Walking along the Grand Union Canal
Walking is a car-free and carefree way to appreciate the beauty of the canal - and at your own pace.
There are many railway stations within easy reach of the Grand Union Canal - particularly the southern section from Northampton to London. Why not try a one way walk, returning to your starting point by train? Many local history and special interest groups also organise walks along sections of the canal: see our events listings for more information.
With over 130 miles of waterway on the main London to Birmingham route alone, the number of walks is almost infinite. Here is a selection you might want to try.
- Gas Street Basin, Birmingham, to Kingswood Junction: 17.25 miles
- Kingswood Junction Circular Walk: 4.5 miles
- Hatton Circular Walks
- Long Itchington Circular Walk
- Stockton Circular Walk
- Kingswood Junction to Calcutt Locks: 20.25 miles
- Calcutt Locks to Weedon: 15 miles
- Lower Weedon to Stoke Bruerne: 12 miles
- New Bradwell Circular Walk: 6.25 miles
- Stoke Bruerne Circular Walk: 3 miles
- Stoke Bruerne to Fenny Stratford: 17 miles
- Fenny Stratford to Ivinghoe: 14 miles
- Ivinghoe to King's Langley: 16 miles
- King's Langley to Bull's Bridge: 20.25 miles
- Hanwell Bottom Lock Circular Walk: 2.25 miles
- Paddington Arm (Bull's Bridge to Little Venice): 13 miles
For a greater challenge, the Grand Union Canal Walk was opened in 1993 and follows the towpath all the way from London's Little Venice to Birmingham.
Keen walkers can attempt the Greensand Ridge Walk which takes you on a mammoth journey for 40 miles through some stunning Bedfordshire countryside. The route begins in Leighton Buzzard, taking you to The Globe Inn, following the towpath before arriving at Stockgrove Country Park, Woburn, Ampthill and Gamlingay.
For those preferring something a little shorter, why not try the Two Ridges Link Walk? The eight mile route takes you from the pre-historic Ridgeway at Ivinghoe Beacon to Leighton Buzzard.
You can find more walk suggestions in our walking pages.
Walking routes
- A Brief Walk Along the Grand Union Canal »
- A circular walk around Stoke Bruerne »
- A Short Walk Along the Grand Union Canal »
- Black Poplar Trail »
- A country walk at Blue Lias, Warwickshire »
- An easy Chiltern walk at Cow Roast »
- Tom's Hill and Cow Roast (near Tring) »
- Circular walks around Braunston »
- Tring Reservoirs and the Wendover Arm »
- Tring Reservoirs and the Wendover Arm 2 »
- Tring Reservoirs and the Aylesbury and Wendover Arms »
- Grand Union Canal at Rickmansworth »
- Berkhamsted and Tring circular walk »
- Hemel Hempstead and Berkhamsted »
- Kings Langley and Hemel Hempstead »
- Stoke Bruerne and Blisworth Tunnel »
- Berkhamsted to Tring »
- Hemel Hempstead to Berkhamsted »
- Kings Langley to Hemel Hempstead »
- Hanwell Flight Circular Walk - from Boston Manor Station »
- Hanwell Flight Circular Walk - from Osterley House car park »
- Hanwell Flight Circular Walk - from Osterley Station »
- Hatton Circular Walk 1 »
- Hatton Circular Walk 2 »
- Hatton Circular Walk 3 »
- Small Heath Circular Walk »
- Tring Reservoirs Walks »
- Western Circular Walk »
- Walking around Hanwell »
- Hatton Locks to Warwick Parkway »
- Hatton Locks to The Wilderness »
- Hatton Country World Watery Stroll »
- Jogging on the towpath in Watford »
Towpath Stoppages
Advice: Towpath between Bulls Bridge and Beaconsfield Road
Associated Regional Office: BW LondonTowpath has been closed
Update (16th December): Please note the towpath will be open during the holiday period from 16th December until 5th January.
Work will then commence again until March 13th
Please note there may be some restriction to navigation although boat passage will be maintained.
Network Rail and their contractor Edmund Nuttall Ltd are carrying out essential maintenance to this rail bridge. The closure is required to allow them to carry out the works without danger to the public. A diversion route has been agreed with the local authority.
(Enquiries: 0207 985 7200)
Stoppage: Welton Wharf to Norton Junction
Associated Regional Office: BW South-EastTowpath has been closed
Towpath improvements. Towpath only closed.
Towpath closure will continue until 19 June. Navigation will be open throughout the works.
(Enquiries: 01908 302500)
