WITHYBED

Withybed Wharf, Canal Lane, Lower Heyford
enquiries@hire-withybed.example
01632 960 412
A long flight of locks climbing a hill between trees, narrowboats moored in the foreground

Eight routes, one wharf

Pick a route and the explorer gives you the miles, the locks, the hours in each day, the places to tie up, and the boats that are short enough to turn at the far end.

Route explorer

Choose a route
A pub front under flowering wisteria, people reading at outdoor tables

Somerton and King's Sutton

North through Somerton Deep Lock, the deepest on the Oxford, to a winding hole at Twyford Wharf and back.

Miles
21
Locks
11
Nights
3
Longest day
4 h 10

Somerton and King's Sutton: 21 miles, 11 locks, 3 nights, longest day 4 h 10.

A first weekend. Lots of lock practice, never more than five hours in a day.

Day by day, Somerton and King's Sutton
DayFrom and toMilesLocksHours
Day 1Fri Withybed Wharf to Somerton 2.0 2 1 h 05
Day 2Sat Somerton to King's SuttonTurn at Twyford Wharf 10.0 4 4 h 10
Day 3Sun King's Sutton to Somerton 7.0 3 2 h 55
Day 4Mon Somerton to Withybed WharfBack by 09:30 2.0 2 1 h 05

Stops along the way

  • Withybed Wharfthe wharf
  • Somerton Deep Lockmile 2 · About 12 ft: the deepest lock on the canal
  • Aynho Weir Lockmile 4.5
  • King's Suttonmile 9
  • Twyford Wharfmile 10.5 · Winding hole, 60 ft maximum

Boats that suit it

Turns at Twyford Wharf, which takes boats up to 60 ft: boats up to 60 ft.

Price this route Weekend break from £395 in low season

A whitewashed pub with picnic tables on the canal bank, reflected in still water

Thrupp for the weekend

South along the Cherwell valley to Thrupp, where the moorings back onto gardens, and home again without ever seeing a city.

Miles
17
Locks
14
Nights
3
Longest day
3 h 00

Thrupp for the weekend: 17 miles, 14 locks, 3 nights, longest day 3 h 00.

Two couples who want to tie up early and walk to a pub.

Day by day, Thrupp for the weekend
DayFrom and toMilesLocksHours
Day 1Fri Withybed Wharf to Northbrook 2.5 2 1 h 15
Day 2Sat Northbrook to Thrupp 6.0 5 3 h 00
Day 3Sun Thrupp to Northbrook 6.0 5 3 h 00
Day 4Mon Northbrook to Withybed WharfBack by 09:30 2.5 2 1 h 15

Stops along the way

  • Withybed Wharfthe wharf
  • Northbrookmile 2.5
  • Enslowmile 5
  • Thruppmile 8.5

Boats that suit it

A straight run south with no tight turn: boats up to 70 ft.

Price this route Weekend break from £395 in low season

A narrowboat moored beneath an old brick railway viaduct, still water in front

The Banbury turn

Fourteen miles and seven locks north to Banbury, a night in the town, and the same water back by a different set of mooring spots.

Miles
28
Locks
14
Nights
4
Longest day
4 h 00

The Banbury turn: 28 miles, 14 locks, 4 nights, longest day 4 h 00.

Four nights, five days. The best first midweek if you want a town at the far end.

Day by day, The Banbury turn
DayFrom and toMilesLocksHours
Day 1Mon Withybed Wharf to Aynho 4.5 3 2 h 05
Day 2Tue Aynho to Banbury 9.5 4 4 h 00
Day 3Wed Banbury to King's SuttonTurn above Banbury lock 5.0 2 2 h 05
Day 4Thu King's Sutton to Somerton 7.0 3 2 h 55
Day 5Fri Somerton to Withybed WharfBack by 09:30 2.0 2 1 h 05

Stops along the way

  • Withybed Wharfthe wharf
  • Somerton Deep Lockmile 2
  • Aynhomile 4.5
  • King's Suttonmile 9
  • Banburymile 14 · Visitor moorings in the town centre

Boats that suit it

Turns above Banbury lock, wide enough for 70 ft: boats up to 70 ft.

Price this route Midweek break from £455 in low season

Wide flat meadow under a broad sky, a river glinting in the distance

Four Rivers

Down the canal, out through Duke's Cut onto the Thames, round Oxford by the Sheepwash Channel and back up through Isis Lock.

Miles
30.5
Locks
23
Nights
4
Longest day
4 h 35

Four Rivers: 30.5 miles, 23 locks, 4 nights, longest day 4 h 35.

Oxford from the water, without the weekend queue at the bottom of the canal.

Day by day, Four Rivers
DayFrom and toMilesLocksHours
Day 1Mon Withybed Wharf to Kidlington 9.0 8 4 h 35
Day 2Tue Kidlington to OxfordDuke's Cut, the Thames, the Sheepwash Channel, Isis Lock 8.0 4 3 h 30
Day 3Wed Oxford to Kidlington 4.5 3 2 h 05
Day 4Thu Kidlington to Northbrook 6.5 6 3 h 20
Day 5Fri Northbrook to Withybed WharfBack by 09:30 2.5 2 1 h 15

Stops along the way

  • Withybed Wharfthe wharf
  • Northbrookmile 2.5
  • Kidlingtonmile 9
  • Duke's Cutmile 10.5 · Onto the Thames
  • Oxfordmile 13.5 · Isis Lock and the canal terminus

Boats that suit it

Isis Lock and the Thames locks take 70 ft: boats up to 70 ft.

Price this route Midweek break from £455 in low season

A narrowboat entering a lock while two people work the gates

Oxford and back

Eleven locks and thirteen and a half miles south to the end of the canal, a full day tied up in Oxford, and the same eleven locks home.

Miles
27
Locks
22
Nights
7
Longest day
2 h 40

Oxford and back: 27 miles, 22 locks, 7 nights, longest day 2 h 40.

The week most people come for. Never more than three hours of cruising in a day.

Day by day, Oxford and back
DayFrom and toMilesLocksHours
Day 1Fri Withybed Wharf to Enslow 5.0 5 2 h 40
Day 2Sat Enslow to Kidlington 4.0 3 1 h 55
Day 3Sun Kidlington to Oxford 4.5 3 2 h 05
Day 4Mon A day in Oxford – – tied up
Day 5Tue Oxford to Kidlington 4.5 3 2 h 05
Day 6Wed Kidlington to Enslow 4.0 3 1 h 55
Day 7Thu Enslow to Northbrook 2.5 3 1 h 25
Day 8Fri Northbrook to Withybed WharfBack by 09:30 on the Friday 2.5 2 1 h 15

Stops along the way

  • Withybed Wharfthe wharf
  • Enslowmile 5
  • Thruppmile 8.5
  • Kidlingtonmile 9
  • Oxfordmile 13.5 · Isis Lock and the canal terminus

Boats that suit it

The canal runs straight into Oxford; the terminus takes 70 ft: boats up to 70 ft.

Price this route Week from £895 in low season

A dark green narrowboat moored on a broad blue stretch of river

The upper Thames to Eynsham

Down to Duke's Cut, out onto the Thames above Oxford, and up the river to Eynsham, where you tie up for two nights and do nothing.

Miles
31
Locks
22
Nights
7
Longest day
4 h 35

The upper Thames to Eynsham: 31 miles, 22 locks, 7 nights, longest day 4 h 35.

A week with a river in the middle of it. Wide water, long views, fewer locks.

Day by day, The upper Thames to Eynsham
DayFrom and toMilesLocksHours
Day 1Fri Withybed Wharf to Kidlington 9.0 8 4 h 35
Day 2Sat Kidlington to EynshamDuke's Cut and onto the Thames 6.5 3 2 h 45
Day 3Sun A day tied up – – tied up
Day 4Mon Eynsham to Kidlington 6.5 3 2 h 45
Day 5Tue Kidlington to Enslow 4.0 3 1 h 55
Day 6Wed Enslow to Northbrook 2.5 3 1 h 25
Day 7Thu A day tied up – – tied up
Day 8Fri Northbrook to Withybed WharfBack by 09:30 on the Friday 2.5 2 1 h 15

Stops along the way

  • Withybed Wharfthe wharf
  • Kidlingtonmile 9
  • Duke's Cutmile 10.5 · Onto the Thames
  • King's Lockmile 11
  • Eynshammile 15.5 · Overnight moorings above the lock

Boats that suit it

King's Lock and Eynsham Lock take far more than 70 ft: boats up to 70 ft.

Price this route Week from £895 in low season

A canal in autumn, gold leaves on both banks and two moored boats ahead

Cropredy and the Claydon flight

Eighteen miles north to Cropredy, a day pushing up the five-lock Claydon flight and back, then the long way home through Banbury.

Miles
46
Locks
38
Nights
7
Longest day
5 h 00

Cropredy and the Claydon flight: 46 miles, 38 locks, 7 nights, longest day 5 h 00.

Strong lock-workers who want a proper climb. Not the first week we would pick.

Day by day, Cropredy and the Claydon flight
DayFrom and toMilesLocksHours
Day 1Fri Withybed Wharf to Aynho 4.5 3 2 h 05
Day 2Sat Aynho to Banbury 9.5 4 4 h 00
Day 3Sun Banbury to Cropredy 4.0 4 2 h 10
Day 4Mon Cropredy to Claydon top 5.0 8 3 h 15
Day 5Tue Claydon top to Cropredy 5.0 8 3 h 15
Day 6Wed Cropredy to Banbury 4.0 4 2 h 10
Day 7Thu Banbury to Somerton 12.0 5 5 h 00
Day 8Fri Somerton to Withybed WharfBack by 09:30 on the Friday 2.0 2 1 h 05

Stops along the way

  • Withybed Wharfthe wharf
  • Banburymile 14
  • Cropredymile 18
  • Claydon top lockmile 23 · Summit of the flight

Boats that suit it

Turns at Cropredy, wide enough for 70 ft: boats up to 70 ft.

Price this route Week from £895 in low season

A grassy towpath beside a fence, a moored boat in the distance and bare trees

Napton: the long way up

Thirty-five miles and twenty-eight locks north to Napton Junction, where the Oxford Canal meets the Grand Union, and the same water home.

Miles
70
Locks
56
Nights
7
Longest day
5 h 50

Napton: the long way up: 70 miles, 56 locks, 7 nights, longest day 5 h 50.

Seventy miles and fifty-six locks in a week. Hard work, and the most countryside we offer.

Day by day, Napton: the long way up
DayFrom and toMilesLocksHours
Day 1Fri Withybed Wharf to Aynho 4.5 3 2 h 05
Day 2Sat Aynho to Banbury 9.5 4 4 h 00
Day 3Sun Banbury to Claydon top 9.0 12 5 h 25
Day 4Mon Claydon top to Napton Junction 12.0 9 5 h 50
Day 5Tue Napton Junction to Claydon topTurn at the junction 12.0 9 5 h 50
Day 6Wed Claydon top to Banbury 9.0 12 5 h 25
Day 7Thu Banbury to Somerton 12.0 5 5 h 00
Day 8Fri Somerton to Withybed WharfBack by 09:30 on the Friday 2.0 2 1 h 05

Stops along the way

  • Withybed Wharfthe wharf
  • Banburymile 14
  • Cropredymile 18
  • Claydon top lockmile 23
  • Napton Junctionmile 35 · Meets the Grand Union

Boats that suit it

A through route with no tight turn, 70 ft is fine: boats up to 70 ft.

Price this route Week from £895 in low season

Hours are three miles an hour plus twelve minutes a lock, which is what a careful crew manages. Add time for lunch, and for the pub.

Water spilling through weathered timber lock gates overgrown with ferns

How a lock works, in one paragraph

Drive in, stop, close the gate behind you. Wind a paddle at the far end and the water drops or rises; when it is level, open the gate in front and drive out. A narrow lock takes about twelve minutes, a boat length of patience, and one person on the tiller while another works the paddles.

The Oxford Canal has 11 between our wharf and the end of the line in Oxford, and most of them are in pairs of friendly gates you can lean on.

What you will pass

Herons stand on the towpath side in the early morning and let you drift to within a few feet. Swans nest on the Cherwell valley pounds from April, and the cygnets are on the water by June. In May the pubs have wisteria.

None of it is arranged. It is simply what is there at three miles an hour.

A grey heron standing among tall golden reeds
A swan with a brood of cygnets on dark water