Birmingham Explorer Cruise - May 2026

Thursday 30th April - Worcester to Ventnor Waterside and Marina

Today we have packed up the flat for the month of May and driven over to Ventnor.  Unpacked the car and settled on to the boat.  We are in our new mooring in Sunset Basin and a beautiful sunset to welcome us back.

Friday 1st May - Sunset Basin    

We waited around the marina during the morning as Simon Pollard was due to carry out a full service on the engine.  Dave liked Simon’s Landrover Defender parked beside our Landrover Discovery!  As you can see, the weather was delightful and it was no hardship to sit in the sun and read!

We also met the swans that had been nesting near the boat when we moored up in March.  Delighted to see that they have hatched 4 gorgeous cygnets.  They return to the nest each evening to sleep and most of the day is spent exploring the canal.  

We did our final shop in Daventry, returned to the boat, packed everything away and tidied round ready for leaving the Marina tomorrow morning.

We are booked on the Birmingham Explorer Cruise leaving Birmingham in the middle of May to explore some of the lesser used canals.  There is a group of about 8 boats travelling together with visits to historical places and talks on the history of the canals.  

Saturday 2nd May - Sunset Basin to Long Itchington

Final preparations before we set off, empty rubbish, fill water tank and then we are good to go!

We passed our swans from the Marina, Mum and Dad and the 4 cygnets, they had come quite a long way and were having a quiet moment opposite this boat.

At the Stockton Locks we met another boat, nbGin O’clock, they were heading for The Blue Lias where there was a music festival happening.  It was good to be able to travel side by side between the locks and then share the lock working with their crew.

We parted company at the Blue Lias and continued down the next two locks into Long Itchington.  Walking along the towpath was a troop of Morris Dancers heading for The Two Boats Inn.  Loved their hats, very colourful!  The Earlsdon Morris Dancers perform north west clog dances and are based in Coventry.  The North West Morris style originated during the industrial revolution, particularly in the cotton mill towns of Lancashire in the north west of England. The ordinary working men of the time danced in their everyday clothes - knee breeches and heavy iron shod clogs.  To add colour to their drab costumes, bright sashes were worn and flowers were woven into garlands and placed around the traditional bowler hat.

After mooring up and lunch we went for a walk into Long Itchington.  Unfortunately Toby found a lovely stream which was more silt than water and came out looking like this!  I think it’s time for a shower!

In the village we came across a beer festival in the garden of The Harvester, it was very busy and jolly, everyone enjoying the sunshine on this bank holiday weekend.  After our walk back Toby had his shower and is now a clean dog.

3.25 miles, 10 locks, 2hrs 30mins

Sunday 3rd May - Long Itchington 

Today we have decided to stay put and enjoy a bank holiday.  

We set off for a walk along the disused railway line, now known as The Lias Line Greenway.  We are heading for the bridge in the picture and will turn left over the bridge and see how far we get.

The tarmac path soon turned into a path through the woods, all very picturesque with lots of smells for Toby to explore.

Then we came across more and more trees down and scrambling under and over them became more of a challenge until finally the path disappeared into a swamp and we gave up and headed back to the canal.

We continued along the Greenway towards Long Itchington until the junction with the Millenium Way where we turned right and walked into the village.  Toby didn't like the look of these gates and we had to put him back on the lead to get him through them.

A very narrow bridge over The River Itchen, again keeping Toby on the lead as we didn’t want a repeat of yesterday,  and a very pleasant walk through woods and farmland into the village.

After calling into the village shop for bread and milk we continued on to The Harvester and watched the Morris Men doing one of their clog dances, very noisy and hugely energetic and all great fun!  We treated ourselves to a buffalo burger from Napton Buffalo Farm and I also had a buffalo milk ice cream, quite delicious!

The Coventry Mummers performed ‘St George Play’ in the garden, the first Mummers play I have ever seen.  Coventry Mummers was formed in 1966 to promote the performance, research, study and public awareness of Mummers Plays or 'English Ritual Drama'.

Valentine’s Cruise 2026 - Week 6

 Monday 16th March - Goodacres Bridge to Hawkesbury 

A much nicer day, warmer and with lighter winds.  So, we decided to move onto Hawkesbury Junction.  Dave did most of the driving and he negotiated the left turn back onto the Coventry Canal beautifully.  

As we were approaching our moorings for the night I spotted a sofa in the canal, you do have to ask yourself how it got to be there?  No direct access to a road, did someone carry it and dump it?  I wonder why?

After mooring up and having some lunch, we went for a walk back up the canal to the Newdigate Arm.  It is still in water for a short while and a footpath runs alongside it and then follows the route of the disused railway.  Beside the canal is The Miner’s Welfare Park which is a 1920’s established public space created on reclaimed colliery land to provide recreation for miners and their families.  The wrought iron gates to the park are still in existence.

Good to see the trees beginning to come into bud before the leaves appear.  Spring is definitely on its way.

The end of the Newdigate Arm, the footpath continues as the Coventry Way.

7.25 miles, 0 locks, 2hrs 42mins

Tuesday 17th March - Hawkesbury to All Oak Wood, Brinklow.

Today we left our moorings quite early, stopped to put  on water and then Dave drove round the Hawkesbury Junction turn and I prepared the stop lock back onto the North Oxford Canal.  The stop lock is all of 6 inches, but meant that water levels could be managed between rival canal companies.

A canal side house by Bridge 4 Tusses Bridge.  The garden is littered with remains of cars, vans and caravans, but I wonder how they got there?  There were several old VW Beetles, Ford Cortina, Saab and even a Porsche in the bushes.  Amazing!

We moored up at All Oaks Wood after a very pleasant cruise and after lunch we walked into the village of Brinklow.  The village sign even has a narrowboat going under a bridge, signifying the time when the canal used to pass through Brinklow.

The view from the top of The Tump is spectacular with a 360 degree view of the whole of the county of Warwickshire.

Brinklow was a timber castle built as part of William the Conqueror’s northern campaigns in 1069 but it was needed as a defensive site for a relatively short period and hence was never reconstructed in stone as happened at nearby Warwick castle.  Locally the site is known as ‘The Tump’.  It is unusual as it has two enclosures with double ditches.

8 miles, 1 lock, 2hrs 54mins

Wednesday 18th March - Easenhall Lane to Kent Road Bridge 69

Today we left Brinklow and headed towards Hillmorton.  A lovely sunny day with a real feel of spring in the air.

Newbold Tunnel, wide enough for 2 narrowboats to pass, it has passageways both sides of the canal although the one on the left is gated and no longer in use.

We eventually arrived at a quiet mooring just before Hillmorton Visitor Moorings below the locks.  We moored up for the night and Toby and I walked on into Hillmorton.

7miles, 0 locks 1 tunnel, 2hrs 36mins

Thursday 19th March - Kent Road Bridge 69 to Bridge 103 “Green Sheds”

The next morning we climbed up the three Hillmorton Locks and headed towards Braunston.  We were blessed again with beautiful weather making the last few days of this cruise a real joy.

Following the contours of the canal, the church spire in Braunston seems to move around, this is a good shot of the church and the windmill to the left.  Once in Braunston we turned right under the wrought iron bridge and headed out towards the “green sheds”.

We moored at our favourite spot, but the tree has been cut down, so it looks a little different.  The “green sheds” can be seen in the distance.

The weather was fine enough to sit out on our chairs for lunch and enjoy the afternoon sunshine.

In front of us was nbShear Maddness, they sell go-kart tyres as fenders.  We already have two which we salvaged from various canals, but they are getting very squishy now so we decided to buy 2 new ones.

10.25 miles, 3 locks, 4hrs 18mins

Friday 20th March - Bridge 103 “Green Sheds” to Ventnor Marina Sunset Basin

The final day of this cruise, a gentle cruise down to Napton Junction, right turn onto The Grand Union Canal and the final 3 locks at Calcutt.

This is the entrance to Sunset Basin where we have our new mooring.  Turned right and right again onto the service pontoon where we filled up with diesel and bought a replacement gas bottle.  Then a gentle reverse into the new mooring.

The resident swans have built a nest behind our pontoon, the female is sitting prettily on the nest whilst her mate keeps an eye on her and the surroundings.  They didn’t seem too worried about Toby and to be fair, he wasn’t too bothered by them either.

Here is Ella between the silver boat and the blue boat, second one in from the left.  We have a lovely view of the open water from the front of the boat and also the sunset at the end of the day.

From the front of the boat the sun is setting on this cruise.  We are returning to Worcester for about 6 weeks and our next cruise in May, will be exploring the waterways of Birmingham.

4miles, 3 locks, 2hrs 12mins

Valentine’s Cruise - Week 5

 Monday 9th March - Hawkesbury Junction to Goodacres Bridge 13

This week we are heading towards the Ashby Canal along with Di and Mark on nbEnbilulu.  Today we are in the lead.

This is all that remains of the Newdigate Arm, which connected the colliery to the canal so the coal could be transported to the paper mills.

I took this photo because I spotted a fox on the towpath who stood and watched us approach and then turned and disappeared through this gap in the hedge.  Unfortunately I wasn’t quick enough to get a photo of the fox!

The coal carrying company of John Griffiths, Bedford, traded on the Coventry and Ashby canals. In the early 1930s, Griffiths was reorganised as the Warwickshire Canal Carrying Company.  The Charity Dock Yard, on the bend ¼ mile south of Marston Junction near Bedworth on the Coventry Canal, was the home of the Warwickshire Canal Carrying Company. It seems that the name Warwickshire Canal Carrying Company was an exercise in misbranding, because although information can be found for the Griffiths company, very little can be found for the Warwickshire Canal Carrying Company. People perhaps found the name too long and preferred to stick with Griffiths!  

It is now known as the place narrowboats and anything else mechanical go to die!

Our turning into The Ashby Canal taken from nbEnbilulu from behind us.

Passing though the narrows onto the canal, this used to be a stop lock between the Ashby and the Coventry Canals but the lock gates have long gone.

 

Di standing in the bow of the boat signalling to Mark that if he doesn’t stop he’s going to hit the edge!  He didn’t so all was good!

Having moored up and had lunch we met up for a walk.

The boats moored together taken from the bridge we were standing on.

Tuesday 10th March - Goodacres Bridge 13 to Wooden Top Bridge 31

Set off today hoping to get to Sutton Wharf and do the Battlefields Walk.  We stopped at Bridge 15 to fill up with water and get rid of any rubbish.

This is the Triumph Factory which has a Museum attached to it, but it is closed today, so we might call in on the way back.  There is a factory tour and an exhibition which is constantly updated to reflect the evolution of the Triumph brand.

We also stopped at Bridge 23 to go to Spinney Bank Farm Shop, a lovely little shop attached to the farm selling fresh meat, eggs, bread, vegetables and milk.

 

We eventually stopped at Bridge 31 as the wind was becoming difficult to cruise in and we had caught up with the dredging team.  Canal and River Trust are dredging The Ashby Canal, the yellow crane is removing the silt from the boat and depositing it in the pit dug to the left of the photo.

6 miles, 0 locks, 2hrs 30mins

Wednesday 11th March - Wooden Top Bridge 31 to Snarestone Visitor Moorings.

Today we are making an early start so that we can get to the top of the canal before it starts to rain or get too windy.  

The entrance to Bosworth Marina.

Here, the sign is telling us that we are entering an SSSI.  A Site of Special Scientific Interest, designated in 1989 for its diverse aquatic flora and invertebrates, and the submerged plants in particular.  Nine species of dragonfly have been recorded as have Water Shrews, Water Voles and the nationally rare water beetle Haliplus mucronatus.

We are entering Snarestone Tunnel, it is 250 yds long and is one boat at a time as there has been some movement with in the tunnel, a definite kink in the middle.

Approaching the top of the Ashby Canal, we turned in the winding hole and moored up in front of the last bridge ready to begin our return journey.  We are going to stay a day here as Thursday is going to be very windy and not very pleasant for cruising.

NbEnbilulu arrived and moored up in front of us and popped in for a cup of tea before settling down for the evening.

11miles, 0 locks, 1 tunnel, 4hrs 42mins

Thursday 12th March - Snarestone

After a lazy start to the morning we got ourselves ready for a walk along the proposed route of the canal from Snarestone to Measham.  It was very windy and we made sure we would stay dry and warm.

Di, Mark and I are standing on the last bridge over the canal, below us there is a winding hole for turning boats but it is only 52ft, so we wouldn’t be able to turn there.  The canal originally ran from Moira to the junction with the Coventry Canal but only a small section remains in water between Moira and Dogsthorpe.  It was very windy on the bridge!

After arriving in Measham we found a cafe for a hot drink and then walked on to the Measham Museum which unfortunately was closed.  Measham Pottery comes from here.  Working boatmen bringing narrowboats past Measham on the Ashby Canal in the East Midlands would order a specially-made teapot and collect it on their next run up the canal. They were often given as wedding presents and handed down through generations.  Legend has it that it became known as barge ware because it was extensively marketed through a shop on Measham High Street owned by a Mrs Annie Bonas. The shop, being close to the canal bridge at Cut End Measham, was favoured by passing bargees who were able order a piece and collect the personalised gift on their return journey.

Measham was one of 245 English communities which were funded to establish millennium greens with input from local communities. Measham chose to have a sculpture commemorating the life of Joseph Wilkes.  A competition was held with entrants being judged at a public exhibition.  The design chosen was a sundial designed by Steve Field.  It was installed in a site adjacent to the old station building (which now houses the Measham Museum) and officially opened on May 10th 2003. The different segments of the mosaic represent different aspects of Wilkes life and activities.  They are loosely grouped into Water, Fire, Air and Earth based activities.

On our way back we found some badger footprints very clearly in the mud of the bed of the disused canal.  

We returned to our boats and had a pleasant afternoon playing games before retiring for the night.

Friday 13th March - Snarestone to Shackerstone

This morning we are going to begin our return journey to Ventnor Marina.  We thought we would get as far as Sutton Wharf, but the wind had other ideas!

Just past the second bridge and before the tunnel a tree had come down overnight and blocked the towpath.  Fortunately it didn’t go in the canal and we were able to pass safely.  On some of the exposed areas, the wind was gusting scarily so we got as far as Shackerstone and pulled over for the rest of the day.  We shall continue tomorrow when it is calmer.

We decided to go for a walk through the village to a ruined temple out near Gopsall Hall.  The hall was demolished after WW2 but the Temple remained.  The temple's fame comes from its use by George Frederic Handel to compose one of the 18th Century's greatest pieces of music, 'The Messiah'. Handel was a frequent visitor to Gopsall Hall during the time of Humphrey Jennens, but it was Charles who developed a strong musical connection with their guest. In fact, Charles Jennens was a noted writer and acted as librettist, supplying the words not only to 'The Messiah' but also Handel's 'Saul', written in 1737. 

Unfortunately the fields were so waterlogged that we had to abandon our plans and head back to the village.  When we come back we will definitely have another go at this walk.

We called into the Wharf Farm Shop and met Elisa, tenant farmers who have recently opened this farm shop.  Delicious cakes, fresh milk, bread and vegetables all within 5 minutes walk of the canal.  Well worth a visit!

2.5 miles, 0 locks, 1 tunnel, 1 hour

Saturday 14th March - Shackerstone to Trinity Marina

Shackerstone Castle is a medieval earthwork motte and bailey fortress, which was used as a World War II air raid shelter. The flat-topped motte, is partly encased by a wide ditch, with a counterscarp bank and to the south-west are traces of a bailey platform.

We stopped at Sutton Wharf to put on water and buy breakfast baps from the cafe there.  There is a lovely walk to the Bosworth Battlefields Visitor Centre but we decided not to do it this time.  We stopped at Trinity Marina to put on diesel and buy logs and made use of our Moor 100 with Aquavista.  So, an overnight mooring because we have a mooring with another Aquavista Marina for no payment.  Excellent!

12.25 miles, 0 locks, 5hrs

Sunday 15th March - Trinity Marina to Goodacres Bridge 13

Happy Mother’s Day 🌼

Another forecast of high winds and rain so we took the decision to leave the Marina as early as possible and see how far we got.  Not very far in the end, we managed to get out of the marina, but once out on the canal the wind soon became very strong and very cold.  A space in the same place as last Monday, so we pulled over and decided to stay for the day.

We braved the elements for a walk across the fields, Toby enjoyed running and rolling, and we struggled with wind but the sun was very pleasant. 

Such vast open spaces, acres and acres of arable land with nothing to see other than blue skies and fluffy white clouds.

1.5 miles, 0 locks, 42mins