Hi Everyone,
First of all, thanks a million for providing such a fantastic forum - I've learned so much from reading this over the past year or so. I'm hoping that a few of you can spare some time to give me some advice.
I’ll be doing the Stourport Ring in late July with 4 friends, hiring from just north of Tardebigge and heading anti-clockwise (we’re meeting people in Birmingham on the first night). I also did the same ring 6 years ago with a different set of friends, and we had a superb time (and found it fairly easy going, as we’re all quite fit and active).
I was wondering what people’s views are regarding the pros and cons of going either via Wolverhampton / Audersley, or via Netherton / Dudley / Stourbridge. Last time we went via Audersley, as we wanted to see The Bratch and do the slightly longer route. This time, I’d like to go via the Dudley, because it’s something different for me, but if people think that the Audersley route is better (in terms of scenary / interesting canals / history / pubs / anything else), then I’d be happy doing that again, given that none of the friends I’m going with this time have done either route.
I have the Pearson’s Stourport Ring guide, and whilst it’s an excellent read, it doesn’t really go into the pros and cons of one route vs. the other. Any advice that you guys in the know can offer would be much appreciated.
Alan