Getting There
Sat Nav: CV6 6DF
Leave the M6 at Junction 3 and take the B4113, signed Bedworth and Longford, Northbound 1st exit, Southbound 3rd exit.
At the next roundabout take the second exit, signed Bedworth B4113. At the first set of traffic lights, turn right along Black Horse Road. Drive over the railway, past the Boat pub and at the mini roundabout take the second exit.
Go through the traffic lights controlling the canal bridge, over the narrow, weak bridge (this is a proper hump-backed bridge, so be careful). Just after going over the bridge, turn left to drive down to the Greyhound pub at the end, there is parking behind the pub.
Return to M6 Junction 3
Drive up the lane from the Greyhound and turn right.
Continue along Black Horse Road to the T-junction. Turn left onto the B4113.
At the roundabout take the 3rd exit, signed Coventry, Nuneaton, A444, M6, and follow this road to junction 3 of the M6.
Hawkesbury Junction canalside walk
Walk 1
The temptation to chill out at the Greyhound half overcame our diligence on walk-finding here. By the time we'd finally laced up the walking boots, we were ready to move into a narrow boat and take to a life on the canals!
There are several walking options as this is where the Sowe Valley Footpath starts, and the Canal Art Trail from Coventry finishes.
The most obvious choice here is the excellently maintained towpath. The Canal Art Trail between Hawkesbury Junction and Coventry Basin is interesting and different as it features a number of artworks commissioned from local artists, most notably the imposing statue of the famous 18th century canal engineer James Brindley. Take the Coventry Canal arm, which is also the Centenary Way, for this route.
Walk 2
The Sowe Valley footpath runs alongside the River Sowe for 8.5 miles from The Greyhound to Stonebridge Meadows. This starts at the yellow arrow on the road before the pub. The call to the canal was too strong though, and we didn't walk this one.
Facilities
At the Greyhound Inn. Well-behaved dogs are welcome in the bar area here, and children are permitted inside until 7pm. There is also outside seating and covered outdoor seating on rainy days. Dog water is provided. Poo bins are placed along the towpath.
This part of the canal is called the Hawkesbury Junction and is part of a Conservation Area. The Junction is the meeting point of the Coventry canal and the Oxford canal, and there are some fascinating old buildings from the Midlands' industrial past. Apparently the bargemen used to wait here for loads of coal from the coalfields nearby to take south. This is a popular mooring spot for narrow boats, and a start point for canal boat holidays.
Useful Links
Hawkesbury Junction
Visit website
Coventry Canal
Visit website