where to leave the car and how to get back to the start point.

 

[SavageHoutkop]

Maybe I should have checked out the train fares before posting this. £103.20 SINGLE! . And they seriously expect us to leave the car at home and travel on public transport..............

from where to where? that's more than I'd expect. How's engineering works affecting the trip?

 

[Norm]

Hmmm... well, it might be an assumption but he lives in Ayrshire and is talking about starting in Rugby so...

I don't have personal experience of that one north of Oxford, but have a butcher's at this site, which suggested it isn't all cyclable. It also suggests following NCN Route 5 as an alternative.

As a local-ish (well, if you are starting in Ayr, it's local) alternative, I've done much of the Kennet and Avon, which pretty much goes from Bristol to Reading, and there were no issues cycling from the Bruce Tunnel to Reading.

 

[Brandane]

from where to where? that's more than I'd expect. How's engineering works affecting the trip?

Largs (Ayrshire) to Rugby. Engineering works; no idea!

 

[Brandane]

Hmmm... well, it might be an assumption but he lives in Ayrshire and is talking about starting in Rugby so...

I don't have personal experience of that one north of Oxford, but have a butcher's at this site, which suggested it isn't all cyclable. It also suggests following NCN Route 5 as an alternative.

As a local-ish (well, if you are starting in Ayr, it's local) alternative, I've done much of the Kennet and Avon, which pretty much goes from Bristol to Reading, and there were no issues cycling from the Bruce Tunnel to Reading.

Thanks for that Norm. Bristol to Reading, now there's another good idea, with the prevailing westerly wind! Will have a look at the waterways website (and Scotrail too ).

 

[Norry1]

I've cycled the part a bit further North - from Warwick to Long Itchington - I think that's the same canal. The Canal website say parts are non-cyclable, but on my hybrid (and mt partner's) they were fine.

I'm thinking of getting the train to King's Norton and cycling home from there along the canal.

Martin

 

[jonesy]

Maybe I should have checked out the train fares before posting this. £103.20 SINGLE! . And they seriously expect us to leave the car at home and travel on public transport..............

Would still appreciate replies, but might have to travel to the start point by car. Which of course introduces logistical problems about where to leave the car and how to get back to the start point.

No, no no! You won't have to pay that much! You may need to get more than one ticket, but for example Rugby to Oxford can be done for £21.50; Oxford to Reading £5; Reading to Paddington £14.90

Splitting fares at Banbury is cheaper still:

Rugby to Banbury £13.60; Banbury to Reading £9;

Travel times are critical to this!

Splitting fares is always worth checking. It is perfectly legal, you don't actually have to get off the train and change, the only rule is that the train you are on must actually stop at the stations on your tickets. So Rugby to Reading means a change onto a horrid Cross Country Voyager at Coventry, which stops at Banbury, but you don't have to get off.

Edit, being tired I'd not noticed the Ayrshire link! But even so, it is always worth looking for opportunities to split fares, you can save a lot of money.

 

[ufkacbln]

Look at the sleeper - you can (advance fare and reclining seat) do Glasgow to Euston and return for £50!



Why not go the other way?

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

a bit further north is the leeds - liverpool canal (127 miles). all rideable (probably easier on a mtb / hybrid) i did most of it (took a wrong turn) recently on a 16" folder. next time i'll take 2 days instead of 1 so i can explore some of the interesting sites / towns / villages along the way.

 

[SavageHoutkop]

Largs (Ayrshire) to Rugby. Engineering works; no idea!

cheaper if you buy it in three bits - the Largs -> Glasgow, then Glasgow -> Birmingham New Street (there are advance tickets for this leg from £59 on Tues); then Birmingham New Street -> Rugby.

I get that as approx 10 + 59 + 8; so £78. Still costly though; don't know why the advance tickets on the Glasgow -> New Street leg are so expensive; perhaps all the cheap ones have gone. Or perhaps you need to get that bit as 'off peak' somehow.

 

[Norm]

The Canal website say parts are non-cyclable, but on my hybrid (and mt partner's) they were fine.

The Kennet and Avon site also said that part were non-cyclable, but it was all good.

As it looks like I'm going to be "at leisure" again in a few weeks, I was wondering on a decent ride. Rugby to Reading might just do it, although it's 80+ miles, which will be a long day in the saddle.

 

[Brandane]

According to the MetOffice website, the wind this week will be mainly from the east, so if I do the Avon and Kennet, it would make sense to start in London (or more likely Reading, to avoid cycling out through the madness that is London, to a rural boy like me!).

So I checked out rail fares again. I really don't get their pricing policy. Travelling tomorrow from Glasgow to Euston, a second class single is £107.40 . However, if I travel FIRST class, it comes in at a slightly more respectable £86.50 . Tempting now....

 

[Norm]

From London to Reading can be done along the Thames, quite a pleasant route which shows you parts of the capital which you cannot see any other way. That is if you wanted to cycle it, of course. IMO, First Great Western is a perfectly viable alternative.

I'm all jealous now, I want to come and play too.

 

[Ticktockmy]

Look at the sleeper - you can (advance fare and reclining seat) do Glasgow to Euston and return for £50!



Why not go the other way?

Only problem can be booking the bike space, as I think only 6 spaces on that section of the sleeper train