The
canal between bridges 1 and 3 used to be a trouble-spot but is much better these
days. The swing bridge is really difficult to shift but if you are lucky it will
be fixed open. Lions boatyard is very welcoming and friendly if you need facilities
such as gas. We have used the Bulls Head, an easy ten minute walk south of bridge
17 in the past.
Two Bulmers traditional ciders are on sale at the Bluebell Cider house which is
worth a stop. On our last visit there were two interesting guest ales which was a welcome
surprise. Mooring alongside the pub is limited but there is plenty on the towpath side. Food is served. Wedges
bakery is signposted near bridge 20 and has wonderful bread and pies. At
Hockley Heath there is the Wharf Tavern an ordinary roadside pub that serves a
decent guest ale alongside the more ordinary Boddingtons.
Lapworth locks are
easy enough and in a very pleasant environment. At
Kingswood we normally moor between locks 14 and 15 or on the GU junction.
There are two pubs here. The Navigation is our favourite and serves good food, Highgate mild and a
guest beer. The Boot is an upmarket (ie expensive)
place that serves good quality food and Boddingtons, Flowers Original and
Wadworth 6X.
Continuing south, there is a water point and sani station at lock 15
but these are also duplicated and much easier to get to below lock 21. The locks
south of here are now all single gated and in many cases heavy and rickety
especially south of Wilmcote. The scenery however is gorgeous.
Lowsenford is a lovely place with a smart and comfortable pub with a large canal side
garden, the Fleur de Lys. It sells
four, well-kept but expensive real ales including two guest ales (A Wychwood
beer seems to be a
regular).
Look out for the interesting iron
aqueducts now, the biggest and most impressive being the one and Edstone. The
pretty and narrow bridges south of here need careful navigation. A
short walk from Preston Bagot lock takes you to the very smart Crabmill
that serves good Wadworth 6X, Greene King Abbott along with Flowers IPA. At
Wooton Wawen there is a useful farm centre selling up-market garden and house
good and also a useful food shop with home made cakes. Walking round under (!)
the canal takes you to the Navigation. A big open plan lounge does nothing
for the atmosphere but the Everards Tiger was excellent. There is a sani
station
at the Anglo-Welsh boatyard near the aqueduct.
A virtually lock-free
section and pretty takes you to Wilmcote. Here there is a useful Post Office
and general stores. Two good pubs. The Mary Arden serves a couple of
guest ales in good condition. The Mason's Arms is our favourite with splendid
food (stops serving at 9pm),
Hook Norton BB plus an occasional guest ale in top condition. The next flight of locks are
very shaky and poorly balanced. Look out for National Trust (they used to own
the canal) plaques stamped into the chambers. We used the sani station at
Stratford Court cruisers above lock 52.
Stratford basin
can be difficult
to moor in but you can sometimes moor just before the basin and bridge
where there are 5 or 6 places. Stratford has plenty of facilities and shops etc. Our favourites
are Cox's Yard near the river which brews its own ale and has a guest. The
Pen and Parchment is the best and has five to seven interesting guest
ales, three trad ciders and a massive selection of bottled Belgian ales. The Dirty
Duck opposite the theatre has a wonderful interior and serves Flowers IPA,
Original and Wadworth 6X and the Queen's Head on Ely St near the town hall which
serves a good guest ale alongside Highgate Saddlers and offerings from Bass
which I usually ignore. Expect plenty of inquisitive on-lookers from around the
world if you moor in the basic, especially weekends.
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