UK Canal Boating

The mighty River Severn is Britain's longest river. It runs for 220 miles from the Welsh mountains, through the beautiful Shropshire and Worcestershire countryside and down to the flatlands of the Severn estuary.

The River Severn is prone to rapid rise and fall in water levels following heavy rainfall, so always check on the CRT website for current conditions.

Remember to stay in the centre of the channel whenever cruising the Severn, but pass other approaching vessels on the right-hand side (port-to-port). Vessels heading downstream (towards Gloucester) should generally have right of way over those travelling upstream
It’s best to approach a mooring with the boat facing into upstream. This will allow you to hold the boat stationery, have better control at very low speed and prevent the boat being swept past your stopping point. So, if you’re heading down stream, you’ll need to pass the mooring and turn your boat around. The River is wide so there is plenty of room for manoeuvering.
When mooring allow for the tide by having slack in your mooring ropes, but tie the boat up firmly .

With the Severn, the locks are not operated by boaters themselves, but by lock keepers who operate the locks using automated hydraulic systems. When the water level under your boat is the same as the level you’re moving to, the gates will open.
See Severn User guide in the links below for more information ,

DAY 1
Leaving the marina, you will make your way towards Grimley, 7 miles away.

You begin your journey on the River Severn, and cruise south towards Astley Burf, where there is a pub/restaurant overlooking the River, called The Hampstall Inn. There is a garden and children's play area. Cider and bar food are available.

The River meanders along, past Lower Astley Woods and Shrawley Woods to your right, and just beyond Mutton Hall a wide curve takes you to Holt Heath, where there are a couple more pubs – The Wharf Inn and The Holt Fleet Hotel. Children are welcome at both.

Just a little further is Grimley, where you can moor for the night if you wish. The Wagon Wheel is in Grimley, where diners are asked to wear smart casual dress. Past the turning for the Droitwich Canal, and through Bevere Lock is the Camp House Inn with its own pontoon for mooring. Children are welcome at both, but dogs only at The Camp House Inn.

You will have cruised about 7 miles and navigated 2 large locks, in around 2 hours.

DAY 2

As you cruise further south, you will soon be in the suburbs of Worcester. When you reach Diglis Basin, if you wish you can moor up and visit Worcester. There is much to see here, not least the Cathedral, which dates from 1074. There are also many pubs, restaurants and cafes in Worcester, so you will find something to suit every taste.

There are museums and theatres, and more information can be found at the Tourist Information Centre in the Guildhall, or see link below.

Cruising out of Worcester, you will pass the yacht club, then leave the suburbs at Kempsey. The River wends its way further south, through largely open countryside, with tall, steep red cliffs rising to over 100ft either side, where foliage struggles to grow on the slopes.

The village of Hanley Castle is to your right, and there is a pub here called The Three Kings, in the village centre. Well-behaved children and dogs are welcome, and there is a family room and garden.

A little further along, round the curve, Upton on Severn is located on your right. This is a pretty town with all amenities, including banks, shops and pubs/restaurants, among which are Ye Olde Anchor Inn, The Bell House and The Swan Hotel. If you want more information about Upton on Severn, see the link below

A little further you will cruise through a pretty village called Ripple. There is also a pub here called The Railway, which can be reached by following the footpath into the village. Real ale and bar meals are served. There is outside seating and children are welcome.

Shortly, you will go under the M50 bridge, cruising along on a quiet stretch of river, unspoilt by towns and villages. Soon you will enter the suburbs of Tewkesbury, with the main town appearing to your left.

Tewkesbury is a little way from the canal, so you would need to turn off of the Severn onto the Avon, to moor up. The town has medieval streets and the high street shops are for the most part, independent.

Back on the Severn, you will go through Upper Lode Lock, then onwards to Deerhurst and Apperley, two tiny villages to the left of the canal. Just beyond Apperley is Haw Bridge, beside which is The Haw Bridge Inn and The Riverside Inn, so if you want to moor here for the night, you are ideally placed for some real ales and food. The Riverside in does not allow dogs, but both allow children.

You will have cruised 26 miles and navigated 3 locks in around 6½ hours.

DAY 3
Today you will be heading towards Cambridge Arms Bridge, 10 miles away.

Cruising on, you may catch a glimpse of the spire of Ashleworth Church to your right, as you pass nearby the tiny village.

The next stretch of River is reasonably straight as you cruise into the suburbs of Gloucester, mostly to your left. If you want to visit Gloucester, there are plenty of moorings which will give easy access.

There are many, many pubs and restaurants in Gloucester, among them The Fountain Inn, The Dick Whittington, The Linden Tree, and The Tall Ship. To see all that Gloucester has to offer, see tourisy information link below

Gloucester is a very large place, and it is some time before you reach the outskirts, cruising through Quedgley and Hardwicke, where the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal runs alongside the River Severn. Then you will cruise through the Vale of Gloucester, which is sometimes wooded, but more often very open, with little sign of habitation.

Cruising on, you will soon reach Saul Junction, where the Cotswold Canals Trust Visitor Centre is situated: There are useful facilities here if you want to moor up for a bit.

Stay on the main canal, cruising through Frampton on Severn, a pretty village with a village green, to the left of the canal, which now straightens out. As it gently curves to the right, you will be near Cambridge Arms Swing Bridge, where you can moor up for the night if you wish. There are several pubs between Frampton on Severn and the bridge – The Three Horseshoes, The Bell Inn, The Ship Inn, The Anchor, and The Stables Cafe.

Once you moor up for the night, you will have cruised 10 miles, and navigated 1 lock, in around 6½ hours.

DAY 4
Today you will cruise to Sharpness Junction, where you will need to turn the boat for the return journey.

So, leaving the mooring, you will soon reach Patch Swing Bridge, to the right of which is The Wildfowl Trust at Slimbridge. A little further, and you see what is called 'The Royal Drift' off to the right. At Patch Bridge are two pubs – Slimbridge Boat Station and The Tudor Arms.

Once you reach Sharpness Junction (where the Gloucester and Sharpness Ship Canal meets the River Severn), you will need to turn the boat around, and moor a little further along the canal.

See link below for information about Sharpness and the Docks

You will have cruised 13 miles and navigated 2 locks, in around 6½ hours.

DAYS 5, 6 & 7
You will make the return journey to Stourport on Severn.

 

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.