Hello and welcome back to my blog! 😊

Yesterday was a very wet day with heavy rain throughout. As I set off in my car this morning I wondered what will the roads would be like, and also, what will my planned walk route would be like?

As a canal enthusiast I have been wanting to visit Foxton Locks ever since I had read about them. They are one of THE iconic sights of the canal network. Over 4,000 boats pass through Foxton Locks each year making it one of the busiest spots on the 2,000 mile canal network. Found on the Grand Union Canal the ten locks allow boats to ascend / descend 75 feet. It takes 45 mins for a boat to pass through the locks and uses 25,000 galls of water in the process. Built in 1810 they were superseded between 1900 and 1910, when an inclined plane, powered by steam engines and winches, was used to lift /lower large tanks (caissons) that contained the boats. However, the inclined plane lift proved uneconomic and was removed.

Today’s 7 mile circular walk would begin at Foxton Locks and take me across fields to the hilltop village of Gumley. After, it continued across the top of low Laughton Hills then descended to rejoin the canal. The last 2.5 miles would be along the canal towpath with fine views over the Welland valley.

As it turned out, I had to pass through two sections of flooded road to get to the start of the walk – I took it slowly driving through the water. I parked in the long stay car park at Foxton Locks, noting the lock gates by the parking machines.

Leaving the car park (£3 all day) I followed a path which brought me to the canal towpath which I followed towards the locks.

I passed a lovely sculpture of a horse and young lad – a nod to the days when the boats were horse drawn. Further on I reached the brow of a hill where the old locksmiths cottage (now a café but closed when I was there) stood and I gazed out at the wonderful sight of the locks. Awesome! – particularly when there were so few people about.

I walked down the flight of locks watching a boat make its way upwards.

I was interested to see the ponds adjacent to the locks which supply water for the locks. Water is fed through two paddles- one red for filling the locks and one white for emptying the locks. You can see them on the photo above on the left hand side of the lock.

A previous lockkeeper painted the paddles red or white and had this famous rhyme “Red afore white and you’ll be alright, white afore red and you’ll wish you were dead!

At the bottom of the locks lies a canal basin and a pub! There is also another café but alas, it was closed.

I continued along the towpath for a short while then crossed a bridge over the canal to reach a soggy field.

I followed my route across fields, quite steep at times, to reach Gumley. Interestingly, this section from Foxton Locks to Gumley is part of the Leicestershire Round so I will be passing this way again. I was crossing through fields containing cows, horses and sheep (not all in the same field!)

There was only one field that I crossed which was particularly muddy. It was very wet and I was glad to get through it.

I was particularly careful crossing the many stiles which I found were slippery – especially with muddy boots.

Arriving into Laughton I liked the nice houses and found my path across another field of, thankfully, friendly cows 😊

The next section took me along some narrow lanes and I descended steeply to reach the canal – There were nice views across the Welland valley on this descent.

This is the Leicester branch of the Grand Union Canal which joins the main waterway near Daventry. Completed in 1814 it was built to provide a direct link from Leicester to London.

I didn’t meet a soul along the towpath although a few boats chugged by with the skippers giving a friendly wave.

As I walked along, ducking to avoid low hanging folliage and lost in my thoughts I was enjoying the day. Passing by a bridge it had a sign on it saying towpath closure ahead – I wondered whether it would affect me. At the next bridge I found that it did – the path was barricaded off with no information about a diversion and, in fact, no way off the towpath! I had to turn around and go back to the previous bridge – how annoying!

I consulted my map and ended up doing a mile extra along lanes to get back to the canal. Not a happy chappy, but worst things happen at sea, as they say.

I arrived back at the car park to find that it was much busier than when I had left it. I am so chuffed to have seen Foxton Locks – a good day out.

Happy Walking! 😊🚶‍♂️