A lot of people,
including us rate this as one of their favourite canals. It has plenty of
variety and the scenery is excellent. The lock beams can be heavy though. Notice
the circular by weirs and interesting "fragrance" as the locks fill! Stourport has good canal facilities and reasonable shopping but
can tend to the tacky somewhat. I think the fairground doesn't help. Most
people moor above the lock and sani-station/water point but the BW keeper is
often able to fit you in the basin if you ask. The Rising Sun has a
pleasant canal facing patio and serves good Banks's Bitter, Pedigree and a
Banks's guest. The best choice of interesting ale is by far the Ye Old Crown
Inn a short walk from the river locks. This is a typical JD Wetherspoon pub.
Eight or more traditional ales including interesting guests from micro breweries
and low prices. Recommended.
The Bird in Hand near the railway bridge is a good pub with pleasant
canalside terrace. Five well kept ales are on sale including Ansells Mild and
three from independent breweries. Not a lot of folk overnight in Kidderminster but
the large, canal side supermarket North of the town lock is popular with boaters.
Try the
Lock at Wolverley for a splendid pint of Banks‘s and
Camerons. The Lock
is a popular with boaters and gongoozlers.
Kinver is a very pretty
village, well worth stopping for. We particularly enjoyed the "open plan"
antique store. The Bathams mild and bitter in the Plough and
Harrow is
always excellent and is always worth the ten minute walk into the village
where you'll food good shops, pubs and places to eat. The Vine on the canal
serves good Enville Ale, Woods Shropshire Lad and a guest ale. Make the most of Kinver as
sadly, there isn't a lot of interesting
beer north of here. The waterway is very attractive north of here and the locks particularly
display a wonderful charm in both their name (Rocky lock) and their idyllic
setting. The Navigation is a basic pub at Greenforge Lock, a popular mooring
spot with water etc and serves Theakston BB and Marstons Pedigree.
At Wombourne, a ten minute wall will take you to some good shops including an award
winning butcher. Compton has
some convenient shops including a few shops including a well stocked Spar
and laundrette but the pubs didn't do much for us. The chandlers opposite is
reasonably stocked and prices are quite good.
The Round Oak is a typical modern place and serves Banks's. As you
pass the entrance to the BCN and Shropshire Union canals, keep an eye open for
boats pulling out in front of you.
.
As you make your way out
of the Wolverhampton suburbs you will need to ensure that you keep an eye open
for oncoming boats as you will not be able to pass in the "narrows". Coven shops are ten minutes walk
from the canal. There is a butcher, paper shop with a small section of groceries and a
good ironmonger. We didn't think much of the the Anchor, a large and
modern steakhouse. The round house at Gailey Wharf is a lovely building and contains a good canal
shop. Penkridge is a good place to moor and the
Boat serves a fair pint of Ansells but my
favourite is the Cross Keys which served a wonderful pint of Bass. The
Star in the town is
very attractive and the Banks's is good. There is a market on Wednesday. The
Barley Mow at
Milford is a short walk but the guest ale was worth the trip! Tixall wide is a bit of a
shock after spending so much time on a narrow canal. There is a lovely craft shop at Great
Haywood junction just on the Staffs and Worcs canal. In the village itself there are a
couple of small Spa type supermarkets. Of the two pubs we preferred the Clifford Arms
(Bass).