Birmingham and Fazeley Canal

We really enjoyed travelling along this canal right the way into Birmingham. There are many pleasant and pretty spots and the single gated locks, which reminded us of the Oxford, were easy to use. The Dog and Doublet is a well-known canal pub that is well worth visiting. Aston Villa train near hear and we were sure we could hear them! We had a splendid lunch that was excellent value for money. Ale was in top condition – Highgate Mild, Sarah Hughes Pale and Bass. 

We moored overnight at the Kingsbury, a large Beefeater near Minworth. We were told by locals that this was the best mooring until Gas Street. The pub it has to be said was better than I expected. We managed to find a non-food area and enjoyed surprisingly good Wadworth 6X and Pedigree. The journey into central Birmingham was most pleasant and even the totally urban section under Spaghetti junction was interesting and totally non-threatening. I last travelled along here in the early 80's and the environment is now a 100% better than I remembered.

The area approaching Aston locks is all very new and hi-tech but boats don't moor around here. Aston locks are all easy enough and you even get a chance to make a cuppa before Farmer's Bridge locks. As you work through the locks you enter a strange subterranean world that preserves some of the fascinating history of the city and at the same time gives you an insight into more modern developments such as the BT tower. It is totally non-threatening.

As you get closer to Gas Street you become more of a tourist attraction. We pulled alongside the Flapper and Firkin for an excellent lunch and pints of Firkin Best Bitter and Flapper. These along with Dogbolter are all brewed in Birmingham but sadly, the place has been taken over by a company who are not interested in traditional ale. Still there are plenty of other good pubs serving decent ale here. See the BCN page for more recommendations.