Stourport Ring facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stourport Ring |
|
|---|---|
Map of the Ring
|
|
| Specifications | |
| Length | 74 miles (119 km) |
| Locks | 105 |
| Status | Canal ring |
| Navigation authority | Canal & River Trust |
The Stourport Ring is like a giant water loop for boats! It's a connected series of canals and rivers that form a circle. This cool route goes around parts of Worcestershire, The Black Country, and Birmingham in The Midlands, England.
This amazing water circuit is made up of several waterways. These include the River Severn, the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal, the Stourbridge Canal, and the Dudley Canals. It also uses parts of the Birmingham Canal Navigations (like the Netherton Tunnel Branch Canal and Birmingham New Main Line) and the Worcester and Birmingham Canal.
Contents
Exploring the Stourport Ring
The main Stourport Ring is about 74 miles long. Along this journey, you'll go through 105 locks. Locks are like water elevators that help boats move up or down between different water levels. Some of these locks are special, including three that are run by electricity on the river. There are also two sets of "staircase locks" where locks are built right after each other.
Famous Locks and Tunnels
The route has some big groups of locks called "flights." You'll find 30 locks at Tardebigge, 16 at Stourbridge, and 8 at the Black Delph in Brierley Hill. The Stourport Ring also takes you through two of the longest boat tunnels in the UK. These are the Netherton Tunnel and the Wast Hills Tunnel.
Longer Route Option
There's an alternative, longer way to do the Stourport Ring. This route is about 83 miles long and has 122 locks. It doesn't use the Stourbridge or Dudley canals. Instead, it connects the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal with the BCN Main Line at a place called Aldersley Junction.
Boating and Fun on the Ring
The Stourport Ring is a very popular place for narrowboat trips. Many companies offer narrowboat rentals along the route. You can find hire centres in places like Alvechurch, Worcester, Tardebigge, Dunhampstead, and Stoke Prior.
Places to Visit
There are lots of exciting places to see near the Stourport Ring. Some popular spots include Cadbury World, where you can learn about chocolate. You can also visit The Black Country Living Museum, which shows what life was like long ago. Other attractions are the Severn Valley Railway, Kinver Edge, and Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter. For shopping and entertainment, there's Brindleyplace, Merry Hill, the Bullring, and Mailbox shopping centres.
Good Overnight Stops
If you're cruising the ring, there are many nice places to stop for the night. Popular mooring spots include Worcester city centre, Stourport Basin, Wolverley, Kinver, Merry Hill, Windmill End, and Gas Street Basin. You can also moor near The Black Country Living Museum (with a short detour), Hopwood, Stoke Works, and Dunhampstead.
Sometimes, the River Severn part of the ring might be closed to boats. This can happen during spring if there's a "freshet," which means the river water level is very high due to heavy rain. Also, if there's a long dry spell or "drought," some parts of the canals might not have enough water to be used.
Images for kids
-
Whittington Lock on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal
-
Kidderminster Lock on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal
