Route from Fradley Junction?

[Graham Davis]

We are 2 experienced steerers, who are taking Ad Hoc out for 2 weeks in mid October.

 

Can't decide on which route to take, so have thought of 2 that we want to do.

 

 

Fradley, Birmingham Centre, Black Country Museum, Wolverhampton, up the Shroppie to Barbridge, across the Middlewich Arm, and then back down the T & M to Fradley.

 

or

 

Fradley, Birmingham, down the Worcester, up the Severn to Stourport, up the Shroppie to Great Haywood, and than back to Fradley.

 

Any one got any good or bad points about these routes, and any good places to drink, eat, etc?

[Yoda]

We are 2 experienced steerers, who are taking Ad Hoc out for 2 weeks in mid October.

 

Can't decide on which route to take, so have thought of 2 that we want to do.

Fradley, Birmingham Centre, Black Country Museum, Wolverhampton, up the Shroppie to Barbridge, across the Middlewich Arm, and then back down the T & M to Fradley.

 

or

 

Fradley, Birmingham, down the Worcester, up the Severn to Stourport, up the Shroppie to Great Haywood, and than back to Fradley.

 

Any one got any good or bad points about these routes, and any good places to drink, eat, etc?

 

Don't know but I am available for a trip!!!

[John Orentas]

Hi Graham.

 

Well you have lots of options, always better to choose a trip you haven't done before. One you did not mention is, head North through the Harecastle Tunnel and turn right onto the Macclesfield and Upper Peak Forest canals allowing a few days for a detour onto the Caldon.

[Graham Davis]

Hi Graham.

 

Well you have lots of options, always better to choose a trip you haven't done before. One you did not mention is, head North through the Harecastle Tunnel and turn right onto the Macclesfield and Upper Peak Forest canals allowing a few days for a detour onto the Caldon.

 

 

John

We really want to do a circular route this year, as we did the route up the T&M last time we were out.

I haven't been down the Coventry before, or done the northern part of the Shroppie.

Plus we have just found out that our daughter and her boyfriend fancy joining us for a couple of nights over the middle weekend, and as they live in the south Midlands we need to be near a station for them.

[adam1uk]

John

We really want to do a circular route this year, as we did the route up the T&M last time we were out.

I haven't been down the Coventry before, or done the northern part of the Shroppie.

Plus we have just found out that our daughter and her boyfriend fancy joining us for a couple of nights over the middle weekend, and as they live in the south Midlands we need to be near a station for them.

 

 

Have you done the Leicester Line already? If not, you could go down the Coventry, onto the Oxford at Hawkesbury Jct, through Braunston, up the Leicester Section and River Soar, and back along the T&M. You'd do the Watford and Foxton Locks at a quiet time of the year, and the Soar is beautiful.

[DHutch]

Its all good round there, just been fradley yesterday, havine passed fazley at 11 o'clock the night before, missioning Emilyanne back from banbury upto stone after the iwa rally.

 

Was the last year too, on our way to and from trentlock, nottingham.

- I can also vouch for the soar being a nice cruse. Espcailly in a deeper draughted boat, its really nice to get into a bit of water for once! Only had time to go as far as loughbough, but lovely non the less! Dont forget to pop into greatcentral and have a look at the trains!!

 

 

Daniel

[Hairy-Neil]

We are 2 experienced steerers, who are taking Ad Hoc out for 2 weeks in mid October.

 

Can't decide on which route to take, so have thought of 2 that we want to do.

Fradley, Birmingham Centre, Black Country Museum, Wolverhampton, up the Shroppie to Barbridge, across the Middlewich Arm, and then back down the T & M to Fradley.

 

 

 

I'd go Garrison/Ashtead rather than Aston Locks, its the lesser used route so deserves a bit of traffic, then up Farmers Bridge Locks into Birmingham. You'll struggle to find narrow locks in a nicer urban setting than Farmers Bridge. Then go up Smethick Locks and use the Old Main Line to Tipton rather than the new. Its much more interesting, like being on a country lane rather than the motorway.

[Graham Davis]

I'd go Garrison/Ashtead rather than Aston Locks, its the lesser used route so deserves a bit of traffic, then up Farmers Bridge Locks into Birmingham. You'll struggle to find narrow locks in a nicer urban setting than Farmers Bridge. Then go up Smethick Locks and use the Old Main Line to Tipton rather than the new. Its much more interesting, like being on a country lane rather than the motorway.

 

 

Hadn't thought about that way!

It looks like we will be doing Brum, Wolves and then up the Shroppie and down the T&M so that we can be near a station for the daughter.

 

Anyone got some good stops, pubs etc?

 

Where is the best place to moor coming in to Brum that way?

[Hairy-Neil]

Hadn't thought about that way!

It looks like we will be doing Brum, Wolves and then up the Shroppie and down the T&M so that we can be near a station for the daughter.

 

Anyone got some good stops, pubs etc?

 

Where is the best place to moor coming in to Brum that way?

 

Dog in a Doublet at Curdworth, then in Brum itself, Brindley Place. Prince of Wales is a proper Victorian pub in a sea of wine bars, clubs and other such places. Something for everyone within yards. We found the food outlets attractive but very pricey. Handy Tescos at Five Ways.

 

At Wolverhampton top lock, the Great Western Arms is a must, though it was upsetting to see the vandalism recently going on at the old Grade 2 listed Great Western Railway low level station in the name of restoration/redevelopment.

 

Up the Shroppie, Wheaton Aston has the cheapest diesel just about anywhere on the cut. The Anchor at High Offley is a must for traditional pub enthusiasts. This place hasn't yet made it into the 20th century let alone the 21st.

[DHutch]

Hadn't thought about that way!

It looks like we will be doing Brum, Wolves and then up the Shroppie and down the T&M so that we can be near a station for the daughter.

 

Anyone got some good stops, pubs etc?

 

Where is the best place to moor coming in to Brum that way?

There 14day moorings at the top of farmerlocks, we left the boat there unatended for 10day without trouble.

- The night before we moored just above factory locks, just of the mainline 'behind' the bridge.

- The pub there is all right too, with good live new rock on certain days, if thats what your into.

 

 

Daniel