Week long breaks from Tardebigge

Week long narrowboat breaks from Tardebigge on Worcester & Birmingham Canal

The Birmingham Mini-Ring (27 hours, 49 locks)

The Birmingham Mini-Ring takes boaters through industrial heritage sites, historic neighbourhoods and green spaces, providing a unique perspective of Birmingham’s diverse landscape. The route offers views of city skylines, waterfronts and charming canalside pubs and cafes.

The 45-mile circuit passes through 49 locks and takes in sections of the Worcester & Birmingham, Birmingham Main Line and Grand Union canals. Highlights include: the historic village of Bournville, home of Cadbury’s chocolate; Gas Street Basin in the centre of Birmingham; the bars and restaurants at Brindleyplace; the flight of 13 locks at Farmers Bridge; and Pelsall Common.

On a week-long break from Tardebigge you can complete the Birmingham Mini-Ring.

First head north along the Worcestershire & Birmingham Canal and you’ll soon reach the village of Alvechurch, with its canalside Crown Inn and Weighbridge Inn. You’ll pass through fields, wooded glades and one short tunnel along the way.

The next pub is the Hopwood House at Hopwood. Then the canal goes through the 2493-metre long Wast Hills Tunnel, one of the longest in the country before reaching King’s Norton Junction, where the Worcester & Birmingham meets the Stratford Canal. Transfer onto the Stratford Canal and go through the Lapworth flight of 26 locks.

At Lapworth junction you take the Lapworth link to connect onto the broad Grand Union Canal at Kingswood Junction.  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.  Cruise north along the Grand Union Canal towards Birmingham. The King’s Arms at Heronfield is canalside before you reach the Knowle flight of locks.

Continue on through the countryside, passing under the M42 motorway before reaching the Boat Inn at Catherine de Barnes. Pass through Solihull and the outskirts of Birmingham.  Go down the Camp Hill locks and you’ll reach Bordesley Junction. Continue past Typhoo Basin, through Ashsted Locks to Aston Junction. Turn onto the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal and go through the Farmer’s Bridge Locks.  At Farmer’s Bridge Junction, turn to moor up in Gas Street Basin, giving easy access to Brindleyplace and city centre attractions. Carry on down the Worcester & Birmingham Canal through Edgaston Tunnel, close to Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens.

Soon after you’ll go through Bournville and Cadbury World. Then you’ll head back through Wast Hills Tunnels, Hopwood and Alvechurch before returning to our Tardebigge base.

Worcester and back (30 hours, 112 locks)

Head south from Tardebigge along the Worcestershire & Birmingham Canal and down the Tardebigge flight of 30 locks. You’ll find the Queen’s Head pub at the bottom of the locks.

Next you’ll pass through the Dunhampstead Tunnel and then the pretty hamlet of Oddingley.

You’ll connect with the River Severn at Diglis Junction. You can moor up in Diglis Basin to explore the City of Worcester.

Warwick and back (38 hours, 82 locks)

Heading north from Tardebigge, you’ll soon reach the village of Alvechurch, with its canalside Crown Inn and Weighbridge Inn, passing through fields, wooded glades and one short tunnel along the way.

The next pub is the Hopwood House at Hopwood. Then the canal goes through the 2493-metre long Wast Hills Tunnel, one of the longest in the country before reaching King’s Norton Junction, where the Worcester & Birmingham meets the Stratford Canal. Transfer onto the Stratford Canal and head down the Lapworth Flight to the Lapworth Link. At Kingswood Junction, transfer onto the Grand Union Canal.

Soon after you’ll reach Shrewley Tunnel and then the flight of 21 Locks at Hatton. Traditionally known as the ‘Stairway to Heaven’, the Hatton flight raises boats up by nearly 45 metres along a two mile stretch of the canal.  In Warwick, moor at the Cape of Good Hope pub where the moorings are free. You can turn around above the lock next to the pub.

Stratford-upon-Avon and back (40 hours, 108 locks)

Heading north from Tardebigge, you’ll soon reach the village of Alvechurch, with its canalside Crown Inn and Weighbridge Inn, passing through fields, wooded glades and one short tunnel along the way.

The next pub is the Hopwood House at Hopwood. Then the canal goes through the 2493-metre long Wast Hills Tunnel, one of the longest in the country before reaching King’s Norton Junction, where the Worcester & Birmingham meets the Stratford Canal. Transfer onto the Stratford Canal and head down the Lapworth Flight.

At Lapworth continue heading south along the Stratford Canal, passing the canalside Fleur de Lys pub at Lowsonford, famous for its pies. You’ll see a barrel roof lock cottage at lock 34 in the tiny hamlet of Yarningdale Common and you’ll cross over the Grade II* listed Yarningdale Aqueduct.

You’ll pass through the village of Wootton Wawen, with its popular farm shop and our Wootton Wawen canal boat hire base. Soon after you’ll go through a lock and then you’ll cross over the 105-metre long Edstone Aqueduct, with lovely views across the Warwickshire countryside.  You can moor up north of Bridge 59 and take a ten minute walk into Wilmcote.  The village is home to the Mary Arden Inn and Mary Arden’s Farm, the childhood home of Shakespeare’s mother.

Go through the Wilmcote Flight of 11 locks, beginning your descent downhill into Stratford-upon-Avon.  There are five more locks before you reach Bancroft Basin in the heart of Shakespeare’s Stratford.  This world-famous town has plenty of places to eat, shop and visit, including the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Shakespeare’s Birthplace and the Stratford-upon-Avon Butterfly Farm

The Droitwich Ring (30 hours, 117 locks)

On a week-long break from Tardebigge you can complete the Droitwich Ring.

Also known as the Mid-Worcestershire Ring, the Droitwich Ring is a 21-mile, 33-lock circuit which takes around 16 hours to complete.  It travels sections of the Worcester & Birmingham Canal and the River Severn, as well as the Droitwich Barge and Junction canals.

The Stourport Ring (44 hours, 118 locks)

On a week’s holiday from Tardebigge, canal boat holiday-makers can complete the Stourport Ring, travelling a total of 74 miles through 118 locks in around 44 cruising hours.

It’s recommended to travel the route anti-clockwise, so begin by heading north to Gas Street Basin, then transfer onto the Birmingham Canal Main Line heading North West towards Wolverhampton.

The route continues lock-free for a while, passing through Cosely Tunnel, then Wolverhampton Tunnel, after which there are visitor moorings for exploring Wolverhampton, including its Grand Theatre and the fantastic Pop Art collection at its Art Gallery.

The Wolverhampton flight of 21 locks is next to negotiate, which takes around four hours, before reaching Aldersley Junction and the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal.

Six miles and another six locks later, boaters reach Bratch Top Lock and pumping station in the pretty village of Wombourne, with its popular Railway Café and choice of village pubs.

A mile later, the canalside Waggon & Horses pub with an extensive menu and large beer garden, is a welcome stopping place.

After another eight locks, boaters reach Stourton Junction, where the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal meets the Stourbridge Canal.  From here, it’s an eight-hour journey on to Stourport, travelling through 13 locks, past Kinver with access to the National Trust’s intriguing Kinver Rock Houses, and the historic market town of Kidderminster, with canalside dining at The Watermill and The Lock Inn.

On arriving at Stourport, once a busy inland port, boaters can explore the basins by following circular walks, and enjoy dining at the Bird in Hand, Windlass Café or Rising Sun Inn.

Next there’s a 12-mile section of the River Severn (Britain’s longest river) to travel along to reach the beautiful Cathedral City of Worcester.  Here the Stourport Ring route transfers boaters back onto the Worcester & Birmingham Canal at Diglis Basin in the heart of the city, offering the chance to see some of the City’s many splendid buildings, including its spectacular Cathedral – with medieval cloisters, ancient crypt and magnificent stained glass.

Now on the last leg of the journey, the Worcester & Birmingham Canal takes boaters out of Worcester and steadily upwards through rolling fields and wooded cuttings, passing through the village of Tibberton, with its Bridge Inn.

Dunhampstead Tunnel is next and then Hanbury Wharf, where the Droitwich Canal meets the Worcester & Birmingham Canal.

After travelling through the Stoke flight of six locks boaters can rest at The Queen’s Head at Stoke Pound, which offers wood fired pizzas, barbeques and live music, before tackling the mighty Tardebigge flight of 30 locks.

One of the largest flights in Europe, these locks take the canal up 67 metres over a two-and-a-quarter mile stretch, and take around five hours to complete before returning to our boatyard at Tardebigge Old Wharf.