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The Stourport Ring & Stourbridge Ring

The Stourport Ring can be cruised in about 50 hours so it’s possible in a week on a hire boat holiday. The Birmingham area is over 200 feet above the surrounding area so there are plenty lots of locks down to the River Severn and back up again to the Wolverhampton level.


Kidderminster lock and church

Kidderminster lock and church

  • The New Main Line on the BCN from Wolverhampton to Birmingham was built because of overcrowding. Embankments, cuttings and tunnels were used to shorten routes and reduce queues at locks. Much of the Old Main Line and its loops still exist and are well worth exploring if you have a few spare days.
  • The Worcester and Birmingham Canal is most famous for the 30 Tardebigge locks, a daunting sight but usually in good condition and can be done in a morning – with the right crew! And it goes through some beautiful countryside too.
  • The River Severn is wide and deep and all the locks are electrically operated by lock keepers, hold on to chains on the lock wall if you can. Take care to avoid the weirs, especially when levels are high, and when entering and leaving Diglis Basin. Never navigate when the river is in flood! Mooring places are limited on the River Severn, mainly on pontoons because of the changing river water levels.
  • The Staffs & Worcs Canal runs up the attractive Stour Valley through fine scenery, especially around Kinver. Stourport is an interesting old canal port where the canal meets the River Severn and cargoes were transfered from river craft to canal boats and vice versa.
  • The Stourbridge Ring was made for those crews who love locks, over 70 locks on the short 29 mile loop out of Birmingham and back through Wolverhampton! Some great industrial heritage including Netherton Tunnel, and don’t miss a short detour to visit the Black Country Museum and Dudley Tunnel.

Stourport Ring & Stourbridge Ring – Junctions, locks & lengths

bullet  Birmingham Canal Navigations at Aldersley Junction, 21 locks, 6 miles to …

bullet  Worcester & Birmingham Canal at Gas Street Basin, 56 locks, 30 miles to …

bullet  River Severn at Diglis Basin, 3 locks, 13 miles to …

bullet  Staffs & Worcs Canal Stourport, 29 locks, 25 miles to Aldersley Junction

bullet  Or Stourbridge Canal at Dudley Port Junction, 16 locks, 7 miles to …

bullet  Staffs & Worcs Canal at Stourton Jnct 18 locks, 13 miles to Aldersley Junction.  (Stourbridge Ring, 71 locks, 29 miles)

Barge lock into the Severn at Stourport

Boat Hire from family firms on or around The Stourport Ring & Stourbridge Ring

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Droitwich Canal

Cafwin Cruisers

Cafwin Cruisers. Inspire romance and indulge in the idyllic waterways of Worcestershire, Warwickshire & Gloucestershire in our luxurious electric hybrid narrowboats, Arthur Owl and Ollie Owl. Please contact us through www.cafwincruises.com or call us on 07900 421388.

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Shropshire Union Canal

Napton Narrowboats

From our new base at Autherley Junction, Napton Narrowboats family-run fleet now gives you the widest choice of boats and cruising routes.

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Staffs and Worcs Canal

Starline Narrowboats

Starline Narrowboats are a small, friendly, family-run company based at Stourport on Severn. Cruises include the majestic River Severn, Shakespeare's River Avon to Stratford or the scenic West Midlands canals.

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