The Market Harborough Canal Arm in England.

A walk along The Market Harborough Canal Arm towpath from Foxton to Market Harborough and returning across countryside partly alongside the Leicester Canal.

The five mile long Market Harborough Canal Arm leaves the Leicester Canal Section at the bottom of Foxton Locks and wanders through the countryside to arrive at Market Harborough. And we do mean "wanders" - it follows the contours and is nearly as bendy as the older Oxford Canal. There are some lovely bridges along the Market Harborough Arm however the canal does not have any locks. The towpath for the length of the Arm is in excellent condition and fine for both walkers and cyclists. Rather than walk there and back along the canal it is possible to go across country to make a really nice circular walk - which includes a brief visit into Lubenham to see it's church and some very old buildings.

About The Market Harborough Canal Arm, Harborough, Leicestershire, England.

Completed in 1809 the original idea was to continue the Arm from Market Harborough on through to Northampton - it never happened. The following walk goes from Foxton Lock-keepers cottage on the Leicester Canal on down the lock-flight then heads of along the Arm to Market Harborough - returning back across country to Foxton. There is just a little bit of hill climbing around Lubenham and its a total walking distance of around 10 miles.
From the Gumley Road car park a path takes you the short distance down to the Leicester Canal at bridge 60 - cross the bridge onto the towpath and turn right towards the Foxton Lock Flight and Foxton Toplock. Obviously you may well spend some time wandering around the Foxton Inclined plane area but once ready for the walk go to the bottom of the lock flight and the canal junction - the Leicester Canal goes off half left and the Arm goes off to the right - you need to be on the Arm's far towpath and you can get to this by crossing over Rainbow bridge (62).
There is nothing complicated about this towpath walk to Market Harborough - just a case of experiencing the lovely English countryside and enjoying the old bridges and buildings you pass on the way.
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Foxton Locks

View of several of the locks at Foxton Lock Flight in England.

Foxton Locks

Bridge 61

Rainbow Bridge crosses the canal at Foxton Lock Flight.

Rainbow Bridge 62

Foxton junction

swing bridge

The start of the short Market Harborough Canal Arm in England.

Market Harborough Arm

Blackhorse Bridge 3

Blackhorse Bridge

St. Andrews

The beautiful Market Harborough Canal Arm on it's way to Market Harborough

Canal Towpath

Swingbridge no4 over the Market Harborough Canal Arm

Swing bridge4

You can divert off the Market Harborough Canal Arm towpath at Bridge 3 to take a look at Foxton's nice old church of St. Andrew's (photo above). Also a little further along the towpath just past Bridge 8 (Gallows Hill bridge) remember to look back from where the canal bends to the right for an excellent view of warehouses and also a nice high brick chimney.

Swing bridge 4

Swing bridge 4

Clarkes Bridge no.5 on the Market Harborough Arm

Clarkes Bridge 5

Clarkes Bridge

Step bridge 6

Market Harborough Arm and Johnsons Bridge no.7

Johnsons Bridge 7

Johnsons Bridge

Along the canal towpath to Market Harborough.

Market Harborough Arm

Market Harborough Canal Arm passing through lovely countryside

Market Harborough Arm

Gallows Hill Bridge

Gallows Hill Bridge 8

Gallows Hill Bridge

Orobable site of a small canal wharf on the Market Harborough Canal Arm

Site of wharf

A nice old brick chimney seen along The beautiful Canal Arm to Market Harborough

Market Harborough Arm

Market Harborough Canal Arm - Sedgeleys Bridge no.9

Sedgeleys Bridge 9

Sedgeleys Bridge

When you reach Bowden Hall Bridge it's worth just popping up to the road where there are some really nice old buildings and warehouses as well as the Hall itself. The canal does bend around quite a lot and manages to make a quite tight twist just after Bridge 14 (Wooden Stepbridge) as it gets more into Market Harborough. Just after this really tight bend on the canal and where it straightens up take note of a footpath on the right - you will use this later.

Bowden Hall Bridge 10

pipe bridge

Canalside buildings at Bowden Hall beside the Market Harborough Canal Arm.

Bowden Hall area

Bowden Hall Bridge

Old warehouses

walking the Market Harborough Arm and approaching Saunts Bridge

near
Saunts Bridge 11

Saunts Bridge

Saunts Bridge 11

Saunts Bridge

Uncle Tom's Bridge 12

Uncle Tom's Bridge

Market Harborough Arm - Bridge 13 is a Turnover Bridge

Turnover Bridge 13

Turnover Bridge

Wooden Stepbridge 14 on the Market Harborough Arm

stepbridge no.14

Canal Step bridge

Market Harborough Arm near the town itself

Near Market Harborough

The canal basin at Market Harborough has been turned into a very pleasant are - all the warehouses and old buildings have been renovated and are now being used as a mixture of flats, small shops and so on. There is quite a bit of seating scattered around and it is a great spot especially if the sun is out.

Market Harborough's Union Wharf- the Market Harborough Canal Arm

Union Wharf Basin

Market Harborough Canal Arm - the Basin and end of the Arm

End of Arm

Union Wharf

The Canal Arm Basin at Market Harborough

Market Harborough basin

On the way back to Foxton from Market Harborough across the fields

nr Lubenham

All Saints Church

An old brick built railway bridge at Lubenham, England.

disused bridge

Tower House Lubenham

The walk continues by returning back along the Market Harborugh Arm and then taking the previously noted path leaving the towpath between fences on the left which quickly brings you onto Logan Crescent. Turn right then take the next right onto Knoll Street which you follow to the bottom of the hill. Turn left along Gardiner Street and follow the road along looking out for a signposted footpath on the right which goes between a brick wall and fence. This brings you onto Brookfield Road, turn right and shortly turn left into Hill Gardens then go right along The Pastures at the top of which you will find the start of a footpath. Follow the path alongside houses and then to a field - go almost straight ahead across the field aiming for a single oak tree and a marker post - from here there are orange marker posts showing the route.

Several of the stables at the Tower House in Lubenham

Old stables Lubenham

Lubenham - ex-stables by the Tower House

Tower House Stables

field walks heading back to Foxton from Lubenham in Leicestershire

Heading to Foxton

Site of a dis-used military camp (?) on the way back to Foxton

ex military site?

Continue across the next field to a road - turn right and cross the road - very shortly take a path leaving on the left. This marked path crosses fields and eventually joins a small road on the edge of Lubenham. Turn left and follow the road round to the church. Walk through the churchyard and out onto Rushes Lane at the far side - turn right and then stay on this lane as it passes several old buildings and eventually reaches a main road. Cross the main road onto the road opposite (The Green) and then go left and looking out for and taking a footpath on the right. Follow the footpath and when it splits take the left fork - continue across the fields and eventually through a small wooded area to reach Foxton Road by a small farm. Cross the road and take the footpath opposite. This path crosses fields and arrives at Holme's Farm. The path continues across several small fields but when we walk it these were all enclosed with electric fences - far easier to go right along the track and then shortly take the track on the left. Just before reaching the pond go right across fields and follow the marker posts - when you come to a clump of trees (marked on the map as the site of a dis-used camp) in a dip the path splits - take the left fork and continue across more fields to eventually arrive at the Leicester Canal by Bridge 60 (the top of Foxton Staircase Locks).