River Avon
and Stratford Canal:(Adjacent
canals can be viewed with
the above links)
The Stratford canal links the Worcester and Birmingham canal to the River Avon and Stratford - Hence forming another link between Birmingham and the Severn, via the River Avon.
Swinging close to the Grand Union at Lapworth, another junction is formed there (see photo). So, instead of coming south from Birmingham using the Grand Union, there is a shortcut route (in time if not distance) by leaving Birmingham via the Worcs & B'ham then turning south onto the Stratford - then rejoining the Grand Union near to Lapworth. Thus reduces the number of southbound 'urban locks'.
When commissioned to do the River Avon we always suggest that such a cruise be combined with the Stratford canal - and vice versa - the two go 'hand in hand'.
The Stratford canal links the Worcester and Birmingham canal to the River Avon and Stratford - Hence forming another link between Birmingham and the Severn, via the River Avon.
Swinging close to the Grand Union at Lapworth, another junction is formed there (see photo). So, instead of coming south from Birmingham using the Grand Union, there is a shortcut route (in time if not distance) by leaving Birmingham via the Worcs & B'ham then turning south onto the Stratford - then rejoining the Grand Union near to Lapworth. Thus reduces the number of southbound 'urban locks'.
When commissioned to do the River Avon we always suggest that such a cruise be combined with the Stratford canal - and vice versa - the two go 'hand in hand'.
A very pleasant cruise is to
start the cruise in the centre of Birmingham at it's Old Turn Junction
(now a very smart area) - then make our way to Stourport on Severn via
the Stratford Canal and the River Avon (to Tewksbury), then north on
the River Severn to Stourport (or we can do it the opposite way round).
Once the Stratford leaves the influence of Birmingham's outer suburbs
the canal becomes rural and very attractive. Particularly south of
Kingswood (where we could cut through to the Grand Union) the canal
becomes very individual with it's unusual locks and aqueducts, the few
remaining barrel roofed cottages, and (on that southern section) some
very narrow bridges. One feature of the locks in this stretch are their
single bottom gates - which do take a bit of a push to open and close.
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| One of the few remaining 'barrel roofed' cottages - once a common feature of canalside properties on the Stratford. | Stratford Canal infrastructure has unique design. Both ends of the lock chamber have single gates - and the aqueduct we just crossed has a lowered towpath. | Kingswood junction near Lapworth. This cut through joins the Stratford and the Grand Union. Note the very very narrow bridges. | Just a very typical view of cruising the Stratford Canal in summer. |
The
canal then descends into
Stratford with its always busy canal basin - usually full of sight
seekers (or 'gongoozlers' as we call them). So next we have the treat
of descending the 'Avon' lock onto the upper R. Avon. Now we are in the
world of riverside reeds, lily pads, kingfishers, tufted duck - not to
mention 'mole', 'toad' and 'ratty'. You won't see much of the 21st
century on this stretch. The lower R. Avon is much the same. A few
glimpses of an odd village or two - Bidford, Evesham, Wyre Piddle
(that's honestly its name with nearby river island called 'Tiddle
Widdle'), and Pershore (worth a visit). Then down to Tewksbury, where
we drop onto the mighty R.Severn (and just a days cruise to Stourport,
where we rejoin the main canal system).
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| Upper Avon at Stratford, waiting to turn left into the basin lock and Stratford Canal. | Typical views of the upper river Avon. | A misty start to another glorious summers day on the River Avon - the photo just couldn't do justice to the 'atmosphere' of the river. | Over 400 years old and now carrying modern traffic - Eckington Bridge on the Lower Avon. |
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