Outdoor Adventures with Ancient Brit
Canoe Guide - Midland Round Tour
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Canoe Tours in England: Midland’s Canal Round Tour
I have not canoed this route.
This is a circular route so can be started from anywhere on the route. I’m starting at Pool Quay just north of
Welshpool which is the starting place for the River Severn Tour. Follow the River Severn until Tewkesbury and
head up the River Avon to the Grand Union Canal. The route then takes you to the north of Birmingham and up the
Trent and Me4rsey Canal before heading back to the Severn along the Llangollen and Montgomery canals.
I’m only giving outline details of the route.
Start and Finish: This is a circular route so you can start and finish anywhere.
Distance: 367miles (587km)
Portages: There are about 190 locks or weirs to portage. As the locks are often bunched there are many fewer
portages. A trolley would be useful (essential?)
Difficulty: Medium. There are some easy rapids on the River Severn
Maps: There are no canoe maps, but good maps are available.
Permits: A craft licence is required from British Waterways.
The route:
a) River Severn: Pool Quay - Stourport 85 miles
This is the freeflowing section of the River Severn. There are some easy rapids and at least one weir to portage.
b) River Severn: Stourport - Tewkesbury 27 miles 4 locks
This is a canalised section of the River Severn
c) River Avon: Tewkesbury - Evesham 25 miles 7 locks
You will be canoeing upstream, but the river is canalised and it should be feasible to paddle upstream.
d) River Avon: Evesham - Stratford-on-Avon 18 miles 10 locks
e) Stratford-on-Avon Canal: Stratford-on-Avon - Kingswood Junction 13 miles 36 locks
f) Grand Union Canal: Kingswood Junction - Napton Junction 22 miles 46 locks
You will need a lift through the Shrewley Canal or will need to portage on local roads or along towpath. Many of
the locks are grouped so can be portaged together.
g) Grand Union Canal: Napton Junction - Braunston 5 miles No locks
h) Oxford Canal: Braunston - Hawkesbury Junction 22 miles 4 locks
i) Coventry Canal: Hawkesbury Junction - Marston Junction 2 miles No locks
j) Coventry Canal: Marston Junction - Fazeley Junction 18 miles 13 locks
k) Birmingham and Fazeley Canal: Fazeley Junction - Fradley Junction 11 miles No locks
l) Trent and Mersey Canal: Fradley Junction - Great Haywood Junction 12 miles 5 locks
m) Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal: Great Haywood Junction - Autherley Junction 21 miles 5 locks
n) Shropshire Union Canal: Autherley Junction - Hurleston Junction 40 miles 29 locks
These locks are arranged in 5 groups
o) Llangollen Canal: Hurleston Junction - Frankton Junction 29 miles 19 locks
p) Montgomery Canal: Frankton Junction - Redwith Bridge 7 miles 6 locks
q) Montgomery Canal: Redwith Bridge - Carreghofa Top Loch 4 miles Canal disused
This canal is disused and awaiting future restoration and will need to be portaged.
r) Montgomery Canal: Carreghofa Top Loch - Arddleen Bridge 3 miles No locks
This section can be canoed but there are filled in bridges which will need portaging.
s) Montgomery Canal: Arddleen Bridge - Pool Quay 3 miles 4 locks
From here you transfer to the River Severn
Information:
British Waterways:
British Waterways Customer Service Centre
Willow Grange
Church Road
Watford, WD17 4QA
01923-201120
Enquiries.hq@britishwaterways.co.uk
Guide to the Waterways published by Nicholson
Vol 2: Severn, Avon & Birmingham
Vol 3: Birmingham and the Heart of England
Vol 4: Four Counties and the Welsh Canals ISBN 0-7028-3299-5
Environment Agency
Sapphire East
550 Streesbrook Road
Solihull
West Midlands B91 1QT
Tel: 0121-711-2324
Maps and guidebooks: The Environment Agency publish a canoeists guide to the Severn.
The information is also available on their website:
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk
I have not canoed this route.
This is a circular route so can be started from anywhere on the route. I’m starting at Pool Quay just north of
Welshpool which is the starting place for the River Severn Tour. Follow the River Severn until Tewkesbury and
head up the River Avon to the Grand Union Canal. The route then takes you to the north of Birmingham and up the
Trent and Me4rsey Canal before heading back to the Severn along the Llangollen and Montgomery canals.
I’m only giving outline details of the route.
Start and Finish: This is a circular route so you can start and finish anywhere.
Distance: 367miles (587km)
Portages: There are about 190 locks or weirs to portage. As the locks are often bunched there are many fewer
portages. A trolley would be useful (essential?)
Difficulty: Medium. There are some easy rapids on the River Severn
Maps: There are no canoe maps, but good maps are available.
Permits: A craft licence is required from British Waterways.
The route:
a) River Severn: Pool Quay - Stourport 85 miles
This is the freeflowing section of the River Severn. There are some easy rapids and at least one weir to portage.
b) River Severn: Stourport - Tewkesbury 27 miles 4 locks
This is a canalised section of the River Severn
c) River Avon: Tewkesbury - Evesham 25 miles 7 locks
You will be canoeing upstream, but the river is canalised and it should be feasible to paddle upstream.
d) River Avon: Evesham - Stratford-on-Avon 18 miles 10 locks
e) Stratford-on-Avon Canal: Stratford-on-Avon - Kingswood Junction 13 miles 36 locks
f) Grand Union Canal: Kingswood Junction - Napton Junction 22 miles 46 locks
You will need a lift through the Shrewley Canal or will need to portage on local roads or along towpath. Many of
the locks are grouped so can be portaged together.
g) Grand Union Canal: Napton Junction - Braunston 5 miles No locks
h) Oxford Canal: Braunston - Hawkesbury Junction 22 miles 4 locks
i) Coventry Canal: Hawkesbury Junction - Marston Junction 2 miles No locks
j) Coventry Canal: Marston Junction - Fazeley Junction 18 miles 13 locks
k) Birmingham and Fazeley Canal: Fazeley Junction - Fradley Junction 11 miles No locks
l) Trent and Mersey Canal: Fradley Junction - Great Haywood Junction 12 miles 5 locks
m) Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal: Great Haywood Junction - Autherley Junction 21 miles 5 locks
n) Shropshire Union Canal: Autherley Junction - Hurleston Junction 40 miles 29 locks
These locks are arranged in 5 groups
o) Llangollen Canal: Hurleston Junction - Frankton Junction 29 miles 19 locks
p) Montgomery Canal: Frankton Junction - Redwith Bridge 7 miles 6 locks
q) Montgomery Canal: Redwith Bridge - Carreghofa Top Loch 4 miles Canal disused
This canal is disused and awaiting future restoration and will need to be portaged.
r) Montgomery Canal: Carreghofa Top Loch - Arddleen Bridge 3 miles No locks
This section can be canoed but there are filled in bridges which will need portaging.
s) Montgomery Canal: Arddleen Bridge - Pool Quay 3 miles 4 locks
From here you transfer to the River Severn
Information:
British Waterways:
British Waterways Customer Service Centre
Willow Grange
Church Road
Watford, WD17 4QA
01923-201120
Enquiries.hq@britishwaterways.co.uk
Guide to the Waterways published by Nicholson
Vol 2: Severn, Avon & Birmingham
Vol 3: Birmingham and the Heart of England
Vol 4: Four Counties and the Welsh Canals ISBN 0-7028-3299-5
Environment Agency
Sapphire East
550 Streesbrook Road
Solihull
West Midlands B91 1QT
Tel: 0121-711-2324
Maps and guidebooks: The Environment Agency publish a canoeists guide to the Severn.
The information is also available on their website:
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk