A short but lovely trip to Kidderminster

Monday July 5 a short but fascinating journey from Kinver to Kidderminster (5.5 miles, 4 locks)

We set off early in sunshine. 300 yards from Kinver lock, John suddenly spotted large red sandstone boulders in the canal next to a cliff fall, some six feet into the canal. We slid past a foot away, luckily! Markers would be good, CRT, until they are cleared!

Throughout the journey, we passed well kept houses and gardens, lovely canal views including trees, overhanging cliffs, narrows, locks and Cookley Tunnel. 

 John found lots to photograph. With all the twisting and turning, narrows and blind corners, John was glad we met most oncoming boats on straight bits!

At Debdale Lock we met NB Bethany Bear coming up, owned by fellow Lichfield & Hatherton Canal Restoration Trust (LHCRT) supporters David and Dora Hancock, Lichfield Cruising Club President and LHCRT secretary respectively. We had a good chat about progress before moving on.

We remembered dining at The Lock pub and tearoom opposite at Wolverley Lock. John admired the hull and paintwork of a boat moored by the lock. R W Davies from Saul?

We passed half a mile of new housing as we entered Kidderminster, passed busy moorings by Sainsbury’s to moor on rings  at the visitor mooring below the parish church, just above Kidderminster Lock. Don’t moor here if you don’t like church bells, as the clock sounds off every quarter of an hour, plus a tune afterwards at noon! Thankfully, the chimes stop at night …

It’s a short walk to the town centre from here, and about twenty minute walk to the Severn Valley Railway (but book your tickets online well in advance, at about £25 a head). We had decent pizza meal deals at Pizza Hut,  a three minute walk down the towpath below Kidderminster Lock, next to Macdonalds.