Bosworth Marina
Midland Mallard Canal Boat Hire location is at Bosworth Marina, Carlton Rd, Market Bosworth, Nuneaton. CV13 6PG. Situated in the beautiful town of Market Bosworth the final battle scene for King Richard III, last of the Plantagenet kings.
Market Bosworth and in particular Shakerstone is a SSSI site of special scientific interest with many plant and animal species present.
Location By Car
Directions to Bosworth Marina by car can be accessed by clicking on the 'Directions' button on the map.
Location By Bus
The rural bus terminal is by the entrance to Bosworth Marina and travels through the villages of Market Bosworth. Barlestone, Newbold Verdon and Desford are also nearby.
Location By Bicycle
We are National Cycle Route no 52 and Hinckley and Bosworth cycling map H&B4.
Our Location in Relation to the Canal Network
Midland Mallard are located on the Ashby Canal which joins the Coventry canal at Marston Junction. Access to the Coventry basin is a few miles down the Coventry canal, past Hawksbury Junction. Firstly, Midland Mallard are one of the closest Narrowboat hire companies to Hawksbury Junction and the Atherstone flight. Secondly Midland Mallard are located on the Ashby Canal Network and can be seen on the map below. For more details of how long it takes to navigate through the canal system click on the following link CanalplanAC. This is a Canal Boat Hire Location and planner website. CanalPlan’s website allows you to enter details of your journey including how many hours you wish to travel each day. This will allow you to consider your holiday options and decide where to go.
Pubs and Restaurants on the Ashby Canal
Points Of interest on the Ashby Canal Include various pubs and cafes detailed below…
About The Midlands
The Midlands Geography
The Midlands is an area centrally located within England, part of the UK. It currently has no designated administrative area , it therefore, lacks any strict definition. However, it is generally considered to include the counties of Derbyshire, Herefordshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Rutland, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire. Being as far inland as it is possible to be, the Midlands generally has a temperate climate with generally calm winds and warm summers.
History of the Midlands
History of the Midlands shows it as the historical heartland of the Industrial revolution which came about during the period between 1760 and 1820. Incidentally, this period coincides exactly with the reign of King George III. During this period, hand held tools and the human workforce began to be replaced by steam driven machines. These were more reliable and could work around the clock. Machines based around the James Watt steam engines incorporated a circular motion thus replacing the piston motion engines of the past. This enabled industry to create production line systems. Due to these changes, and due to the large number of factories making textiles and popular products of the time, this made the Midlands a significant contributor at the cutting edge of the industrial revolution.
The Midlands Canal Network
The network first came into being in the 18th century and was “Cut” to provide transport for the growing pottery industries around Staffordshire and the West Midlands. It was created to provide a more efficient and faster route for commercial goods to be transported. The Midlands Canal Network formed a major navigational highway through the period of Industrial revolution. Canal boats were mainly pulled by horses which traveled on the “Tow Path” built next to the canals. Horses were later replaced by on-board mechanized systems, which again were brought about by changes in the James Watts Steam engine.
Types of Narrowboats
Some of the steam powered boats can still be seen today making their way up and down the Midlands Canals. These are mainly kept under wraps and reserved for special boating events. Most of the canal boats are now powered by even more efficient propulsion methods such as Diesel engines and even hybrid petrol engines using silent electric motors. Later, around 1840, the steam powered train network came into being and began to threaten the very existence of the canal network as transport times were quicker. By 1850, nearly two thirds of the produce previously carried by canal was now being transported by rail.
Things to see and do on the Midlands Canal Network
There are many relics of the industrial revolution to observe throughout the Midlands Canal Network. There are many things to do whilst navigating the Midlands canal network not least of all the pubs and restaurants that festoon the tow paths. Ironically, what had become the bane of the Midlands Canal network inadvertently became it saving grace.
Steam Engines on the Canals
As steam engines rolled on to become the highways of their day the canal network was allowed to rest and mature. Where once stood a dirty trodden towpath may now contain a woodland. Where once upon a time industry had created pollution, there are un-spoilt waters containing large fish.
Wildlife on the Ashby Canal
The nearby waters now house some very weird and wonderful creatures indeed. During the 1990’s, children watching T.V programs like Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles went out and purchased Terrapins from their local pet shops. Once the children became bored of the turtles and moved onto something more adult, those turtles were discarded into the Canal Network. Some survive in parts and can grow to be the size of dinner plates. This is why the Midlands Canal network is worth exploration and why we hope you will enjoy the freedom and adventure that it will bring to you.