Napton on the Hill to Bridge 124 (South Oxford Canal)

We are moving on today and as this section of this canal seems very busy we decided to leave early as we wanted to get water before we tackled the 9 locks.

Starting off up the Napton flight

Lovely rural Napton locks

The sun was shining and it was already warm as we set off at 8am!!  We went around the corner and moored up to fill up with water.  Then we set off through the first lock.  There was a couple of boats in front of us, but soon boats started coming down as well, so passage up through the locks was nice and easy. 

Leaving Napton top locks

These locks are called the Napton flight and lift the canal up by 55ft to the sleepy hamlet of Marston Doles  and are set in glorious countryside, so a pleasure to work through.  There was a volunteer lock keeper, he helped us with one lock then went up to the top of the flight.  Soon we were at the top of the locks and chugging on our way.  Not far from the top of the locks is an old arm that was once the site of a pumping house that used to pump water up to the summit from the bottom of the Napton flight.

We chugged on along the canal, it is very windy as it follows the contours of the land, and just fields with sheep and cows, no roads, cars or trains.  It is perfectly lovely.

We moored just after Bridge 124.  There was a field of sheep opposite and one of the mature lambs got into the water and couldn’t get out, so we put our shoes on and went out to go over to the field and get him out.  There was a boat moored up in front of us and they came out and came over to the field as well.  The chap went on ahead as he had wellies on and pulled the lamb out of the water to safety, mind you the water went over the top of his wellies,  good job he went first as we only had sandels on!

St Marys Church, Priors Hardwick

The small hamlet of Priors Hardwick is not far away and you can reach it by a footpath across the fields.  We walked up through two fields, then onto the lane which met the road.  There are just a few houses, a church and a smart bar/restaurant.  Much of the village was pulled down by Cistercian monks in the 14^th-C.  Parts of the squat stone church are 13^th-C.

The Butchers Arms, Bar & Restaurant

We walked up to the church and had a look around there, then walked back down the road and went into The Butchers Arms for some refreshment.  It is a really up market bar and restaurant, beautifully decorated and very smart.  The outside is lovely with lots of flowers.

We walked back down through the fields to the canal and just chilled out.  We may stay here tomorrow or chug, will decide in the morning.

Moored at Bridge 124