| Subject: |
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Re: Working boat style hire |
| Name: |
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Jose and Andrew |
| Date Posted: |
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May 22, 08 - 8:16 PM |
| Boat Name: |
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ex Osiris |
| Message: |
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Sorry not to have replied sooner - just back from boating!
Our time on Osiris included three years based at Wolverhampton (Autherley Junction) and along with some time on another boat we went literally everywhere on the BCN except the Ridgacre branch and the Farmer’s Green and Aston lock flights. This was five years ago and more, so things may well have changed, but from memory our suggestions would be as follows:
- for a nice mix of very ex-industrial and very rural, do a ring via Wolverhampton, the Staffs and Worcs to Stourton Junction, then Stourbridge basin, the Stourbridge 16, Blowers Green, Merry Hill, Windmill End and the Netherton Tunnel back to the Old Main Line.
- for a more in-your-face view of how the Black Country has declined from industry to brownfield, take the Wyrley and Essington from Horseley Fields Junction all the way to Brownhills and Anglesey Basin, then back via Walsall (don’t miss the Art Gallery at the end of the Walsall arm), Ocker Hill, Great Bridge and Ryders Green back to the New Main Line. This was pretty depressing – though very interesting – when we did it about 6 years ago.
One-off locations not to be missed: certainly the Black Country Museum: Galton Bridge: the Titford Canal and Titford Pools (512 ft above sea level): the Engine Arm Branch, or at least the aqueduct. If you want an extra thrill, Gosty Hill tunnel on the branch from Windmill End to Hawne Basin is the lowest and tightest we’ve ever been in, not excluding Harecastle! At some points, the boat was scraping the roof – a full water tank helped on the way back.
Mooring needs some planning and forethought. The B C Museum is fine: the Gas Street area in Birmingham is OK: Anglesey Basin is almost rural: Stourbridge Basin is very good. Anywhere on the S & W once you’re out of Wolverhampton (say past Wightwick) is fine. The basin at Merry Hill is good, and a big Sainsbury’s isn’t far away.
We suggest you check with the boat owners if you like the sound of any of this – it may be out of date, though the geography won’t have changed much. When we were on the BCN and the S&W, the locks were generally easy to work and fast to fill or empty, so don’t be put off by the Wolverhampton 21 or the Stourbridge 16! One day we (just the two of us) did about 20 miles and 38 locks, from Stourport to Merry Hill – fish and chips at Wotherspoon’s on the basin was very welcome after that.
Enjoy! |
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