BIRMINGHAM MINI RING FROM ALVECHURCH

 

Route Info | Boats | Map overview of route | Cruising Notes | Maps & Guides | Links | Pub Guide

 

You can do this route from :
Alvechurch Marina.

Alvechurch Marina

Worcestershire

 

This Mini Ring passes through some of Britain's finest architecture, including the Gas Street Basin in Birmingham, The Birmingham NIC and National Sea Life Centre, the Birmingham vintage Railway Museum.

Cruise along the Grand Union Canal into rural Warwickshire where the scenery is breathtaking.

Join the Stratford upon Avon Canal back to the Worcestershire and Birmingham Canal.

Cruise from the medieval village of Alvechurch with its pretty half-timbered houses.

Route Info

Route Facts & Figures

Recommended Holiday
Duration : 4 nights.

Total Cruising Days : 4.00 to 8.00
(Partial or full days)

Total Cruising Time : 25.50 hours

Total Distance : 47.00 miles

Number of Locks : 50

Number of Tunnels : 5

Number of Aqueducts : 0

Read the Cruising Notes

Read our cruising notes to help you plan your canal boat holiday

Read our cruising notes.

 

 

 

 

 

Cruising Notes


Once setting off from Alvechurch, you soon leave the traffic behind and cruise through lovely Worcestershire countryside to your 1st Tunnel at Wast Hills which at 2726 yards is one of the longest in the country!

For your 1st nights stop it is nice to cruise for an hour to Hopwood and then stop by Bridge 67 where there is a convenient pub- The Hopwood House, by the Canal.


Continuing on through the Tunnel, for those with children you might want to stop at the visitor moorings at Bournville (booking is advisable), which is 1 mile north of the Kings Norton Junction. It is signposted from the canal. There is an exhibition dedicated to the history of chocolate, audio visual displays, Victorian Birmingham and a Jungle to explore!

About 3 miles later you arrive at the Gas Street basin which is in the heart of Birmingham's canal network, it has been has been redeveloped into a unique experience where traditional narrow boats moor up next to cosmopolitan cafes and bars. The surrounding area is a vibrant arts and entertainment area and there are many shopping options within a short walk.

Amongst some of the attractions are the National Sea Life Centre and the Jewellery QuarterDiscovery centre, also many fine Art galleries and over 500 restaurants offering every choice of food!
For shopping a visit to the new Bullring is a must, which covers an area the size of 26 football pitches and a has a huge range of shops.
Close by is the National Indoor Arena, one of the busiest large scale indoor sporting and entertainment venues in Europe. (Website www.thenia.co.uk)
Total cruising hours from Alvechurch to Gas Street basin is 4 ¾ hours.


From the Gas Street basin, cruise up to the Deep cuttings Junction and turn right where you will soon encounter your first locks as you begin your descent from Birmingham, the flight of 13 locks at Farmers bridge.

Turn right at the Digibeth Branch, the Ashted Flight drops through 6 locks and then left onto the Grand Union Canal. At the Bordesley Junction keep straight on do not turn left. There are 5 locks at Camp Hill.

A short walk south west of Bridge 88 is the Birmingham Railway Museum, located over 7 acres on the site of a former Great Western Railway steam shed. There are 12 Steam locomotives, a Royal Mail van, a 1908 Royal saloon car and lots of steam railway paraphernalia. Www.shakespeareexpress.com.
By bridge 84 there is a useful stores.

Cruise on to Catherine de Barnes, a small village in the first countryside you will have seen for a day or so. There are stores and a nice pub here.
Total cruising time to here is 8 ½ hours



Cruise down the very rural Grand Union Canal on its peaceful route southwards, passing through the 5 wide locks at Knowle until you reach the Kingswood Junction where you turn right and right again onto the Stratford upon Avon canal.

You now negotiate an uphill stretch of 18 locks- the Lapworth Flight which takes you up toHockley Heath.

Packwood House, a National trust property is to the north of Bridge 31. It is a timber framed Tudor House dating from the late 16th century. Www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Moor up for the night at Hockley Heath, there is a pub and stores here.
Cruising time to here 8 ¾ hours


Cruise from Hockley Heath along the Stratford upon Avon Canal to Kings Norton Junction. At Kings Norton Junction, turn left, very soon you will go through Wast Hills Tunnel which at 2726 yards is one of the longest in the country! An hour or so later you will arrive back at Alvechurch marina.
Total cruising time to here 7 hours

 

NB: This route has been provided as a guide only. Information may become inaccurate or out of date. You should always check with the marina that the route is possible within your time frame, current weather conditions and canal stoppages etc.

Boats

The following boats operate on this route (subject to availability)
Common Swift Canal Boat
Class : Swift
(Sleeps a maximum of 4 People).

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Bewicks Wren Canal Boat
Class : Wren
(Sleeps a maximum of 4 People).

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Golden Crested Wren Canal Boat
Class : Wren
(Sleeps a maximum of 4 People).

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Rock Bunting Canal Boat
Class : Bunting
(Sleeps a maximum of 5 People).

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Golden Plover Canal Boat
Class : Plover
(Sleeps a maximum of 5 People).

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Whites Thrush Canal Boat
Class : Thrush
(Sleeps a maximum of 6 People).

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Horned Lark Canal Boat
Class : Lark
(Sleeps a maximum of 6 People).

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Wood Sandpiper Canal Boat
Class : Sandpiper
(Sleeps a maximum of 6 People).

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Dusky Lark Canal Boat
Class : Lark
(Sleeps a maximum of 6 People).

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Knot Sandpiper Canal Boat
Class : Sandpiper
(Sleeps a maximum of 6 People).

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Snow Partridge Canal Boat
Class : Partridge
(Sleeps a maximum of 6 People).

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Red Legged Partridge Canal Boat
Class : Partridge
(Sleeps a maximum of 6 People).

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Dusky Warbler Canal Boat
Class : Warbler
(Sleeps a maximum of 8 People).

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Barred Warbler Canal Boat
Class : Warbler
(Sleeps a maximum of 8 People).

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Leaf Warbler Canal Boat
Class : Warbler
(Sleeps a maximum of 8 People).

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Sedge Warbler Canal Boat
Class : Warbler
(Sleeps a maximum of 8 People).

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Coscoroba Swan Canal Boat
Class : Swan
(Sleeps a maximum of 12 People).

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Soo 95 Canal Boat
Class : CLC6
(Sleeps a maximum of 6 People).

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Savoy Hill VI Canal Boat
Class : SavoyV
(Sleeps a maximum of 7 People).

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Senegal Parrot Canal Boat
Class : CBC4
(Sleeps a maximum of 4 People).

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Cape Parrot Canal Boat
Class : CBC6
(Sleeps a maximum of 6 People).

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Rainbow Lory Canal Boat
Class : CBC6
(Sleeps a maximum of 6 People).

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Senegal Parrot Canal Boat
Class : CBC4
(Sleeps a maximum of 4 People).

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Cape Parrot Canal Boat
Class : CBC6
(Sleeps a maximum of 6 People).

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Rainbow Lory Canal Boat
Class : CBC6
(Sleeps a maximum of 6 People).

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Maps and Guides

Pub Guide

Pubs available on this canal route:-

  Pub Name Pub Address Distance from Alvechurch More Info
Pitcher And Piano The Waters Edge, Brindleyplace, Birmingham B1 2HP Full Details
Tap And Spile Gas Street Basin, Birmingham B1 2JT Full Details
The Country Girl Raddlebarn Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham B30 3DZ Full Details
The Crown Inn Withybed Lane, Alvechurch B48 7SQ Full Details
The Goose 561 Bristol Road, Selly Oak B29 6AF Full Details
The Hopwood House Redditch Road, Alvechurch B48 7AB Full Details
The Peacock Inn Icknleld Street, Kings Norton B38 0EH Full Details
The Slug And Lettuce The Waters Edge, Brindleyplace, Birmingham B1 2HL Full Details
The Weighbridge The Weighbridge Scarfield Wharf, Alvechurch B48 7SQ Full Details
The Bulls Head The Bulls Head 77 The Green, Kings Norton B38 8RU Full Details
All Bar One All Bar One Waters Edge, Brindleyplace, Birmingham B1 2HL Full Details
The Barge And Barrel The Barge And Barrel Factory Road, Tipton DY4 9AU Full Details
The Flapper The Flapper Cambrian Wharf, Kingston Row, Birmingham B1 2NU Full Details

NB: Distances are as the crow flies and will vary for actual canal boating travel distance.

 

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The information above is provided in good faith to assist you with planning your canal boat holiday. Information accuracy cannot be guaranteed, however, if you do see something that needs updating, please don't hesitate to contact us.