ASHBY Canal:  
There are those who rave about the Ashby, for it’s rural remoteness. There is no doubt that this canal, without locks, winds it’s way backwards and forwards through a gentle and very peaceful, reed banked, rural setting.

Given that one gets good weather, this can be stunning with dragonflies, grass snakes, and even water voles - but, if it should be wet and windy, there's nothing much else to look at, other than the wind blowing the reeds.  There would still be a visit to the Bosworth Field Battlefield Centre, and the steam railway which runs alongside the canal for some distance, but....

The canalside site of the Battle of Bosworth Field and it’s visitor Battlefield centre does provide some welcome interest and it is very much worth a visit - the walk up to the Battlefield visitor centre, through Albion Wood from the visitor moorings at Sutton Cheyney, doesn't take long (the path is excellent) and it's a very pleasant stroll through the woods.  A lot of hard work has gone into the centre to make it attractive and interesting - particularly with their Ambion Parva - a replica Medieval Village currently under construction. The village includes timber framed buildings that are replicas of vernacular homes, those for the common people, that would have been used between the 13^th and 15^th centuries - see the 'sneak preview' photo below - or visit their website at www.bosworthbattlefield.com.
 

Bridge 1 on the Ashby heading into, reed lined, remote rural canal, from its starting point off the Coventry canal at Marston Junction....	..... and at Bridge 39 on the Ashby the scenery has hardly changed but still reed lined, remote rural canal.	Pretty moorings at Stoke Golding	Path from Bosworth Battlefield Centre down to the Ashby through Albion wood (very pleasant short walk).
The battle banner of King Richard III still flies above Bosworth Field (but the wind wouldn't blow it out straight for the photo).	From the hill by Albion Wood, Richard III broke ranks from his force and rode downhill to personally kill his rival Henry Tudor, who had assembled with his own men in Bosworth Field below. Richard was cut down, only feet before reaching his target.	An attractive entrance to the courtyard at the Bosworth Battlefield Centre. This defeat of Richard III finally brought the 'War of the Roses' to an end.	Replica Medieval building, fencing, and battlefield campsite - the Albion Parva village exhibition.

We do recommend the use of the Ashby as one end of a cruise between the Ashby and (say) Market Harborough on the Grand Union (Leics Section).  Now that is a delightful cruise - but we probably wouldn't recommend the Ashby as a cruising area just in it's own right......unless you have a particular interest in it's wildlife, or perhaps want to use Willow as a base for countryside walks.  (We do set out to be honest/candid with our views and impressions of the canals).

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