Wey and Arun Canal Cruise
Often called "London’s Lost Route to the Sea," the Wey & Arun Canal was a 23-mile waterway built in 1816, linking the River Wey at Shalford to the River Arun at Pallingham.
The canal was built during the Napoleonic wars to provide a safe inland route from London to the dockyards at Portsmouth and the south coast. It avoided the risk of attack on ships by the French navy in the English channel.
However by the time it opened, the war with France was over. Running through a rural area, there was little freight traffic to justify the existence of the canal. As a result, it was never very prosperous. It flourished briefly, reaching peak traffic in 1839, but was hit hard by the opening of the Guildford and Horsham Railway in 1865, and quickly became uneconomic. Engineering problems and water shortages also affected its viability. The last recorded boat journey was in 1867 and the canal was officially declared abandoned in 1871 with land being sold off.
Since 1970 an extensive volunteer-led restoration project. The Wey & Arun Canal Trust has restored or rebuilt locks, bridges, and aqueducts as well as the Lordings Lock Waterwheel which pumps water back into the canal.
As of 2026, approximately 10 miles are navigable by small craft. A 3-mile "showcase" stretch at Loxwood is fully navigable. The Trust runs public boat trips from the Canal Centre behind the Onslow Arms in Loxwood from Spring to Autumn (water supplies permitting).
I went on a boat trip on the section from Loxwood as far as Southland Lock where we turned round. This took us though Loxwood and Devil’s Hole Locks.
I sat in the outside at the front of the boat and it was a lovely leisurely trip through some stunning countryside. The canal is wooded and banks full of reeds, grasses, yellow iris, horse tails, angelica.... There was a lot of birdsong although all I saw was a family of ducks.
The view east from the Canal Centre.
The other passenger boats along with the Trust’s working boats are moored just west of the Canal Basin. Just beyond them is the bridge over the B2133.
Loxwood Lock is reached in a few minutes.
When full, the upper lock gates can be opened.
This stretch is popular with fishermen as there are a lot of tench, perch and even pike in the canal. The banks are overgrown with yellow iris.
Devil’s Hole Lock soon comes into view, with a milestone visible on the bank.
Once the sluices are open, water floods in, so filling the lock.
Beyond, the canal continues towards Southland Lock which is the northerly limit of navigable water on this section of the canal, and boats turn round before the lock gates.
On the return journey, the boat enters the lock and waits as water is lowered before the lock gates open onto the lower stretch of the canal. On Lockwood Canal, the winch controlling the sluices is on the lower lock gates.
On a sunny day, this is a lovely relaxing trip. It is definitely worth trying to sit outside at the front for the best views.
Website
Often called "London’s Lost Route to the Sea," the Wey & Arun Canal was a 23-mile waterway built in 1816, linking the River Wey at Shalford to the River Arun at Pallingham.
The canal was built during the Napoleonic wars to provide a safe inland route from London to the dockyards at Portsmouth and the south coast. It avoided the risk of attack on ships by the French navy in the English channel.
However by the time it opened, the war with France was over. Running through a rural area, there was little freight traffic to justify the existence of the canal. As a result, it was never very prosperous. It flourished briefly, reaching peak traffic in 1839, but was hit hard by the opening of the Guildford and Horsham Railway in 1865, and quickly became uneconomic. Engineering problems and water shortages also affected its viability. The last recorded boat journey was in 1867 and the canal was officially declared abandoned in 1871 with land being sold off.
Since 1970 an extensive volunteer-led restoration project. The Wey & Arun Canal Trust has restored or rebuilt locks, bridges, and aqueducts as well as the Lordings Lock Waterwheel which pumps water back into the canal.
As of 2026, approximately 10 miles are navigable by small craft. A 3-mile "showcase" stretch at Loxwood is fully navigable. The Trust runs public boat trips from the Canal Centre behind the Onslow Arms in Loxwood from Spring to Autumn (water supplies permitting).
I went on a boat trip on the section from Loxwood as far as Southland Lock where we turned round. This took us though Loxwood and Devil’s Hole Locks.
I sat in the outside at the front of the boat and it was a lovely leisurely trip through some stunning countryside. The canal is wooded and banks full of reeds, grasses, yellow iris, horse tails, angelica.... There was a lot of birdsong although all I saw was a family of ducks.
The view east from the Canal Centre.
The other passenger boats along with the Trust’s working boats are moored just west of the Canal Basin. Just beyond them is the bridge over the B2133.
Loxwood Lock is reached in a few minutes.
When full, the upper lock gates can be opened.
This stretch is popular with fishermen as there are a lot of tench, perch and even pike in the canal. The banks are overgrown with yellow iris.
Devil’s Hole Lock soon comes into view, with a milestone visible on the bank.
Once the sluices are open, water floods in, so filling the lock.
Beyond, the canal continues towards Southland Lock which is the northerly limit of navigable water on this section of the canal, and boats turn round before the lock gates.
On the return journey, the boat enters the lock and waits as water is lowered before the lock gates open onto the lower stretch of the canal. On Lockwood Canal, the winch controlling the sluices is on the lower lock gates.
On a sunny day, this is a lovely relaxing trip. It is definitely worth trying to sit outside at the front for the best views.
Website
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