The Warwickshire Ring — Canal Cruising Ring

Overview

The Warwickshire Ring is a popular medium-length cruising circuit in the West Midlands, taking in Birmingham, Warwick, Coventry and the Tame valley. It runs to approximately 100 miles with around 116 locks. Most crews complete it in 8 to 12 days at a relaxed 4-hour-day pace, making it a workable one-week trip for a fit crew or a comfortable 10–12 day cruise for first-timers.

Route

The ring links five canals in a clockwise loop:

• Grand Union Canal (Birmingham to Napton Junction)
• Oxford Canal (Napton Junction north to Hawkesbury Junction)
• Coventry Canal (Hawkesbury to Fazeley Junction)
• Birmingham & Fazeley Canal (Fazeley back to central Birmingham)

Some sources include the short stretch of the Coventry Canal arm into Coventry itself as an optional detour.

Highlights

• Hatton flight — 21 wide locks rising out of Warwick (sometimes called "the Stairway to Heaven")
• Cape Locks and the town of Warwick
• Warwick Castle, briefly visible from the canal
• Hawkesbury Junction and the Greyhound Inn — a classic canal junction
• Atherstone flight (11 narrow locks)
• Curdworth flight (11 narrow locks) on the Birmingham & Fazeley
• Farmer's Bridge flight into central Birmingham
• Gas Street Basin

Difficulty

Approximately 116 locks across 100 miles is a moderate-to-high ratio. The Hatton flight (21 wide locks) is the single biggest piece of work; Atherstone (11), Curdworth (11) and the Farmer's Bridge / Aston flights are the other major sections. Wide locks on the Grand Union; narrow locks on the Oxford, Coventry, Birmingham & Fazeley and BCN. No tidal sections, no river navigation. Shrewley Tunnel (433 yards) on the Grand Union is unlit. Curdworth Tunnel (57 yards) is short and unlit.

Suitable for

First-time hirers willing to put in solid lock days; a one-week trip for a fit crew of three or more, or a relaxed 10–12 day cruise. A good "second ring" once a crew has done a Black Country, Stourport or Avon. Two crew minimum; three makes Hatton substantially faster.

Where to start

Common hire bases include Alvechurch (off-ring), Wootton Wawen and Wilmcote (off-ring on the Stratford Canal), Stockton, Napton, Braunston, Rugby (Hillmorton), Atherstone, Tamworth, Streethay (near Fradley) and central Birmingham. Napton, Braunston and Hillmorton are popular launch points; starting at Stockton lets crews tackle Hatton on fresh legs.

Practicalities

• Stoppages and pinch points: Hatton queues in summer; allow most of a day. Farmer's Bridge and Aston are the other main bottlenecks.
• No tidal sections, no river navigation.
• The BCN and B&F sections through Birmingham pass through urban areas; moor at Cambrian Wharf, Gas Street or other established visitor moorings overnight.
• Mobile signal is generally good across the ring.

Best time of year

Late spring through early autumn. The ring is achievable year-round but winter stoppage programmes regularly hit Hatton, Atherstone or the Birmingham flights. School-holiday queues at Hatton and Atherstone are noticeable but rarely deal-breaking.