UK Canal Boating

Day 1

If you wish to start your holiday off with an adventure, how about walking to the Snow Dome which is only about 10 minutes from the marina. All weather skiing and snowboarding centre with kit rental, an ice rink, swimming pool and gym. It is open until late every night.
Also you need to visit Tamworth Castle-
Step back through 900 years of history with a visit to Tamworth Castle. Uncover the secrets held within the chambers and hallways of this unique building and get a real sense of how the Saxons, Normans, Tudors and Victorians lived.

Once back on the boat turn right out of the marina and cruise westwards and immediately you encounter Glascote Locks, but the trainer will show you how to use the locks, so don't worry.
At the Fazeley Junction turn left along the Birmingham and Fazeley canal, soon you will reach Drayton Manor Theme Park - The UK's best family theme park with kids rides, family fun, zoo, and thrill rides. The entrance to the Theme park & Zoo is a short walk from the canal to your right.

It is 1.25 hours to Drayton Manor so if you are spending a day visiting here then moor up for the night ready for a whole day tomorrow.

Day 2

Explore Drayton Manor Theme Park
Featuring Stormforce 10 with a backward water drop, Maelstrom, Shockwave- Europes first stand up roller coaster, and the vertical drop -New for 2011 is Ben 10 Ultimate Mission the ride, Ben needs you to stop Vilgax from stealing the Omnitrix and the only way is to board the “Mecha Vehicle”, Good luck on your mission! . Adults & children will love the white knuckle rides, but the park has many family rides and a Thomas Land area for the younger children, and a Zoo to explore. The park is closed during November to March except for school holidays .

Day 3

You can enjoy another day at Drayton Manor, or cruise back to Tamworth to explore the Castle and Snowdome .

If you fancy a bit more cruising before the end of your holiday turn the boat around after Coleshill bridge and go back up the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal to the Junction and turn left for a lock free cruise.

The landscape gives way to lightly wooded open fields towards Hopwas Hill as the Canal follows the course of the River Tame very closely, passing below Hopwas village.

Hopwas is a pretty & tidy village with a green, built on the side of a hill. It has a PO, and a convenience store. On the Canal is the Tame Otter Pub, where real ale & food are served all day, there are moorings available, also here is the Red Lion, food at lunch and in the evenings, steaks are a speciality.

Just beyond here there is a delightful wooded stretch that covers the side of the hill.

Landing is forbidden because these are the Whittington Firing Ranges.

After the wood the canal continues in a side cut embankment with a view of Tamworth to the east.

The next village you will reach is Whittington. There is a PO stores, garage, chemist, Chinese takeaway & off licence. The village centre is to the west of Whittington bridge, the shops are best approached from bridge 78. There are 3 pubs here, The Swan Inn on the Canalside, and the Bell Inn & Dog Inn in the main street.
From here you can catch a bus into Lichfield, which is well worth the detour.

The three spires of the 13th century Cathedral in Lichfield, the 'Ladies of the Vale' are a visible landmark for miles around. The modern shopping centre contrasts sharply with the graceful Georgian buildings of the city centre. There are excellent pubs & restaurants and night clubs, with a Farmers market on Sundays.
You can also catch a train into the centre of Birmingham from Litchfield.

Between Whittington & bridge 78, the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal changes to the Coventry Canal.
At Huddlesford is the junction with the Wyrley & Essington Canal, now only used for private moorings. There is an award winning friendly canalside pub here, - The Plough serving real ale & good food. You can walk the 1- 2 miles to Lichfield.

You can turn the boat in the Junction ready for the journey back. It should have taken you 3 hours to get here so time for some lunch.

It is 3.75 hours back to the marina so after lunch start making your way back , perhaps mooring at Hopwas for Sunday night , and getting up early on Monday morning ready for the 2 hour cruise back to Glascote Basin. There are only the 2 locks to negotiate at Glascote so all the crew except the driver can have a lie in until they are needed!

Day 4

2 hours cruising from Hopwas to Glascote including the 2 locks , its only 4 miles!

 

NB: This route has been provided as a guide only. Information may become inaccurate or out of date. You should always check with the marina that the route is possible within your time frame, current weather conditions and canal stoppages etc.