A labyrinth of caverns and branches connect with the main tunnel and are separated on three levels, by only ten precarious feet of rock and history. Located on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal on the outskirts of the village of Alvechurch Worcestershire, Alvechurch Marina is conveniently found next to the railway station. Browns Brasserie & Bar. At Kings Norton Junction, the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal joins under permanently open guillotine gates. To find details such as moorings, boaters' facilities and access points, you'llneed to zoom tothe map fully. It is reputed that there are more canals in Birmingham than in Venice, and certainly just as much to see and do. Could you join your local Towpath Taskforce team and help us to keep our canals looking lovely? 01299 403816 www.svr.co.uk. The great spaghetti of canals that converge in Birmingham was once the beating heart of the Industrial Revolution. Alvechurch Canal Boat Holiday. / castle in the country. 108, Number of Tunnels : Droitwich Canal, Duration: 7 Nights Alongside the canal network in Birmingham city centre you will find The Symphony Hall, National Indoor Arena, the Sea Life Centre, International Convention Centre and Brindley Place. Alvechurch Marina is located on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal on the outskirts of the village of Alvechurch Worcestershire, and conveniently adjacent to the railway station. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Briefly heading north, then turning down on the Stratford Canal towards Stratford, this relaxing route involves no locks at all. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. This route of contrasts takes in the 21st century Birmingham city centre, 19th century heritage and some of the most rural stretches of canal imaginable along with the river Severn . The huge expanse of Cannock Chase lies to the south. At the heart of a superb canal network. Travel on the rural River Severn, the longest river in the UK and second longest in the British Isles. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. "/> Check out our excellent reviews online. 7 Nights Cruising Time Per day: 7 Hrs Locks: 110 Close by is luxury shopping centre the Mailbox, with its stylish clothing shops and cafes. Under enterprising management new traffic was sought, and the canal survived until nationalisation in 1948. Most routes offer a convenient canal side pub, ideal for your lunch stop. The very narrow rock cutting called Pendeford Rockin' will keep anyone at the tiller alert - if you meet a boat, youll need to use one of the special passing places. Duration: 3 nights. Alvechurch Marina. Cruising the South Oxford Canal 5 years ago Autumn Myst. Bridge 19 Blackpole to Bridge 48 Stoke Pound, Bridge 51 Fenstall Lane to Kingsnorton Tunnel (south portal), Bridge 2 Mill Street to Bridge 19 Blackpole, See our stoppages section here and check your route. Cruise the Stratford Canal to the small village of Lapworth, which lies at the junction with the Grand Union and boasts a selection of good pubs. A stone by bridge 78 at Whittington marks where the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal changes to the Coventry Canal, and just beyond is Huddlesford Junction, with the short remains of the Lichfield Canal now providing moorings. Tel: 0330 333 0590(UK Local Rate) Orders taken for bespoke cards. The canal continues north beside the railway line. The Droitwich canal reopened in 2011 after a restoration that was carried out with conservation in mind. NB: This route has been provided as a guide only. Setting off from Alvechurch Marina, follow the Worcester & Birmingham Canal north under the bridge past the village's back gardens. 8:30am until 5:00pm Monday to Friday, 9am 5pm on weekends and bank holidays. It does not store any personal data. Your route swings from lock-free relaxation to energetic lock flights, from rural to urban, and contrasts the winding and straight routes by two of the greatest canal engineers. Situated in peaceful countryside,the marina neighbours conservation areas and a SSSI. From here you can set out to explore the Worcester and Birmingham canal network with amazing stops at Stratford-upon-Avon, Tewkesbury and Worcester. Birmingham centre boasts the Sea Life Centre, the NIA, Symphony Hall and Brindley Place, all with canal frontage. The meadow alongside the water is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and home to a variety of nesting birds, so it's a good mooring spot to linger. The pretty lock cottage at Tixall Lock has views across fields towards the castellated entrance to Shugborough Railway Tunnel beyond. The route follows a beautiful stretch of the Worcester and Birmingham Canal and then skirts the two local reservoirs, Lower Bittell and Upper Bittell. Opposite the junction is an attractive toll house with its board showing the charges. Through a wooded cutting you arrive at Hopwood before leaving the lush Worcestershire countryside behind to disappear into the immense Wast Hills Tunnel (2,726yds/2,493m long). These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. We work together with narrowboat owners in the development Cafwin Cruises is a luxury boutique narrowboat self-drive hire company providing stunning holidays in Worcestershire, Warwickshire & Gloucestershire. Note: Headroom through Dudley Tunnel is restricted, contact local office for details. Our canals can change lives. After taking time to explore, you leave the city from Old Turn Junction along the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal via a quick succession of locks - the 13 Farmers Bridge Locks followed quickly by the 11 Aston Locks, taking you down to Salford (or Spaghetti) Junction and a right turn past the citys trailing outskirts. Cruise the Stratford Canal to the small village of Lapworth, which lies at the junction with the Grand Union and boasts a selection of good pubs. Much of the stunning new development in Birmingham city centre is focused on the canalside area Symphony Hall, the International Convention Centre and the Sea Life Centre. We are closed for a few days over Christmas. Encounter life as it was when the canals were built for commercial use at the Black Country Living Museum at Tipton. The cookies store information anonymously and assign a randomly generated number to identify unique visitors. sorry, we don't have any links for this route. / 95. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 0, Number of Tunnels : But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Keep in touch with us on social media to stay up to date with our offers and competitions. The Dudley Tunnel was begun in 1775. Back in the countryside and through the diminutive Curdworth Tunnel (57yds/52m long), the 11 Curdworth Locks take the canal down to Fazeley. Continue north to Fradley Junction where the Coventry Canal meets the Trent & Mersey Canal. Cruise type: Return. The Droitwich Canals can be cruised as part of The Stourport Ring, or as a leisurely return routeby travelling down through the Tardebigge flight to Hanbury and then turning right onto the Droitwich Canal. The Droitwich canal also sits on The Droitwich Ring the 21 mile, circular route that you can easily complete in a weekend. Alvechurch Marina Worcestershire Cruise to Birmingham's Gas street Basin & Brindley place with it's waterside pubs and colourful boating community Experience Britain's second city, a thriving cosmopolitan centre, with some of the finest shopping, culture and visitor attractions in Europe. Canal & River Trust is a charity registered with the Charity Commission no. The marina has an onsite shop with gifts, confectionery and magazines, and a boat chandlery. CHANDLERY Ok Joinery Ltd have designed and manufactured high quality furniture for boat builders since 2005.We are specialists in narrowboat dinette furniture. Alvecote Marina . DONT MISS THE BOAT, SECURE YOUR DATE BEFORE ITS TOO LATE! A free day out for all the family. A relaxing route that will take you through countryside and then into the hustle and bustle of Birmingham city centre (www.visitbirmingham.com). A leafy, leisurely trip is guaranteed as you float down these relatively new waterways. Click thered 'i' iconin the bottom right hand corner to expand the key. The Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN) link the old and new main lines and take you past places such as Smethwick, West Bromwich, Tipton and Wolverhampton. The following boats operate on this route (subject to availability). And if time allows, its worth a wander round Bournville village with its quaint green surrounded by shops, overlooked by a statue of George Cadbury himself from the Quaker Meeting House. Featured Routes Droitwich Canal from Alvechurch Marina Duration: 7 Nights TOTAL LOCKS: 76 - 92 CRUISING TIME PER DAY: 5 HOURS (30 HOURS IN TOTAL) Maps & Guides for this route : P1, N2, D1, E1 CHESTER OR ELLESMERE PORT & RETURN 7-10 Nights Cruising Time Per day: 6-7.5 Hrs Locks: 66/74 This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Pinch point: top of Camp Hill. Birmingham mini ring from Alvechurch via Black Cou.. Black Country Ring from Kings Orchard Marina, Black County Ring from Alvechurch in 7 days, East Midlands or Leicester ring from Gayton. Route editor. The cookie is used to calculate visitor, session, campaign data and keep track of site usage for the site's analytics report. You should always check with the marina that the route is possible within your time frame, current weather conditions and canal stoppages etc. You might like to take a short walk down the Hanbury Flight, which was rebuilt by volunteers. Although the Coventry Canal heads northeast at the junction, the Birmingham & Fazeley carries on for a couple of miles to the northwest, as the Coventry Canal Company ran out of money at Fazeley though they later managed to buy the section from Whittington through to Fradley Junction, now a stranded part of the Coventry! CARAVAN PARKS 3 Baths. Information may become inaccurate or out of date. The last commercial traffics were coal from Cannock to Worcester and chocolate crumb from Worcester to Bournville, ceasing in 1960 and 1961 respectively. / Yet first impressions don't give away the city's biggest secret. By clicking Allow all cookies, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Home (0121 557 9643) www.bclm.co.uk. Alvechurch Marina is a minor waterways place on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal (Diglis Basin to King's Norton Junction) between Hanbury Junction (Junction with Droitwich Junction Canal (Restored - Opened 1/July/2011). Cruise type: Return. This short cruise is only for the energetic as it includes the 30 locks of the Tardebigge Flight which is the largest flight in Britain, and raises the Worcester & Birmingham Canal up by 220 feet through some delightful rolling countryside just southeast of Bromsgrove. Duration: 3 nights. Recommended Holiday Duration : In 1815, everyone huffed a sigh of relief when a cut was made and the Berlinesque bar was penetrated. Continuing south, duck under pipe bridges past a chemical works. East Midlands or Leicester Ring from North Kilwort.. East Midlands or Leicester Ring from Springwood Ha.. Four Counties Ring from Tattenhall Marina, Warwickshire ring from Kings Orchard marina. Whether you are an aspiring boater, a part-time enthusiast, live aboard permanent cruiser, holiday maker, towpath user, or someone who simply lives or works beside our inland waterways, you have come to With over 50 years experience and a reputation for providing high quality, exceptional value holidays, we look forward to introducing you to our base at Tardebigge. Find a waterside stroll or a satisfying hike along our beautiful canals and rivers, Discover how you can recharge when spending time by water, Help us make a difference and have fun along the way. Worcester gas works and other canalside industries used coal brought by the canal. This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. The data collected including the number visitors, the source where they have come from, and the pages viisted in an anonymous form. Severn Expeditions offer Self Drive Day Boat hire on the river Severn. 7 Nights Cruising Time Per day: 5 Hrs Locks: 76-92 A warm welcome awaits you from the Marinas knowledgeable and friendly staff who are on-hand to support you on canalboat adventure. Our Routes Moor in the beautifully maintained canal basin at Stratford, by the steps of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre (01789 269191) www.rsc.org.uk the convenient Tourist Information Centre (01789 293127) gives details of all you need to know about Shakespeares birthplace. Follow us on social media for all the latest goings on and for all things canal boating! Our canal & river network Worcester & Birmingham Canal The Worcester & Birmingham Canal takes you from the vibrant centre of Birmingham, through the green hills of Worcestershire, to the cathedral city of Worcester. Amongst other attractions on the route are Dudley Zoo & Castle (01384 215 313) www.dudleyzoo.org.uk and Shugborough Hall.. Another route with the option to moor at the heart of Birmingham, this cruise includes the spectacular Hatton locks and some fine stretches of the Grand Union canal. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Worcester ,Tewkesbury, Evesham and Stratford each offer a superb mixture of culture, history and shopping. commas, Pick the far point (or another significant place) on your trip, for as far as you can travel in a certain time, Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). The tower-shaped building next to Gailey Top Lock was once the old lock keeper's cottage, and today houses a small gift shop. This is a lock free cruise and is ideal for novices! It is at the heart of Britain's canal network and spaghettis more miles of water than Venice (over 100 navigable miles of it! To create more time for visiting destinations along the way, we recommend booking a 10-day or two-week holiday to travel this route. Book a Canal Boat Holiday on Saturday 13th May 2023 . You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. See the choice of routes below. Cargoes of coal, glass, porcelain, chocolate crumb and the heavy trade of the Black Country were carried by canal boat to and from Birmingham. Both are now idyllic spots for bird watching and angling, and the larger Upper Bittell Reservoir also has a sailing club. Today, this is Cadbury World, a great day out if you have a sweet tooth. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The canal turns sharply under the noisy M42 then crosses the valley on a high embankment with fabulous views over Lower Bittell Reservoir. This route can also be started at our Gailey Marina. 22.00 miles, Number of Locks : Boats cruise into Birmingham through the backdoor, yet arrive at its thriving heart. Large windows and well placed tables meant all diners had an excellent view. Take an enviable river perspective of the magnificent Worcester cathedral in a city where you will also find both quaint and modern shopping malls and, of course, the Royal Worcester Porcelain museum. Turn left at Fazeley Junction to head through open countryside. You will need a licence for the River Avon (go to www.avonnavigationtrust.org for more details). Located on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal on the outskirts of the village of Alvechurch Worcestershire, Alvechurch Marina is conveniently found next to the railway station. The Ring from Alvechurch includes five tunnels (two of them twice! These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. The Black Country Ring, Duration: 7 Nights The Worcester & Birmingham Canal takes you from the vibrant centre of Birmingham, through the green hills of Worcestershire, to the cathedral city of Worcester. The cookie is used to calculate visitor, session, campaign data and keep track of site usage for the site's analytics report. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Total Cruising Days : Map adapted from Map SVG, used under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence. At its northern end, the canal joins the Birmingham Canal Main Line at Gas Street Basin. Alvechurch (1) Alvecote (2) Anderton (2) Ashton Carr (1) Astwood Bottom Lock (2) Atherstone Locks (1) . The purpose of the Worcester & Birmingham Canal was to give a much shorter link between Birmingham and the river Severn. James Brindley was the chief engineer of the canal, which was part of his "Grand Cross" plan for waterways connecting the major ports at Hull (via the Trent), Liverpool (via the Mersey), Bristol (via the Severn) and London (via the Thames).. By clicking Allow all cookies, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. TOTAL LOCKS: 76 - 92 Worcestershire. Great for family fun and fishing!!! Nearby Recently Sold Homes. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 2.13m 7ft. By entering your details you agree to us sending you e-mail updates regarding offers, discounts, routes and anything else specifically relevant to ABC Boat Hire. To complete this popular circuit in a week, you will need to cruise around eight hours each day, giving time to visit canalside villages and pubs along the way, and perhaps one or two major attractions. Download your free regional guide today. Warwick Castle is possibly the finest medieval Mr Cadbury built his chocolate factory and Bournville village for his workers on the canalside over 200 years ago. 29.50 hours, Total Distance : Alvechurch canal routes for holidays and short breaks 7 - 14 Night routes Key: Stourport Ring Black Country Ring Stratford/Rtn Avon Ring Warwickshire Ring Guides: Pearson 1, Nicholson 2, Waterway Routes. Trent & Mersey Canal and River Trent (Heron) Lee and Stort Navigations Map (Heron) Forth & Clyde and Union canals Map (Heron) Leicester Line and River Nene (Pearson) 11.95 Grand Union Canal: Braunston to Kings Langley Map (Heron) - 2nd edtion 5.99 Llangollen and Montgomery Canals Map (Heron) - 3rd edition 5.99 This route has lots of family activities and a rich mixture of canal scenery. DAY BOAT HIRE The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Alvechurch Marina - Canal Locks Loop from Alvechurch Intermediate 02:03 32.4 km 15.8 km/h 250 m 250 m Intermediate bike ride. 3 nights. You could also take a boat trip run by the Dudley Canal & Tunnel Trust into the Dudley Tunnels network of limestone caverns. By default, calculations are based on seven hours travelling each day, and on all days being the same length (so no short days at either the start or the end of the trip). Branch off to the impressive Netherton tunnel or visit the award winning Black Country Museum . Map Updates - Issue 135 - March 2023 1 month ago Still Rockin' Welcome to Ivy Piper 1 month ago . Stratford Upon Avon, Worcester And Birmingham, Shropshire Union, Staffordshire And Worcestershire, Birmingham, Staffordshire And Worcestershire. Email: [emailprotected], 8:30am until 5:00pm Monday to Sunday, and bank holidays except for a few days over Christmas Route Info | Boats | Map overview of route | Cruising Notes | Maps & Guides | Links | Pub Guide. Leaving Wolverhampton, the canal heads south towards Coseley and the short Coseley Tunnel (360yds/329m long), its winding route the original route chosen by the canal engineer James Brindley. Are you ready to ramble? The canal crosses the River Trent on a small aqueduct and after a short tree-lined stretch arrives at Tixall Wide. Alvechurch is such a community, even the new marina behind us is being built by a local - he's a farmer whose mum was a teacher in the village. To avoid spoiling his view from his window, he insisted the canal builders widened the water to disguise it as a little sweet lake. . This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. A route with a mix of rural and urban, it takes in parts of the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, Birmingham Canal Navigations, Birmingham & Fazeley Canal, Coventry Canal, Trent & Mersey Canal and Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal. Tardebigge Wharf, with its dry dock, maintenance yard, workers' cottages, and historic warehouse remains the main base for maintenance on the canal, and is a great place to start a walk. Stop lock in Birmingham. 13th May 2023 9:00am to 13th May 2023 5:00pm, Professional helmed delivery of all craft on the inland waterways network. Complete your cruise by retracing your route through Gas Street Basin to the Worcester & Birmingham Canal and south back to Alvechurch. The information above is provided in good faith to assist you with planning your canal boat holiday. This is a bustling hotspot with pub, teashops and an award-winning nature reserve. Tel: 0121 445 1133 ABOUT ABC LEISURE GROUP, 8:30am until 5:00pm Monday to Friday, 9am 5pm on weekends and bank holidays. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. You should always check with the marina that the route is possible within your time frame, current weather conditions and canal stoppages etc. With 58 locks in all and five tunnels, it's well suited to energetic crews, or those who don't mind taking their time. From reservoirs to club-managed canals and river stretches - find your nearest place to fish, Download your free guide today and start exploring the waterway nature near you. Beyond having a menu of tasty food, Salem's Diner is also a welcoming spot, largely thanks to owner Wayne Salem who treats every diner like a friend. This route has a variety of canal features including broad and narrow locks, aqueducts and tunnels, and the distinctive stone architecture of the Peak District. The data collected including the number visitors, the source where they have come from, and the pages viisted in an anonymous form. Ahead lies Diglis Basins and two wide locks accessing the Severn. The canal was realigned to allow the building of the M42. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Taking a midweek break gives time to go down the locks to Kingswood Junction. Head north towards Birmingham, then turn onto the Stratford Canal towards the Lapworth Flight of locks. Find your perfect volunteer role today. The canal was saved by being bought in 1874 by the Sharpness New Docks Company (which by then owned the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal).