Ashby Canal Route UK Waterways Green Towel

Ashby Canal Route Map UK Waterways Green. The Ashby Canal construction began in 1796 and opened for navigation in 1804 connecting the mining district around Moira, just outside the town of Ashby de la Zouch with the Coventry Canal at Bedworth in Warwickshire. Its purpose was to transport coal and limestone from the mines and quarries of Warwickshire and Leicestershire to the Blast Furnace at Moira, The Furness is preserved as a museum and well worth a visit to this important monument of the Industrial Revolution. The canal was originally 31 miles long, but mining subsidence has resulted in the last 9 miles being closed in 1966 and infilled. The section beyond Snarestone is being renovated by the Ashby Canal Association and Leicestershire County Council. Currently the Ashby provides 22 miles, and approximately 8 hours, of lock free navigation through pleasant open countryside. The 250 yd long tunnel at Snarestone has an interesting kink in the middle.