Many Meetings: A Walk Over Braunston Tunnel in Two Halves.

Monday 11th May 2026 at Norton Junction.

On Monday morning we set off in the car (now fixed) to drive to Braunston, where we had left MM while we went home. On the way we stopped off in Daventry so that M could buy a "few bits" in Waitrose, where she used to work when she lived in the town.

It was just past mid-day when we unmoored and headed for the marina exit.

There are six locks in the Braunston flight and when we got to the bottom lock a C&RT volunteer told us that a "single hander" had just gone up through and was currently in the second lock. M had to run up to the second lock to suggest that he wait for us as it is so much easier with two boats together when in wide locks. With the help of the volunteer on the frst lock, we caught up with nb: "Doris" in the third lock. M was still trying to catch her breath as she had been running to and fro all along - and with a gammy knee too!!

So, we did the last three locks together with M walking on ahead to set the locks for us. R introduced the owner of Doris to the technique of stopping in the "throat" of the lock to be able to close the gates without mooring up. This was also a good idea as the pounds were very low and getting to the edge would have been difficult.

Soon after the top lock, we arrived at Braunston tunnel and M decided to walk over the top as the views are spectacular; it's a walk she has done many times.

It is quite a climb to the top of Braunston Hill but the former horse path is magical and has changed little since the days of horse drawn boats. It would not be out of place to see a Hobbit walking the other way.

The views looking across the fields are beautiful and so typical of the Northamptonshire countryside.

Looking back towards Braunston, the church spire can just be seen in the distance. You can just make out the brick "chimney" of one of the ventilation shafts of the tunnel underneath.

M has walked this route many times and really enjoyed it right up to the point where she crossed the Daventry road. What had previously been fields, a farm and the horse path were now covered in mud and heavy plant machinery, and surrounded by fences as yet another housing estate was being torn into the landscape.

The mud got worse and the fence cut off the old route to the east end of the tunnel. So much so that, after a mile of struggling through the mud, M called R to try to find out where she was and how to get back to the horse path. Luckily we could see each other's location thanks to "Find My Phone" and R realised that M was only a few feet from the tunnel mouth. R walked up above the tunnel and found a hole in the safety fence so that M could get through at last. M was jolly relieved!!

Back on board, we carried on to Norton Junction where the Leicester Arm meets the Grand Union. At this junction there used to be a toll house where boaters had their trip card stamped and they could pick up any letters. The former toll house is behind the trees on the left of the photo. One of the two houses at the junction is for sale. What a wonderful place to live.