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THE  STOURPORT  RING  (One Week)

River Severn to Worcester, Worcester and Birmingham Canal to Kings Norton, Birmingham Canal Navigation (BCN) to Aldersley Junction, returning by the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal, the most scenic in the Midlands (SEVEN HOURS A DAY). This mainly rural route includes the famous Tardebigge flight of locks and Wast Hill tunnel, one of the longest in the country. Visit Worcester (Cathedral, Civil War Museum, cricket ground, theatres, cinema, Royal Worcester Porcelain Works), the Avoncroft Museum of Buildings (including blacksmith's forge and working windmill), Dudley Castle and Zoo, Birmingham, England's second city with its galleries, famous library, pubs, clubs and discos. Also, the Black Country Museum (working trams, canal docks, brewhouse and smithy) .

THE  SHROPPIE'  (One Week)

A lazy week, or a busy one, depending how far up the Shropshire Union Canal you go. Brindley's meandering Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal contrasts vividly with Telford's Shropshire Union - built like a railway with great cuttings and massive embankments with superb views over Staffordshire and Shropshire. The 16 miles from Autherley Junction to Norbury Junction (a good winding point) contain only one lock.

STAFFORDSHIRE   &  WORCESTERSHIRE  CANAL  (One Week)

The full length of this delightful canal from Stourport to its junction with the Trent and Mersey Canal at Great Haywood, can be cruised in a week (SIX HOURS A DAY) - less if you turn (wind) at Penkridge or Stafford.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE  &  SHARPNESS  (One Weeks)

Gloucester (FIVE HOURS A DAY) is an easy week's cruise. Go on to Sharpness, six to seven hours a day, for Peter Scott's Wildfowl Trust at Slimbridge.

THE  AVON  RING  (Two Weeks)

River Severn to Tewkesbury, River Avon to Stratford-upon-Avon, Stratford Canals to Kings Norton, BCN to Aldersley Junction, returning on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal (FIVE HOURS A DAY). The Warwickshire Avon, gliding through villages and market towns in the Vale of Evesham, famous for fruit and vegetables. The Stratford Canal, with its aqueducts, ancient lock cottages and wrought ironbridges were restored from dereliction by volunteers and the National Trust. Visit the splendid half timbered market town of Tewkesbury (medieval alleys, ancient mill, Norman abbey, theatre, museums, antique shops, fascinating inns). Pershore has a riverside swimming pool. Evesham is a bustling market centre forthe Vale with shops, restaurants and many old buildings. Apart from its' associations with Shakespeare, Stratford-upon-Avon is a prosperous market town with a wealth of old buildings of all periods. Shops, restaurants, all facilities, riverside park, Royal Shakespeare Theatre (moorings outside), brass rubbing centre, historic houses and museums. Visit Warwick Castle (five miles by bus)--the most complete mediaeval castle in England.

THE  FOUR  COUNTIES  RING (Two Weeks)

The finest inland cruising circuit in the country. Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal to Great Haywood, Trent and Mersey Canal and the Middlewich branch to Barbridge Junction, Shropshire Union Canal to Autherley Junction, returning on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire to Stourport (SIX HOURS A DAY).

LLANGOLLEN  (Three Weeks)

For tunnels, aqueducts and unsurpassed scenery travel the Staffordshire and Worcestershire and Shropshire Union Canals to Hurleston Junction and take the Welsh Canal to Llangollen. Return via the Middlewich Branch and Trent and Mersey Canal (FIVE HOURS A DAY).

THE  STAFFORDSHIRE  RING (Two Weeks)

River Severn to Worcester, Worcester and Birmingham Canal to Kings Norton Junction, Birmingham and Fazeley Canal via Fradley Junction and Great Haywood, returning along the full length of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal (SIX HOURS A DAY).