Who doesn’t love a Canal
Canal boats are in my blood.
With family connections to the waterways stretching back many years, I must confess to a special sense of belonging when I'm on the towpath. Whether I’m running, walking, or biking, there are few places where my soul feels as content—especially when the sun shines.
We’ve spent the last few days exploring the Saltisford Canal Arm, but before we dive into that, let’s talk racecourses.
Not for the first time, we camped at a racecourse—Warwick Racecourse, in fact. We’ve previously stayed at Caravan and Motorhome Club sites based at Cheltenham, Exeter, Uttoxeter, and Great Yarmouth. All make for interesting backdrops with their lush green tracks and grandstand structures. These venues are, of course, largely empty for most of the year, apart from race days when they truly come alive.
From Warwick Racecourse, it’s just a short walk into the city, with its churches, museums, and castles—some of which date back as far as 914 AD, when Æthelflæd, Lady of the Mercians, daughter of King Alfred the Great, established a burh (fortified settlement) here as part of a defensive network against Viking incursions during the reign of her brother, Edward the Elder.
Each of these sites deserves its own blog post, but for now, having set the scene with some geographical and historical context, let’s return to the canals and offer a little detail for the canal buffs and enthusiasts among you.
Just a short stroll from Warwick town centre, the Saltisford Canal Arm offers a peaceful glimpse into the town’s industrial past. This charming stretch of waterway is a branch of the Grand Union Canal, joining it just west of the well-known Cape Locks. Originally opened in 1799 as the terminus of the Warwick and Birmingham Canal, the arm was once a thriving hub for transporting coal, timber, and other goods into the heart of Warwickshire.
As commercial canal use declined in the 20th century, the Saltisford Arm fell into disuse. Thankfully, in the 1980s, the Saltisford Canal Trust was established to restore and preserve it. Thanks to their efforts, the arm has been beautifully regenerated and now serves as a tranquil mooring site for narrowboats—many of them residential—as well as a scenic and welcoming destination for visitors.
Today, you’ll find well-maintained towpaths, landscaped gardens, and a small visitor centre that shares the canal’s history. Visitor moorings are available with modern facilities, and the site regularly hosts historic boats, some of which open their doors during special events.
Just a short distance west of the Saltisford Arm lies the impressive Hatton Locks, a flight of 21 locks on the Grand Union Canal. Known locally as the “Stairway to Heaven,” these locks raise or lower boats by around 45 metres (148 feet) across less than two miles. Built in 1799 and widened in the 1930s to accommodate larger vessels, the flight allows two narrowboats to pass through side by side. Traversing the full flight typically takes around five hours, offering boaters both a challenge and a satisfying experience.
On this visit, we both ran and walked along the section between Saltisford and Hatton Locks—but walking has one key advantage: the café at Hatton Locks, where you’ll find fresh cream and jam scones, which are as delicious as they sound.
Whether you’re strolling the towpath, staying aboard a narrowboat, or simply looking for a peaceful spot to sit and reflect, the Saltisford Canal Arm and the nearby Hatton Locks offer a unique mix of history, charm, and tranquillity—right in the heart of Warwick.
If you’re curious, below is a short drone compilation of the locks and their beautiful surroundings.
Signing off for now…
You guessed it—we’re off for one last run along the towpath before moving on.
