Alvechurch Cruise 7
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CRUISE 7
7 night cruise between Alvechurch & the historic town or Worcester.
Start & Finish : Alvechurch OR Worcester marina, Worcestershire.
Total Distance: 43 miles
Total Locks: 108
Tunnels: 6
Cruising Hours: 39 hours
The cruise is planned from Alvechurch, but if starting from Worcester do the cruise from Day 3 backwards!
Day 1
Cruise from Alvechurch marina southwards towards Worcester and you will soon encounter your first tunnels, although at 613 yards and 580 yards they are some of the shorter ones.
After the last tunnel you will soon reach the Tardebigge Locks. These represent the Boaters Rite of Passage, as these 30 locks, combined with the nearby 6 Stoke Locks, represent 36 locks in 4 miles, and other groups of locks will pale into insignificance in comparison.
By the time you have had your training & stowed your belongings, time will be passing when you leave Alvechurch. so if you cruise for about 1 ½ hours you should get through the 1st lock of this long flight, and there will be room to moor up just after that.
Tardebigge reservoir is near here, and the old Engine house is now a Bar/restaurant.
Day 2
Have a good breakfast & then descend the Tardebigge flight set in very pretty rural surroundings, which can take 4-5 hours, but there are places in between the locks where you can moor up & have a breather!
At the bottom of the locks is the Queens Pub- Canalside at bridge 48, with good food and a lovely waterside terrace.
The 6 Stoke locks are slightly more interspersed and the canal continues through very rural surroundings towards the 5 Astwood Locks.
It is worth stopping near bridge 41 before these locks, as you can walk into the village of Astwood and find the Bowling Green pub, which has a Bowling green in the garden!
It is 7 hours cruising to here.
Day 3
There are not so many locks today as you climb down through the countryside towards Worcester. The 6 Astwood locks start you off, and then there is a short tunnel at Dunhampstead to negotiate, with no more locks until you get to the 6 Tibberton locks. Soon you are passing the outskirts of Worcester and you can moor up at Lowesmoor Wharf, which is where our boats also start from.
It takes about 8 ¼ hours cruising to get here.
Day 4
Spend the day exploring Worcester.
From the Wharf you can walk into the city centre of Worcester, with its splendid cathedral dating from 1074, & museums, art galleries and half timbered buildings. The museum at the Royal Worcester Porcelain works is well worth a visit, as it contains the most comprehensive collection of Worcester Porcelain in the world.
There are many bars, pubs and restaurants and takeaways around Worcester, and plenty of shops to stock up on supplies, or for a little retail therapy.
Day 5 -7
Retrace your steps. It is about 17-19 cruising hours back home.
