The Stourport Ring canal route

The Stourport Ring is a superb circuit around Worcestershire, the Black Country, and Birmingham. The ring is formed from the River Severn, the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal, the Stourbridge Canal, the Dudley Canals, the Birmingham Canal Navigations (Netherton Tunnel Branch Canal and Birmingham New Main Line) and the Worcester and Birmingham Canal.

What to see on the Stourport Ring

Popular visitor attractions on or close to the Stourport Ring include Cadbury World, The Black Country Living Museum, the Severn Valley Railway, Kinver Edge, the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter, Brindleyplace plus the Merry Hill, Bullring and Mailbox shopping centres.

A map of the Stourport Ring

Approximate Distances (anti-clockwise)

Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN) New Main Line, including Netherton Tunnel Branch from Gas Street Basin to Windmill End junction
10 miles, no locks, 1 tunnel

Dudley Canals (No 1 & 2) from Windmill End junction to Delph Bottom Lock
4.5 miles, 9 locks

Stourbridge Canal from Delph Bottom Lock to Stourton junction
5.5 miles, 20 locks

Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal from Stourton junction to Stourport Basins
12.5 miles, 15 locks

River Severn from Stourport Basins to Diglis Basins
12 miles, 3 locks

Worcester and Birmingham Canal from Diglis Basins junction to Gas Street Basin
29.5 miles, 58 locks, 3 tunnels

How long does it take?

The ring is 74 miles and includes 105 locks including 3 electrically operated river locks, 2 pairs of staircase locks and 2 broad locks. The route also includes two of the longest navigable tunnels on the UK network, the Netherton and Wast Hills Tunnels.Allow two weeks cruising to complete the Stourport Ring, although experienced boats cruising for 8 hour days could do it in one week.

The ring has an alternative longer route via Wolverhampton of 83 miles and 122 locks and does not include the Stourbridge or Dudley canals. Again, allow two weeks cruising to complete the extended Stourport Ring, although experienced boats cruising for 8 hour days should still be able to do it in one week.