River Wey Navigations

New moorings by the attractive nature reserve at Brookwood Lye -for more information on The Lye see the Surrey Wildlife Trust's page

Brookwood (or Connaught) Bridge

The towpath has been on the south side of the canal since St. Johns, and affects a change to the other side at Brookwood. The road bridge is sometimes known as Connaught. The was never a towpath under the bridge and like other locations on the Basingstoke one had to cross the main road to gain the next section of towpath. As of 2002 there has been a towpath under Brookwood Bridge

Cyclists passing locks 12 & 13 at Brookwood

From the top of the Brookwood flight it is a short walk to the Toll bridge. The canal runs round the back of Brookwood itself, but easy access to the nearby station (and the famous cemetery) can be made from Toll bridge. This is the name given in the Basingstoke Canal - A Towpath Walk. But nowdays its more likely to be called Sheets Heath bridge, after the nearby road that leads from the canal to Brookwood village and station.

Sheets Heath (or Toll) footbridge

Narrow Boat moored just below Pirbright Lock

Pirbright Bridge and lock 15

Pirbright lock (no.15) is be said to be the start of the long flight to the top of Deepcut, totalliing 14 locks in all - although the Deepcut flight officially begins just a short distance away at lock 16. Many of the bridges on the canal have oval plaques dating the year of construction (usually 1792) and the year of rebuilding. Pirbright bridge is a much later structure as the plaque (bottom) explains.

Pirbright Lock in 2004

A slightly different view of Pirbirght lock! The remains of an iron boat could be seen above the lock whilst the canal was drained for lock repairs in March 2009

Next: Up the locks at Deepcut