Stratford-Upon-Avon Canal.

It took us nearly 3 days with 2 nights on the Stratford-Upon-Avon canal to get to Birmingham, leaving Stratford-Upon-Avon on the afternoon of the 3rd June and getting to Birmingham on the evening of the 5th June.  The canal was much narrower than the rivers we had been on up until this stage and had a lot of locks in places to get us up the canal as the land got higher. It was 25 and a half miles in length from Stratford-Upon-Avon to the Birmingham Canal and a total of 40 locks !!

Sue with boat entering the Lapworth locks, 14 of them in a row or flight on the canal.

Martin driving the boat into a top lock of the Lapworth Locks.

Moored at night in the middle of the Lapworth locks

The canal was very picturesque in places, some of the bridges very interesting.  The canal had a towpath along one side which the horses used to use go on once upon a time to tow the boats and barges up and down the canal. This is now well used by people walking or biking up and down it and sometimes fishing from it.  The canal was low so you couldn't see a lot of the countryside from it as the trees were high along either side in most places.

One of the bridges on this canal, unique to this canal.  They had a one inch gap between the white railings that the tow rope from the horses to the boats and barges went through to save having to unhook the ropes at every bridge.  This scene with these reflections was common.

More reflections and a boat on the canal with the towpath beside the canal.

The countryside was varied, went through small villages and residential areas and then countryside.

The pretty village of Wilmcote on the canal in the distance.

A lot of wildlife at times, including ducks, swans, Canadian geese again, moorhens and coots.  These swans with their babies got caught up in the lock at the front of the boat.

2 swans and their 5 cygnets got caught in the lock when we went to fill it.  They were trapped and had nowhere to go.

After the lock had filled they wasted no time in swimming out of the lock once the gate was opened.

We went over the Edstone Aqueduct at one stage, 200 yards in length and very high up at about 30 metres on piers made of bricks, it was uncanny.  It is made of cast iron and will be 200 years old next year.  We moored next to it for the night, it was very peaceful.

The boat going over the Edstone Aqueduct, 200 yards long.  It was uncanny and a very tight fit with the water only  few inches from the top of it. 

As we turned into the Birmingham Canal there was a Stop or Guillotine lock, no longer used.  These locks were used as a toll gates in the days of the private canal companies, they were common at junctions of the canals as one canal company sought to protect its water supply from any newcomer.  This one was unusual as it had 2 wooden guillotine gates mounted in iron frames and balanced by chains an counterweights.

The Guillotine or Stop Lock at Kings Norton Junction at the entrance to Birmingham Canal.