Foxton to somewhere near Wistow

Its 19 miles and 25 locks(28 if Castle Gardens secure moorings are full) to drop down into Leicester.

From Foxton the canal continues north and swings north west towards Leicester.  With no locks for five miles its a quiet, empty landscape, all villages set back from the canal.

The feeder from Saddlington Reservoir comes in by Smeeton Aquaduct.

Saddlington Tunnel is 881 yards long and is occupied by a colony of bats.  Thankfully all that could be seen were bat boxes fixed in various places.

After the tunnel the canal is often river-like and shallow in places with little evidence of a towpath.

Open countryside returns

prior to Kibworth Top Lock. Widebeam locks with double gate paddles are the order of the day.

Five locks later we decide its time to look for a place to moor somewhere in this lovely countryside.

Today

Seven miles, 5 locks,1 tunnel in just over 4 hours.