Cycling the Basingstoke Canal

The Wednesday Cycling group have been exploring the Basingstoke canal by following the towpath, initially (in the Autumn of 2023) starting at the Canal Centre in Mytchett and cycling to Brookwood where we enjoyed refreshments in a sun filled pub garden. Having found that stretch so interesting, we again started at the Canal Centre, in April 2024, and cycled to Fleet in Hampshire, pausing for refreshments in a very nice cafe before returning. Our next section will be from Fleet to the tunnel at Greywell. After that we will cover the only section we’ve not cycled, from Brookwood to Woodham near Byfleet where the Basingstoke Canal meets the Wey Navigation.

The Basingstoke Canal runs from Byfleet (where it joins the Wey Navigation) to the Greywell Tunnel near Basingstoke. The canal used to run through the tunnel to Basingstoke but there have been several collapses over the years and these have totally blocked the tunnel. Due to the way the canal twists and turns around hills and other obstacles it’s 33 miles from Byfleet to the tunnel, giving us four rides of 7-9 miles, actually doubled as we then have to cycle back to the cars!

You can discover more about the canal here: basingstoke-canal.org.uk (Hint: Scroll down) and here: Things to do on the Canal