Cropredy, Narrowboats and Sunshine.

Not far from our home is the small pretty village of Cropredy.

It was made famous by its link with Fairport Convention and the Cropredy Folk Festival where every year in August swarms of people descend on the place for the annual three days of music and good fun.

The rest of the time it is a charming place with a canal running through its centre and lots of colourful narrowboats moored up, or passing through the locks and some lovely walks along the canal or around the village itself.

On the entrance to the village there is a plaque telling of The Battle of Cropredy Bridge, which was a battle of the English Civil Wars fought on 29 June 1644 . Immortalised in the lyrics to the song Red and Gold written by Ralph McTell and sung by Fairport Convention.

So, on a sunny afternoon we decided to pack a delicious lunch and head off in the bus for an afternoon by the canal.

Joe manouvered the bus down the narrow street leading to where we wanted to park and we found a lovely spot and flung open the side door of the bus letting in the birdsong and a much needed breeze. Of course the kettle was on in minutes and we decided to eat before we explored.

The camper is such a comfortable space to relax in and it is so good to be able to take it to all these lovely places. It is like taking your house to a picturesque place, opening the side of it and looking at the view! I don't think I will ever get tired of it.

Well, delicious food eaten, we lock up and head onto the towpath. Immediately I am struck by the beauty of the surroundings, greenery everywhere, wonderful willow trees overhanging the water and brightly coloured narrowboats moored alongside.

We stop to speak to a couple with a friendly old cat, all three soaking up the sunshine on their boat, she has her hand-made jewellry for sale, all set out at the front of the boat. They are from Yorkshire, retired, and live on the boat from May to September. We talk about travelling with Cats, about life on the canal, and the glorious sunshine.

People moored, or passing on boats, wave and say hello, there is a relaxed happy feel around the place as we continue our walk.

We leave the towpath and take a walk around the village, it is a warm sleepy afternoon there are flowers everywhere, bees buzzing, butterflies and birdsong.



We make our way down to the bridge where I look in the gift shop, a real aladdins cave of colour and smells. Then down the steep stairs and back onto the towpath to make our way back.

We sit a while and watch the boats manouvering through the locks, the regulars doing it with relaxed ease, the holiday makers looking slightly stressed, anxiously watching the side of their boat as they rise as the water gushes in to the lock.

Walk over, we are warm and in need of a drink, we climb into the bus and before long are leaning back on cushions drinking coffee in the cool shade of the trees.

Then back in the cab, music on, we head for home.

Another beautiful day!

Cropredy Village Website
Fairport Convention and Cropredy Festival
Listen to the song Red and Gold