Canal Boat Holiday Base Information - Base 42 near Worcester

Routes from this base

Your holiday isn't tied to a specific route. You simply hire a boat for the time you choose, then explore the canals however you like. Our short-break, week, and two week routes are just ideas to help you plan your ideal canal holiday.

Short break routes (3 - 4 nights)

Stoke Prior and Return

38 locks • 15 hours

Cruise north up the Worcester Birmingham Canal into rural Worcestershire where you pass through the very heart of 'Archers' country to the village of Stoke Prior. Turn here and retrace your steps for a leisurely run back to base. Your last night can be spent sampling the many and varied delights of Worcester's historic cathedral city

Stourton Junction and Return

40 locks • 24 hours

Cruise up the River Severn to the inland port of Stourport, and join the idyllic Staffs & Worcs canal through rural North Worcestershire before returning to base.

One week routes

Worcestershire and Staffordshire

78 miles • 80 locks • 30 hours

Passing through Worcester by canal, you join the River Severn for a leisurely cruise up to Stourport where you join the Staffs and Worcs Canal. This canal takes you past dramatic sandstone rocks and through the beautifully preserved Bratch locks towards Autherley Junction. You will probably want to turn here in order to make the most of the return journey, which apart from opening up new views of the countryside, will give you a chance to visit some of the attractions you may have missed on the way up, such as the Severn Valley Railway, or the sandstone caves at Austcliffe.

Stourport Ring

83 miles • 116 locks • 54 hours

As above, you travel north to Stourton Junction where you branch off to Birmingham via the impressive Netherton tunnel. A visit to the award winning Black Country Museum is well worth some time before you cruise on through Birmingham with its restored canalside and National Sea Llife Centre to meet up with the Worcester Birmigham Canal. This canal brings you past Bournville (Cadbury World) and finally down the Tardebigge flight of locks to Worcester, passing through idyllic open countryside.

Stratford-upon-Avon and Return

100 miles • 44 locks •

From Worcester you head down the River Severn to Tewkesbury where you join the Warwickshire Avon. The Avon takes you northeast through the rich fertile countryside of South Worcestershire. Along the way you can visit the delightful market towns of Pershore, Evesham and Bidford-on-Avon before finally arriving at Stratford itself. Please note that a licence will need to be bought for the River Avon

Two week routes

Avon Ring

109 miles • 129 locks • 60 hours

This trip follows the same outward route as Tour 3, via the Rivers Severn and Avon to Stratford-upon-Avon. You then leave the river to re-join the canal system and travel up the Stratford -upon-Avon Canal to Kings Norton Junction. This canal is characterised by its unique split bridges and barrel roofed cottages. At Kings Norton you turn left onto the Worcester Birmingham Canal, this brings you back to base by way of the Tardebigge flight of locks and the rolling open countryside of North Worcestershire. Time spent on the River Avon costs an extra license fee, which is payable on the River.

Canal Boat Holiday Base Information - Base 42 near Worcester

About the location

Routes from this base

Short break routes (3 - 4 nights)

Stoke Prior and Return

Stourton Junction and Return

One week routes

Worcestershire and Staffordshire

Stourport Ring

Stratford-upon-Avon and Return

Two week routes

Avon Ring