It meant that goods had to be unloaded and carried a few yards to be transferred to another boat. Today, the Worcester Bar still exists but a gap allows passage. The canal was completed in 1815 and runs for 30 miles with 58 locks including the Tardebigge flight of 36 locks and you should note that it will take several hours to negotiate these.
From Gas Street Basin, the canal runs south through suburbs of Birmingham that are more appealing than others and passes Birmingham University and the Cadbury chocolate factory at Bournville. After the junction with the Stratford Canal at Kings Norton is the 2726 yard-long Wast Hill Tunnel and at its other end you’ll find yourself in pleasant countryside. The canal runs to the west of Alvechurch where there are a couple of canalside pubs and facilities. For provisions there are shops in the village about 15 minutes walk away.
Two short tunnels bring you to the Tardebigge flight and, whilst a daunting prospect, there are splendid views of the Worcestershire countryside from the top of the flight. You might like to reward your efforts with a stop at the inn at Stoke Bottom Lock or continue a little further to Stoke Works where a newly refurbished pub beckons. A further flight of five locks at Astwood lead to a lock-free section passing the Droitwich Canal, which is being restored, at Hanbury and on to pretty countryside around Dunhampstead and on to Tibberton where another canalside pub welcomes the boater. From here, the canal passes under the M5 motorway and around the northern outskirts of Worcester before running south to the junction with the River Severn. Worcester, with its Cathedral and many historic buildings, is well worth a visit and there are moorings at Lowesmoor Basin and at Diglis Basin.
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