Sculpture Trail and Tranquil Views
A canal boat trip from Burnt Mill to Sawbridgeworth on the Lee and Stort Navigation (River Stort – Main Line) will take around 2 hours and 11 minutes* and has 4 locks. The River Stort is a gentle, winding course with an abundance of wildlife, including many species of bird, as well as beautiful wildflowers along its banks.
From your starting point you will wind your way through Harlow, arriving at your first lock, Latton Lock. Although there is no evidence now, this area was once a busy industrial site with a water mill.
Look out for the concrete sculpture ‘Mill’, by Nicola Burrell, commissioned as part of the The River Stort Sculpture Trail. The sculpture is located where Latton Mill once stood and was inspired by the history of the Mill. If you are on a longer canal boat trip holiday and would like to take walk from here, The Harcamlow Way and Three Forests Way share the same route along the river.
The next lock reached is Harlow Lock, also known as Harlow Mill , where you can see another piece on the Sculpture Trail, ‘The Flowing River’ by Anthony Lysycia. Despite being near to a busy road, the lock is scenic, with a lock keeper’s cottage and, if you are looking to moor up here for a spot of lunch, you can choose from two restaurants nearby – the converted mill building, Harlow Mill Beefeater pub restaurant and hotel or, across the road, is the riverside brasserie Coho.
Back on-board, cruise along to Feakes Lock, where you will find a pretty, peaceful location with fields and hedgerows and just a kilometre to the east of Pishiobury Park Estate. Pishiobury Park is a registered historic parkland, it’s history spanning from the Neolithic period, with evidence of Roman occupation, links to Henry VIII and evidence of ‘Capability’ Brown style landscape features.
Next, as you head towards Sheering, you will arrive at Sheering Mill Lock which is between the village of Lower Sheering and the town.
The original lock cottage, built in 1799, no longer exists and was replaced by the current building in 2000.
Back on-board the navigation continues through pleasant woodland towards our final destination, the small town of Sawbridgeworth.
The pretty town centre has a Tudor clock tower, and narrow streets of cottages and some 16th century townhouses. There are a number of shops and restaurants in the town, as well as an antique centre located near the railway station.
Contact us to out more about booking your own canal boat adventure on one of our specially adapted canal boats, or fill in a contact form and we will be in touch.
