The images presented here have been created using Google Earth and show the route of the canal from Cosgrove to Buckingham and highlights a few significant sites along the way. The journey starts at the eastern end where the Old Stratford arm branches off of the Grand Union (or Grand Junction Canal as it was originally called). It heads in a roughly westerly direction towards Old Stratford and the wharf there. This first section of canal was wide, allowing “broad-beam” boats to transit, From Old Stratford, the narrow Buckingham Arm starts, and winds its way through the countryside, via Deanshanger and on into Buckingham.
You can also view this route interactively in Google Maps and you can watch a “flyby” movie, also created using Google Earth on YouTube.
For a more detailed view of the actual route, head over to our maps page.
Start of the Old Stratford arm (the Buckingham Canal) of the Grand Union at Cosgrove (bottom right) and the route to Old Stratford (top left).
The A5 cutting through the line of the canal with the site of the Old Stratford wharf immediately to the west (left).
The canal went through Old Stratford, under Watling Street (the A5 before it was moved). Much of the canal route still exists despite all the new development around it.
The route through Deanshanger is now mostly lost under new housing developments.
After Deanshanger the canal heads around the back of what is now a service station and then weaves its way through the countryside roughly following the course of the river Great Ouse.
At the southern end of the loop are the remains of Bridge 14, inaccessible due to being on private land.
Continuing towards the west (top left) we head through Little Hill Farm
Bridge 16 at Little Hill Farm, which was restored in 2010. Note the Winding Hole which can be made out immediately to the right (East) of the bridge
Going under Thornton Road (bottom right) the canal comes very close to the A422 and then heads towards Leckhampstead wharf (top left).
From Leckhampstead Wharf (bottom left) the canal goes onto Maids Moreton Mill via the wooded area of Hyde Lane nature reserve.
A closer view of Hyde Lane nature reserve. This is the site of the first of two locks on the arm. This lock has been conserved and can be viewed by walking along the Ouse Valley Way
From Maids Moreton Mill the canal swings southward and heads through the area now known as Bourton Meadow towards the outskirts of Buckingham
A closer view of Bourton meadow where the canal has been restored. Lock Cottage, site of lock 2, is at the northern end (bottom right in the photo).
The canal swings around Bourton park, now the location of school and housing, and into the center of Buckingham
The canal terminated at a number of wharfs just outside the center of Buckingham.
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