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We start the tour at the Tring summit,
where the 6 1/2 mile long Wendover Arm branches off from the Grand Union
Canal, just before the first lock. |
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The level of the sumit is maintained by
pumping water from the reservoirs into the Wendover Arm which then feeds
the Grand Union. |
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Half a mile down the canal is the current
site of the Tring Canal Festival held here annually. |
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Just before the current end of the
navigable canal is Tringford Pumping station. |
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The bund in the stop lock marks the
current end of the navigable canal, and start of Phase 1 of the
restoration. |
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A major landmark in the Phase 1
restoration is the rebuilding of Little Tring Bridge. |
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Beyond the bridge, the working party is
building the canal wall between the bridge and the new winding hole.
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The new winding hole is taking shape. On
the opposite side, the towpath is nearly completed, and a new hedge is
being planted. The end of phase 1 can be seen in the background. |
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Phase 2, Stage 1 has been filled in and is
currently used as a temporary road surface, as well as storage of
building materials and car parking space. |
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Stage 2 has been cleared to the
Whitehouses footpath crossing which was Bridge No.4. This section is
virtually dry even in heavy rain, showing just how badly the canal
leaks. |
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This shows a part of Stage 3 which has not
been cleared since the canal closed. The towpath is still kept clear,
but it is hard to imagine that the trees and bushes to the right grow in
the canal bed. |
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Looking down the dry canal bed of stage 5.
Drayton Bridge in the background. |
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The work has started on stage 6 which is
the Aston Clinton bypass. This is the current lay of the canal, but it
will be diverted into the hilside to the right and under the new bypass.
Notice that water still flows in this part of the canal. |
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Click on the picture to the left to see a
map of the canal from Aston Clinton to Wendover. |
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This is the bridge where the current A41
crosses the Wendover Arm. |
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Carrying on from the A41 towards Wendover,
we get to a beautiful part of the canal flowing through Green Park. |
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Just before Halton, we get to Rothschild
Bridge. |
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The canal at Halton. |
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After passing Halton, the canal winds it's
way through the woods towards Perch Bridge. |
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The Wides. This area of grass and shrubs
used to be an open area of water with a tiny island near the far side.
Trees have started to invade what was once open water. Without
management the canal would disappear in a few years.The Wides will be an
important area for preservation in the newly restored canal. |
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Another scenic section of the canal on the
way to Wendover. |
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The canal and towpath near Wendover. |
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Wendover Basin. Twenty years ago this was
an open expanse of water with just a fringe of reeds. The silting has
become so bad that grass is now growing and trees are colonising the new
land. Channels are cut through the weed by a British Waterways workman
to prevent stoppage of the water flow. |
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Finally we arrive at the spring at the
begining of the canal. Notice the clear water. |
