Just off the A508, a third of the way from Junction 15 of the M1 towards the A5, is the historic village of Stoke Bruerne. Just an hour from Knowle, here is a day out made for the longer, warmer days as Spring turns towards summer. With the sun rising through a blue sky above and a shimmer on the surface of the water beneath it, there is so much to fill a day in the canalside Northamptonshire village of Stoke Bruerne.

The village itself is a Conservation Area, designated in 1991. Recognised as one of the prettiest in the Midlands, it has the Grand Union Canal at its heart and a host of stone and thatched cottages.

Just half a mile north is the mouth of the Blisworth Tunnel, a triumph of historic engineering. At over 3,000 yards, it is the third-longest navigable canal tunnel in the nation and the ninth-longest in the world. The biggest challenge in constructing the whole canal, it took 12 years with just picks, shovels, wheelbarrows and an army of navvies.

The regular, half hour ‘no need to book’ narrowboat trip up to the mouth of the tunnel and back are a must for most visitors. They provide a tranquil ride through picturesque countryside and a good opportunity for wildlife spotting.

Strolling up the towpath is more energetic, but affords the opportunity to visit Bob Nightingale, master blacksmith and maker of unique handcrafted ironworks at the tunnel entrance Tug Store. Those who time it right can not only feel the heat of the forge but see the sparks fly whilst he is hard at work.

Meanwhile, back in the village, the attraction that draws folk like bees to the honey-pot is the Canal Museum. Opened in 1963 in a converted corn mill it holds a terrific collection of artefacts reflecting the canal history and culture. There are working models of boats and locks, traditional painted canal crafts, traditional clothing, canal-side signs and lock keeper’s tools.

In the opposite direction to the tunnel, the Museum sits at the top of a flight of seven locks, another good excuse for a scenic stroll. Inevitably, on a busy day, there is a constant and fascinating flow of narrowboats in, out, up and down to be watched.

Once exhausted by that, the Museum café, which offers sandwiches, cakes, hot and cold drinks, might await. Yet some might prefer the more substantial ales and highly rated bar food of the historic Boat Inn, beside the Top Lock and run by the Woodward family since 1877!