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Following the long, hot and very dry summer, we expected our September 2026 Watermark trip to be very restricted: as we left home, almost all the locks in the area had  very limited opening hours. So the first few days we just pootled around on the flat – exploring down to the top of the Tardebigge flight, going down the N Stratford far enough to visit the amazing Wedges bakery, and heading into the centre of Birmingham to meet (from the train station) 3 friends of our 20 year old daughter who were joining us for the rest of the week.

We spent 2 nights moored near Gas Street Basin and were surprised at how quiet and calm it was overnight, despite being close to city centre pubs and clubs. Not so keen on the bright street lights all night though!

Fortunately, it had rained a bit (in Birmingham, at least!) the previous week, and we had overnight rain a couple of times, so lock restrictions were lifted in the second part of the week. This meant we were able to give the 3 novice 18-20 year olds experience of both urban (Farmer’s Bridge Flight) and rural (Lapworth Flight) locks: they certainly earned their keep!  They were also impressed by the length (nearly 2 miles) of the tunnel just north of the Alvechurch base.

Safe to say the 3 newbies are now all canal converts: and 67 foot of narrowboat is long enough to share with 4 ‘youth’ without them (or us) feeling that their space was too invaded!

Anyone that knows me knows that I am BEYOND ENTHUSIASTIC about Watermark!

I have a family of five – Watermark can accommodate up to 8, albeit 2 of them would have to be small ones – and tbh part of the reason I love it is that it’s a bargain holiday. But more than that, it’s an opportunity to have a very slow, relaxing, somehow old-fashioned week of holiday with my family, featuring local attractions, lots of pub lunches/dinners, board games, and walks along the canal. 

For the last couple of years, Watermark has been based at Alvechurch Marina near Birmingham, which gives access to a whole range of different routes. You can choose how challenging a route you want – mainly whether you go through loads of locks, or not that many. This year, we were all geared up to do a route with 116, but were foiled by drought-related navigation restrictions (not all canals/locks were open), and had to do a less ambitious route. As a family we love a lock now; it’s great team-work and makes the holiday pretty active as you jump on and off the boat to go through the locks.

I can’t deny that it makes my middle-aged soul sing, but I first went on Watermark with some friends from my grad cohort years ago, and it was great for a mates holiday as well, so I like to believe it’s young person friendly too. 

It’s genuinely not that complicated; if I can do it, anyone can! There’s also something really nice about learning a new skill, and something very meditative about chugging down the canals.

Just got back from a week hiring Watermark. It was a fantastic week – we picked the boat up from Alvechurch Marina and went up through the middle of Birmingham to Tamworth, before turning round to go back on ourselves and return the boat to the marina. We just about survived the heatwave, although part of canalling is just stopping off at pubs anyway so we just had to double down on that for a bit of the week!

There were loads of highlights, but to pick out a couple it would be:

– Our dog Elsie accidentally falling into the canal – twice! One picture below is her with the zoomies after running straight in off the towpath by accident

– Driving through Birmingham at the same time as the European athletics champs – we saw loads of international runners going for warm up/cool down runs up the canal in their full kit (including Jakob Ingebritsen and Jake Wightman for those interested in athletics)

– Going through the flight of locks in central Birmingham made me feel like the A-list celebrity I had thought I was destined to be, we were being filmed and photographed by loads of tourists as we went through

The best part of the boat has to of course be the gold £ sign on the front, where you can sit out the front and watch the world go by as you trundle along. It was a great price for this kind of holiday, and a very relaxing week for us all. I would genuinely recommend hiring this to anyone who is interested.

Really pleased that the Tardebigge flight opened at the end of August – this allowed us to go south, round the Droitwich Ring, on to the River Severn to Worcester, and back up the Worcester and Birmingham Canal back to the marina.

The Eagle and Sun at Hanbury Junction was closed for refurbishment – opening in October.  We turned onto the Droitwich Canal at Hanbury and were pleasantly surprised how lovely Droitwich was.  There is a useful Waitrose close to the canal, but the waterpoint is hard to find and harder to stop at!

We paired up with another boat to go down through the double locks on the Droitwich Barge Canal, then turned on to the River Severn.  It was great going down the river – a very different experience from being on the canal!  The marina provided us with a useful guide to navigating the river.

Worcester was worth a visit – cathedral, old city, Elgar …  We ate dinner at an independent restaurant called The Olive Branch – exceptionally good food at a reasonable price.  Also found a lovely coffee shop called Black and White Kitchen.  Worth stocking up with supplies in Worcester, as there is not much chance further north!  Overall, a great route to do in the week.  Looking forward to next year and exploring further north!  

J, G, G, D (the artist), C, H, L and S

L, A, family and friends

We’ve had a great week on the Worcester & Birmingham, Stratford, and Grand Union Canals.  Thank you!  The masses of weed around Alvechurch Marina is Floating Pennywort (an invasive species from North America), FYI.

Perhaps I lost the knack, but I had trouble fixing the bed on the last night.  I suspect the table only fits one way round.  (I think it’s slightly wider on one side than the other.)

The engine cut-off is the handle at the back of the boat, not the “stop button” shown in the Boat Manual!

Great boat and will equipped!  We had a lovely time thanks.  Swan in Alvechurch is â, Red Lion is á (nice peas too!).

R, E and EK, ND.

There was a particular day on our recent trip on Watermark narrowboat that summed up the variety and uniqueness of a canalling holiday. So here’s my story of a day in the life of Watermark:

Lots of things were in our favour (dry days, long & light evenings, an experienced & energetic crew etc) so we had made very good time from Alvechurch, where Watermark is based, to Stratford upon Avon. It only took us two and a half days (it’s about 19 miles by road…). So we were able to spend a night moored in the picturesque Bancroft Basin, outside the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Once the tourists leave, Stratford becomes a different place and it was a peaceful mooring spot despite being in the centre of town.

Next morning, we took the short walk around the basin to join a backstage tour of the theatre, complete with lots of lurvie stories, a view of the technical set-up for the next production, and a chance to handle some of the costumes. We then had lunch in one of the local theatre restaurants before returning, via the supermarket, to the charms of the canal.

The not-so-leisurely afternoon involved working our way up 15 locks, spread across a couple of flights, and returning to the open countryside. The facilities on board Watermark allowed us to have showers and then cook ourselves a meal. As the sun set, we realised we had aligned ourselves for a lovely reflection in the canal: and then the bats arrived! It’s not often you can sit at your dinner table and watch bats swooping over the water just 3-4 meters away..

The not-so-leisurely afternoon involved working our way up 15 locks, spread across a couple of flights, and returning to the open countryside. The facilities on board Watermark allowed us to have showers and then cook ourselves a meal. As the sun set, we realised we had aligned ourselves for a lovely reflection in the canal: and then the bats arrived! It’s not often you can sit at your dinner table and watch bats swooping over the water just 3-4 meters away…

J

We made it to Stratford!  Top lock of Wilmcote Flight now open so it’s possible to go all the way – although that means 108 locks in the week …!

Moored in the basin at Stratford, which was surprisingly quiet overnight (although all mooring places full …). Even managed to do a backstage tour at the theatre the next morning, which was well worth it.

Highlights include Wedges near Bridge 20 (visited both directions!), Yew Tree Craft Village near Bridge 53 and Fleur-de-Lys pub near Bridge 41 (excellent pies).  We also enjoyed both tunnels (passed a boat going the other way in West Hills Tunnel) and the lovely aqueducts – especially Edstone/Bearley.  We had an amazing bat display one evening north of Wilmcote, also saw herons, kingfishers, countless ducklings (goslings), cygnets and even a mink.  Evidence of otters at the Lapworth Flight.

Very much enjoyed the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal – lots of variety, plenty of activity and some very helpful CRT volunteer lock keepers.  Surprisingly few other boats on the move – perhaps put off by the heatwave/problems with water shortages elsewhere on the network.  Fingers crossed for continued access to the Stratford for the rest of the season.

Thank you Watermark!

JP & family

Leisurely week.  Alvechurch to top of Hatton and back.  Lost the first day due to a tree down just up the road.  Set off on Tuesday after a night in the boatyard.  Pleasantly surprised by the number of pubs – had some very nice meals in the Wharf Inn (good mooring and a Co-op store nearby) and Tom o’ the Woods.  Visited Hatton World, very quiet, not many people about.  Good mooring wherever we stopped.  Good fishing but only caught bream, apart from an eel.

Lapworth Locks were easier than expected.  On the way down, the CRT man held everyone to one side so we could go by – they were desperate for water.  On the way back we had most in our favour too.

Visited Wedges Bakery at bridge 20.  It’s a must – best cakes and bread ever.  Headed back to boatyard on Sunday and had lunch at the pub there.  Really nice people and a great atmosphere and food was okay, was good and plentiful, not brilliant.

Had a bit of excitement before going to the pub – while trying to put the boat back in its mooring spot, one of our crew fell into the canal.  After a bit of help from a passing boatman on shore and some huffing and puffing we rescued him.  After a quick shower and change we made our lunch reservation at the pub.

Notes for next hirers – we have mentioned the following points to the boatyard:-

• One of the bulbs has gone in the wall lights in the dining area;
• The base of the dining table needs tightening up (the screws are loose);
• Check the rear bathroom sink underneath.  We found some wate underneath the sink and tightened it up but might need checking.

Been a really good week.  Weather dry and warm and first time for a long time we have not had to use the heating 😊

F & G, S & T

Ps Boatyard team are lovely and very helpful

A leisurely week, through Lapworth Locks, south on the Grand Union to Hatton, trip to Hatton Adventure World, back north to Knowle Locks before returning up Lapworth Locks.  Thank goodness for volunteers!  Up the flight in 2 hours!!  The Wast Hill Tunnel led to some competition from the drivers.  T (aged 2 ¾) had the best time on his first boat trip.  Following in his mummy’s footsteps.  Weather was face-burning one day, soggy the next, typical bank holiday!

Until next time …

E, G, E, L & T