The Warwickshire Ring

Wootton Wawen Head north along the Stratford Canal, cruising though the Warwickshire countryside and remains of the Forest of Arden.

Barrel roof cottages There’s a pretty barrel roof cottage next to lock no.37, built by engineers more accustomed to building bridges than houses who adapted the techniques they knew best to house the men who worked on the canal.  There’s another barrel roof cottage at lock 34 in the tiny hamlet of Yarningdale Common and the Grade II* listed Yarningdale Aqueduct.

Lowsonford Continue meandering through the countryside before reaching the village of Lowsonford, with its canalside Fleur dy Lys pub, famous for its pies.

Lapworth Soon after, the canal passes beneath the M40 motorway. At Lapworth junction you take the Lapworth link to connect onto the broad Grand Union Canal at Kingswood Junction. To travel clockwise around the ring, turn left and head north. The Heart of England Way connects to the Grand Union Canal at Kingswood Bridge no.65, next to the Navigation Inn. From there it’s a short walk to the National Trust’s Baddesley Clinton house and gardens.

Heronfield Soon after, the canal passes the Black Boy and King’s Arms pubs at Heronfield.

Knowle Next you’ll go through the Knowle flight of 5 wide locks, which raise the canal by 12.5 metres. The town of Knowle is a short walk away, with a supermarket and choice of pubs.

Catherine de Barnes Soon after, the canal passes beneath the M42 motorway, and continues north past the Boat Inn at Catherine de Barnes, before entering the urban outskirts of Birmingham at Solihull. Six miles later, you’ll reach the six locks at Camp Hill and then Bordesley Junction. From here it’s just half a mile to moorings at Typhoo Basin, close to Warwick Bar in the centre of Birmingham.

Birmingham There’s so much to do in Birmingham – theatres, art galleries, museums, concert halls, restaurants and shops, but the City’s award-winning Thinktank Science Museum, with its exciting Spitfire and Marine Worlds galleries, is close by.

Bordesley Junction Next turn back to Bordesley Junction and head up the Birmingham & Warwick Junction Canal, which connects with the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal at Salford Junction.

Minworth From there begin heading east, still in a very urban environment for another four miles until the Hare & Hounds pub at the bottom of the Minworth flight of 3 locks.

Curdworth Now back in the countryside, the route passes the White Horse at Curdworth, where the Curdworth flight of 11 locks starts. The Dog & Doublet pub is next to Lock 9 of the flight and there are moorings soon after, with access to Kingsbury Water Park, offering 600 acres of country park to explore. The Heart of England Way follows the line of the canal here for several miles and passes the RSPB’s Middleton Lakes Nature Reserve, great for a spot of birdwatching.

Fazeley Junction Fazeley is next with its choice of pubs – the Plough and Three Tuns, plus a short bus or taxi ride to Drayton Manor Theme Park. The Coventry Canal meets the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal here.

Tamworth Head east through Tamworth to Alvecote with its Samuel Barlow pub, the ruins of Alvecote Benedictine Priory and the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust’s Alvecote Pools nature reserve.

Pooley Now heading south, the canal passes beneath the M42 and past the Pooley Visitor & Heritage Centre, displaying mining memorabilia and offering waymarked paths around woodland and spoil heaps.

Polesworth Then it’s on through the village of Polesworth, a good place to stop and re-stock with shops, and Bulls Head, Red Lion and Royal Oak pubs. The canal becomes very rural for a while, passing Hoo Hill obelisk which marks the site of the Chapel of Leonard at Hoo, demolished in 1538 by Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries.

Atherstone The town of Atherstone is next, with a flight of 6 locks, choice of shops and pubs, including the Kings Head. The canal continues south, lock-free for the next 11 miles. The Anchor at Hartsmill is the next canalside pub you’ll pass.