Travel round the Droitwich Ring on a narrowboat
The Droitwich Ring is one of a small number of mini-rings on Britain’s canal network.
It re-opened in 2011 when the restoration of the Droitwich Canals was completed.
The route takes canal boat holiday-makers on a 20 mile circuit, passing through 33 locks along the way. You’ll need around 16 hours to cruise this ring, perfect for a short break.
To complete the circuit you can set off from our narrowboat hire base at Worcester Marina. The marina is on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal.
Travelling anti-clockwise the journey begins climbing up out of the Severn Valley. A series of locks take you out of the City, reaching open countryside at Tolladine.
The pretty hamlet of Oddingley with an ancient half-timbered manor house is worth a visit.
Another good place to stop is at the country pub close to the south entrance of Dunhampstead Tunnel.
At Hanbury Junction, you need to transfer onto the Droitwich Junction Canal. Consider at stop at the popular Eagle & Sun pub close to the turn.
The Droitwich Junction Canal is just two miles long with seven locks. It joins the Droitwich Barge Canal at Barge Lock.
Soon after you’ll reach picturesque Vines Park in the ancient salt town of Droitwich. You can moor up and take time to explore its half-timbered buildings, shops, restaurants and tea rooms.
Continuing along you’ll soon leave the suburbs of Droitwich and be back out into the countryside. The waterway is lined with reed beds here, so look out for little reed bunting birds.
The ancient village of Salwarpe is another good place to stop and explore.
From there the route starts heading downhill again to the Severn Valley, including five locks at Ladywood and two at Hawford.
At Hawford Junction, you turn left onto the River Severn for the final leg of the journey.
Soon after Bevere Lock you’ll start to travel through the outskirts of Worcester, with views of the magnificent Cathedral.
Turn at Diglis Junction to get back onto the Worcester & Birmingham Canal and return to Worcester Marina.
You can also complete the Droitwich Ring departing from our base at Stoke Prior. But you’ll need to allow an extra hour-and-a-half each way to connect with the ring at Hanbury Junction.
