In
Birmingham there are excellent but popular moorings at the start of the canal.
For more information and pubs see the BCN pages. The journey south
through the city is most pleasant thanks to the complementary landscaping of
Birmingham university. We cannot recommend any mooring, shops or pubs until the
other side of Wast Hill tunnel though. So stock up in the city. Selly Oak isn't
pretty but there is plenty to see including the start of the Dudley Number 2
canal. Blink and you'll miss it. Bournville has Cadburys but reports of Cadbury
World have been mixed. The next stretch is pretty typical for an urban canal.
Light industry and the railway leave you at King's Norton and the latter won't
be back until Alvechurch.
There is a water point and sani
station here but the latter is notoriously difficult to spot. Unfortunately, the two are a
few hundred yards apart. The approach to the tunnel is wooded but unfortunately the canal usually has a lot of
debris, so watch your prop. You are OK inside the tunnel though. Wast Hill is long and
dripping in places. Look out for the telegraph wires above you. There is a very small
section in the middle where you may have difficulty seeing either end but you'll invariably
meet another boat or two. Once out of the tunnel the scenery change is pretty remarkable.
Urban canal has given way to meadows and countryside.
At Hopwood there is a
popular pub with a large lounge and a smaller bar, the Hopwood House, which serves Banks's
beer plus a guest ale. The next section runs through a
cutting and due to the pig farm above can be smelly. Thankfully you are well
rewarded by the next section through Bittell where there are wonderful views of the two
feeder reservoirs. You now enter a new section of canal built to accommodate the M42 above
you. Withybed Green is our favoured mooring spot. The Crown has good food
and
a guest beer or two if you are lucky. Alvechurch has take-aways and small shops. It is a fifteen minute walk
downhill. An absolute must is Weatheroak Ales off-license which is actually in
Withybed Lane a short walk from Alvechurch boatyard. Run by Weatheroak Brewery, on sale
are two draught beers from the Weatheroak stable (containers provided), real
cider and bottled real ales. Closed lunchtimes but opens at 5pm. There is also a small shop at Alvechurch boatyard.
The next section is all
countryside with two tunnels and is one of my favourite parts of the canal. At the top of
Tardebigge there are good views of Worcestershire. Note that the former
engine house renamed as Tyler's Lock is now closed to the public, so unless you
fancy a long walk to the Tardebigge Steak House or the more atmospheric Cross,
Finstall (guest ale) then Alvechurch is the last place for a drink before
the locks. The Tardebigge flight will take about four or
five hours but the scenery is most appealing. Enjoy the scenery so make sure you don't
spend all your time looking at the lock gear! At lock 29 there is the Queens Head which
has just changed hands. Initial reports have not been encouraging especially
regarding value for money.
Just when you thought the locks were over, there
are more until you get to Stoke Prior. The Navigation here is open all day and serves
a good pint. Four real ales are served, including two guest beers. There is a proper bar, a traditional
lounge and a small restaurant to the rear. The food here is highly regarded.
A break from locks
now. This section is home to Black Prince hire fleet and a small chandlery
with notoriously difficult access run by John Pinder. The Beyer factory used to
be a salt works and still has a access tunnel though this has long been disused.
The place looks like something from Doctor Who and you might get a whiff of
some organic solvent.
At Stoke Works there are
two pubs. The Boat and Railway opposite the waterpoint is the first and
prettiest and serves Hansons Mild, Banks's Bitter and Camerons Creamy. Good value food and a pretty terrace
facing the canal. The Bowling Green is a comfortable Banks's house. After the
unspoilt and picturesque Astwood flight
there is a single lock and then the five mile pound which takes you through Hanbury where
there is a boatyard and small chandlers. The food oriented Eagle and Sun serves just
Pedigree and isn't
a place to enjoy a pint unless you are eating. However it well worth taking a
look at the first thee restored locks on the Droitwich canal just the other side
of the road.
Past all the boats (and reeds!) and a pretty section through Dunhamsptead tunnel. The Fir
Tree serves Greene King IPA and Old Speckled Hen. There is an attractive restaurant where you
can get good quality food. The next section is some of the prettiest on the waterway especially around Oddingley
Church.
At Tibberton there are two pubs and a small shop which sells papers and a few
provisions. The Speed the Plough is a pleasant Banks's house. Try the homemade
faggots. The Bridge is on the canal. This recently modernised pub sells
excellent quality Banks's Mild, Bitter and a guest beer. Also worth trying
is the Bulmers Trad cider. The dining area is usually popular and booking is
advisable.
Through a cutting you start to lock down to Worcester with the only blot being
the litter around Warndon Travellers camp. Excellent and secure mooring at Lowesmoor Basin (Home
of Viking afloat) with good access to the city. There is mooring near Diglis basin but
Lowesmoor is better. Plenty of good shops and pubs in Worcester. See the CAMRA Good Beer
Guide for recommendations.
We rate the Swan with two Nicks (guest beers) on New
St which serves excellent interesting food, the Farriers (guest beers) in Fish
St and also in the same street the Plough (guest beers) if you can
find it open!. The best pub must be the Dragon though. Located on
the Tything this is a real ale drinkers gem with up to nine interesting guest
beers and real cider. The Dragon is a must. The Commandery hosts an
interesting if rather dry museum. Plenty of boats moor up for the night near
Diglis basin where there is a modern san-station and a couple of shops selling
boat oriented spares. Unlike the gates on the rest of the canal, the pair of
locks leading to the river are doubles.