The waterways which make up the ring include the River Trent and River Soar, the Grand Union (Leicester Line) and Oxford Canals and the Coventry Canal and Birmingham & Fazeley Canals before returning to the River Trent along the Trent & Mersey Canal.
Derwent Mouth Lock is considered the junction between the Trent & Mersey Canal and the River Trent. Navigators should beware of the weir at Trent Lock; the River Soar continues to Leicester where the Grand Union Canal (Leicester Section) locks up towards Saddlington Tunnel, a roost for bats. A branch to the left connects with Market Harborough, scene of the first recognised canal rally in Britain in 1950. Beyond Foxton Locks lies the prospect of several hours lock-free cruising before a short flight drops to Norton Junction.
Arms and loops
To the right the Grand Union Canal continues to Braunston and the narrow Oxford Canal that wends its way through peaceful countryside for mile after mile on its journey to Hawkesbury, its level passage interrupted only by Hillmorton Locks. These were duplicated to speed up traffic. Arms and loops along the way indicate an original route that was even more convoluted before modifications. The cast bridges were made by the Horseley Iron Works on a branch of the Birmingham Canal Navigations at Tipton.
At Hawkesbury Junction, also referred to as Sutton Stop after the people who once lived here, the Oxford Canal joins the Coventry Canal. The sharp turn from one into the other can present a challenge to navigators of larger craft.
The Coventry Canal heads towards Bedworth as the town begins to encroach. At Marston Junction the Ashby Canal offers over 20 miles of lock-free cruising, restoration efforts are in progress at its further end.
