Towpath Talk

Work begins on Cotswold Canals’ Missing Mile

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Web Editor

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August 28, 2026

CONSTRUCTION has begun on the Cotswold Canals’ Missing Mile after six years of planning. The scheme will reconnect the restored Stroudwater Navigation with the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal, edging the waterway closer to the national network. Volunteers are excavating 750 metres of canal east from John Robinson Lock towards the M5, with two locks, flood…
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Scottish canals round-up: festivals, art, repairs and TV appearances

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Web Editor

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August 26, 2026

THE annual Revolution Festival returned to the Falkirk Wheel in May, celebrating sport with activities, live music and family entertainment. Canal Listening launches An immersive art installation at the wheel in early July marked the start of Canal Listening, a new arts and research project led by artist Andrew J Brooks and Scottish Canals. The…
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Grounding advice from RCR

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Web Editor

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August 22, 2026

As numerous canals continue to suffer low water levels, breakdown and assistance firm, River Canal Rescue, is receiving daily calls from boaters with fouled props and damage to rudders and skegs, plus associated damage to drive systems, impacting engine mounts with ‘legs’ failures, and gearbox coupling/drive plates. RCR managing director, Stephanie Horton says many calls…
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Leisure moorings available at MGM Boatyard on the River Soar

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Web Editor

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August 21, 2026

MGM Boats Ltd at Thurmaston has non-liveaboard leisure moorings available in the heart of Watermead Country Park on the River Soar, alongside a range of on-site boatyard services. Boaters looking for a leisure mooring on the River Soar currently have an opportunity at MGM Boatyard in Thurmaston. The working boatyard is offering non-liveaboard leisure moorings…
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Bumper August work party drives Shropshire Union Canal restoration forward

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Web Editor

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August 20, 2026

A five-day run of preparation work added to the Shropshire Union Canal Society’s regular three-day August work party, with volunteers tackling vegetation clearance, Schoolhouse Bridge wash wall footings and the removal of around 200 stumps at Waen Wen. Recently, there have been one or two ‘preparation’ days in addition to the regular three-day work party.…
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No licence, no problem! A beginner’s guide to self-drive boating holidays

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Web Editor

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August 18, 2026

We all need to start somewhere. Le Boat reveals common boating misconceptions and provides top tips for first-timers. FROM guided canal tours to multi-country cruises, boating holidays are growing increasingly popular, with 36 million European citizens identifying as boaters who regularly participate in recreational marine activities in 2026. For Cheryl Brown, self-drive boating expert and…
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Tamworth childminder brings canal wildlife to life in new children’s book

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Web Editor

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August 17, 2026

A Tamworth childminder with a passion for Britain’s canals and waterways has turned her enthusiasm into a children’s book designed to introduce young readers to counting and waterside wildlife. Sophie Hendrick has written Adventures of Charlotte Rose, an educational counting and rhythm picture book which follows its young character on a canal boat adventure. Along…
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White Mills Marina retains four Gold Anchors on the River Nene

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Web Editor

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August 15, 2026

White Mills Marina, on the River Nene at Earls Barton, Northamptonshire, has once again achieved four anchors in The Yacht Harbour Association’s prestigious Gold Anchor scheme. Director Ben Skinner said: “The awards are a fantastic benchmark for marinas to work towards. For a medium-sized family-run marina, to achieve four anchors is awesome. It is a…
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Canal-side Georgian home with potential 60ft mooring comes to market in Stourport-on-Severn

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Web Editor

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August 14, 2026

A Grade II-listed canal-side home in Stourport-on-Severn has come onto the market for £239,950, offering buyers the unusual prospect of living directly beside the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal. The two-bedroom property at Parkes Quay forms part of a former canal maintenance yard workshop, converted into residential accommodation in 1998. It sits in a quiet private…
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Discover a summer of family fun, wildlife and heritage at Foxton Locks

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August 13, 2026

The Canal & River Trust is inviting visitors to make the most of the summer holidays by joining a programme of free and low-cost events at Foxton Locks, one of Leicestershire’s most unique historic destinations. The charity’s summer programme offers something for all ages, from wildlife-themed activities and nature discovery sessions to hands-on workshops and…
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NEW Hire Platform turns unused boats into income

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August 12, 2026

A new platform is giving Britain’s private boat owners a way to share their vessels with holidaymakers on their own terms and earn from them when they’re not aboard. BOATSTAYS, a newly launched service connecting private boat owners with guests looking for something more personal than fleet hire, is designed to make weekend breaks, week-long…
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Sankey Canal group adopts Earlestown railway station

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Mark Lancaster

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August 11, 2026

The Sankey Canal Restoration Society has formally adopted Earlestown Train Station – and you are invited to get involved. The station, located near the historic Sankey Canal, England’s first modern canal, sits in the heart of a transport corridor that shaped regional trade and engineering. Under the adoption scheme, SCRS volunteers are carrying out regular…
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Restoration work transforms Sprotbrough Ings

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Web Editor

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August 10, 2026

A major conservation effort is underway at Sprotbrough Ings, near Doncaster, as the Don Catchment Rivers Trust (DCRT) reshapes an historic water meadow to restore natural processes and improve conditions for wildlife. The site, owned by the Environment Agency, contains an ancient channel of the River Don and plays a crucial role during flood events,…
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Canal & River Trust temporarily suspends 14-day movement to help conserve water during drought

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Mark Lancaster

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August 7, 2026

Canal & River Trust has temporarily suspended the requirement for boats without a home mooring to move at least every 14 days as part of efforts to conserve water during the current drought. The temporary measure, which comes into force with immediate effect, has been introduced to help reduce demand on the network and avoid…
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