Medium: although it’s nearly 50km, the route has no climbing, allow 2+ hours.

The Grand Union Canal towpath can form the basis for plenty of rides. After riding north west through Wolverton, the pretty village of Cosgrove is easily reached, crossing the famous Iron Trunk Aqueduct along the way.

From here we can come back along Sustrans Route 6, its fast gravel*, gently running downhill and parallel to the railway until we are almost back into town. Using the metalled railway path between Wolverton and Newport is a nice traffic free cruise. (*sadly Sustrans Route 6 has now been tarmacked here)

The Route: Follow Crawley Rd all the way to the final roundabout, turn left towards the busy roads but go right at the allotments. There is a tree lined snicket that goes down to the river and then into park land.

Cross the obvious footbridge over the river and left onto the road, on reaching the junction go straight over to join car free Tongwell Lane. Go around the lake clockwise to reach Wedgewood Avenue and where it gets to the main road go over using the tangle of red ways to the tow path.

Follow the canal side all the way to Cosgrove where a fork right gives access to the road. There is a tempting little tunnel under the canal but it’s pedestrian only so pass through the village by the road over the canal and take a right leading to the Navigation pub and then on into to Castlethorpe. Loop right along South street, past new houses to reach a gravel road that crosses the railway, and then straight over the bridge is the single track gravel you’ve been patiently building up to. It’s fast.

As the trail reached the ouse and you rattle over the wooden bridge go left to follow the track by the river, under the huge railway viaduct, until it doubles back to the Bradwell allotments. Cross the road and fiddle about a bit to get back down to the canal, finding the mini suspension bridge to reach the railway path. It’s a straight chilled out ride all the way to the end. Across the road (look for the mural) is another quieter road, head right on this to join the route used to reach Newport. 

Back to Cranfield the way we came, there unfortunately isn’t a direct gravel route back but the road is nice enough.

Fun Fact: Cosgrove’s “Iron Trunk” aqueduct was the worlds first aqueduct wide enough to allow boats to pass in each direction. As you ride the narrow tow path with the canal on one side you get a good view of the 18m drop down the Ouse on your right. It might be best to push if you don’t like heights.