Canal boat holiday destinations from Stoke Prior in Worcestershire
From Stoke Prior on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, you can reach Worcester, Birmingham or Droitwich on a short break. On a week-long break you can reach Tewkesbury or Warwick, or travel round the Stourport Ring.
The 29-mile-long Worcester & Birmingham Canal connects the River Severn at Worcester with Gas Street Basin in Birmingham city centre. There are 58 locks along its length, including the 30 locks of the Tardebigge flight, the longest in Britain.
3-night destinations from Stoke Prior
Worcester and back (25 miles, 42 locks, 16 hours)
Head south along the Worcester & Birmingham Canal. Go through Astwood Locks and then you’ll pass Hanbury Junction, where the Droitwich Junction Canal meets the Worcester & Birmingham Canal. You’ll find the Eagle & Sun pub at Hanbury Wharf. Next you’ll go through the 230-yard-long Dunhampstead Tunnel and then you’ll go through the village of Tibberton, home of The Bridge canalside pub. Continue to Diglis Basin and turn the boat around. Then moor up to explore the ancient City of Worcester, including its magnificent cathedral. Return to Stoke Prior.
4-night destinations from Stoke Prior
The Droitwich Ring (28 miles, 47 locks, 19 hours)
Also known as the Mid-Worcestershire Ring, the Droitwich Ring takes you through the cathedral city of Worcester and the spa town of Droitwich. Head south down the Worcester & Birmingham Canal to Hanbury Junction. Turn onto the Droitwich Junction Canal. Go through the 5 locks of the Hanbury flight. Soon after you can moor up to explore the historic town of Droitwich, famous for its rock salt, natural brine springs and Tudor architecture. Continue west to Droitwich Junction and transfer onto the Droitwich Barge Canal.
Soon after you’ll go through the historic village of Salwarpe, with thatched cottages and St Michael & All Angels Church dating back to the 12th century. Continue to Hawford Junction where the Droitwich Barge Canal meets the River Severn. Cruise south through some very large locks, which are manned by lock-keepers. Leave the River Severn at Worcester and get back onto the Worcester & Birmingham Canal. You can moor up and visit Worcester City where you’ll find the impressive cathedral, Royal Worcester factory shops and the Tudor House museum. Then head back up to Stoke Prior, passing through Tibberton, home of The Bridge canalside pub.
Birmingham and back (34 miles, 70 locks, 23 hours)
Head north along the Worcester & Birmingham Canal through scenic countryside and up the Tardebigge flight. Between Stoke Prior and Tardebigge Wharf there are a total of 35 locks, which will take between 4.5 and 7 hours to complete. After Tardebigge Top Lock you’ll go through two short tunnels: Tardebigge Tunnel (580 yards); and Shortwood Tunnel (613 yards). Then you’ll pass two canalside locks at Alvechurch – the Crown and soon after the Weighbridge at Alvechurch Marina. Next, you’ll go through the 2,726-yard-long Wast Hills Tunnel and then the scenery becomes more suburban.
You’ll pass King’s Norton Junction and continue heading north along the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, passing Cadbury World at the village of Bournville soon after. At Edgbaston you pass through another short tunnel which leads you to Birmingham City Centre, where you can moor at Gas Street Basin. From there you can walk to Brindleyplace and visit city centre attractions, including the Sea Life Centre and Mailbox shopping centre. Return to Stoke Prior.
7-night destinations from Stoke Prior
Tewkesbury and back (58 miles, 28 locks, 28 hours)
NB to complete this route you will need to purchase an additional licence to cruise onto the River Avon Navigations.
Follow the 3-night route to Worcester and then travel downstream along the River Severn for 16 miles, passing through Upton-on-Severn along the way. At Tewkesbury, turn off the River Severn and go through Avon Lock and onto the River Avon. There are plenty of places to moor up and explore the ancient town of Tewkesbury, including its famous Abbey. Return from here to Stoke Prior.
Warwick and back (64 miles. 152 locks, 48 hours)
Head north along the Worcester & Birmingham Canal through scenic countryside and up the Tardebigge flight. Between Stoke Prior and Tardebigge Wharf there are a total of 35 locks, which will take between 4.5 and 7 hours to complete. After Tardebigge Top Lock you’ll go through two short tunnels: Tardebigge Tunnel (580 yards);and Shortwood Tunnel (613 yards). Then you’ll pass two canalside locks at Alvechurch – the Crown and soon after the Weighbridge at Alvechurch Marina. Next, you’ll go through the 2,726-yard-long Wast Hills Tunnel and when you reach King’s Norton Junction, transfer onto the Stratford Canal. You’ll go down 20 locks of the Lapworth Flight and onto the Lapworth Link.
At Kingswood Junction and transfer onto the Grand Union Canal. Turn right and you’ll soon pass the canalside Tom o’ the Wood pub at Rowington. Then you’ll go through the 443-yard-long Shrewley Tunnel. Soon after you’ll arrive at the top of the 21-lock Hatton Flight, also known as The Stairway to Heaven. Make your way through the locks. You can stop off at the Hatton Arms or the Hatton Locks Café. When you reach Warwick, moor up at the Cape of Good Hope pub and from there you can explore the many museums and historic attractions, including Warwick Castle. You can turn your boat around above the lock next to the pub and return to Stoke Prior.
The Stourport Ring (84 miles, 117 locks, 51 hours)
Follow the 4-night route to Birmingham’s Gas Street Basin. At Worcester Bar transfer onto the Birmingham Canal Navigations Main Line and continue for seven miles to Dudley Port Junction. There you’ll join the Netherton Tunnel Branch for two miles to Windmill End Junction. Transfer onto the Dudley Canal No.2 and cruise for two miles to Parkhead Junction. Then you’ll transfer onto Dudley Canal No.1 and after cruising another two miles, passing through nine locks, you’ll reach Black Delph. Travel west along the Stourbridge Canals Main Line for six miles and through 20 locks to Stourton Junction. Transfer onto the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal and cruise for 12 miles, through 11 locks to York Street Bridge.
There are four more locks to go through the Stourport Narrow Locks Entrance to the River Severn. Cruise along the River Severn for eight miles and go through two locks before you reach Hawford Junction. There you transfer onto the Droitwich Barge Canal and travel a further 5 miles, through 9 locks to Droitwich Junction. Transfer onto the Droitwich Junction Canal and cruise for another mile, through seven locks to Hanbury Junction. Head north back up the Worcester & Birmingham Canal through open countryside to Stoke Prior.
10 or 11-night destinations from Stoke Prior
The Avon Ring (109 miles, 130 locks, 65 hours)
NB to complete this route you will need to purchase an additional licence to cruise onto the River Avon Navigations.
Follow the 3-night route to Worcester and join the River Severn. Head south and you’ll pass Upton-on-Severn before reaching Tewkesbury, where you’ll transfer onto the River Avon. You’ll pass under the medieval St John’s Bridge and continue cruising along the River Avon. You’ll pass the Fleet Inn at Twyning Green. When you reach Pershore, moor up to explore this Georgian market town, including its magnificent Abbey. At Wyre Piddle you’ll find the Anchor Inn and at Fladbury, the Chequers Inn. When you arrive at Evesham, moor up near Workman Gardens and Abbey Park to take a short walk into this historic market town.
Next you’ll reach Bidford-on-Avon, with its medieval bridge and plenty of pubs, including the Bulls Head. At the village of Welford-on-Avon, known for its timber-framed cottages, there’s a riverside pub called the Four Alls.
The River meets the Stratford Canal at Bancroft Basin in Stratford-upon-Avon. You can moor up to explore Shakespeare’s Stratford, including the Swan Theatre and Shakespeare’s Birthplace. Next head north up the Stratford Canal through the 11-lock Widcombe Flight, passing close to the village of Wilmcote, home of the Mary Arden Inn. Cruise across the Edstone Aqueduct and pass through Wootton Wawen. Continue north along the Stratford Canal through quiet wooded countryside. There are 5 locks to go through at Preston Bagot. And another 3 before you reach the village of Lowsonford, home of the canalside Fleur de Lys pub.
When you reach the Lapworth Junction, stay on the Stratford Canal. Go up the Lapworth Flight and through Hockley Heath, home to a choice of pubs, including Hockley House. At King’s Norton Junction transfer back onto the Worcester & Birmingham Canal and go through Wast Hills Tunnel and then Alvechurch. Then go down the Tardebigge flight to Stoke Prior.
14-night destinations from Stoke Prior
The Warwickshire Ring (130 miles, 190 locks, 90 hours)
Follow the 4-night route to Birmingham’s Gas Street Basin. Moor up to explore the city centre, including the Sea Life Centre at Brindleyplace, the Jewellery Quarter and China Town. At the next junction turn right towards Cambrian Wharf. You’ll then go downhill through 13 locks at Farmers Bridge and under Aston Road Bridge. Take the next left at Aston Junction and through a further 11 locks before you reach Salford Junction.
Here you’ll turn right on to the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal. After Tyburn Bridge there are three locks at Minworth. At the bottom of the flight you’ll find the canalside Hare & Hounds pub. At the 11 locks at Curdworth you’ll find the Dog & Doublet pub next to Lock 9 and the White Horse pub in the village. Kingsbury Water Park is also nearby. Between Salford Junction and Curdworth bottom lock there are pubs and shops within walking distance.
At Fazeley Junction turn right to connect with the Coventry Canal. You’ll go through 2 locks past Tamworth and Polesworth, and next you’ll tackle the 11 locks at Atherstone. The canal then continues lock-free, passing Marston Junction, where the Coventry Canal meets the Ashby Canal. Turn left and left again at Hawkesbury Junction and cruise down the North Oxford Canal. You’ll pass through Newbold Tunnel (250 yards) then it’s lock-free again all the way to Hillmorton. There are three locks at Hillmorton, where Canal & River Trust volunteer lock keepers are usually on hand to help. The Stag & Pheasant pub is in the village, and there’s a village shop.
Around 2 hours later you’ll reach the Braunston Turn. Braunston has a great choice of pubs, including the canalside Admiral Nelson. Continue along the Grand Union Canal to Napton Junction. Turn right and go through the 3 locks at Calcutt. Then go down the Stockton Flight and past with village of Long Itchington with its choice of pubs, including the Duck on the Pond. You’ll pass through the outskirts of Royal Leamington Spa before reaching Warwick. Moor up at the Cape of Good Hope pub and from there you can explore the many museums and historic attractions, including Warwick Castle.
Continue to the bottom of the Hatton Flight and go through the 21 locks. After that, you’ll go through the 443-yard-long Shrewley Tunnel and then you’ll pass the canalside Tom o’ the Wood pub at Rowington. At Kingswood Junction, turn onto the Lapworth Link and then head north up the Stratford Canal. Go through the Lapworth flight and pass through Hockley Heath. At King’s Norton Junction, turn left onto the Worcester & Birmingham Canal and head south back down to Stoke Prior.
