The Black Country Ring

Ring Stats
Distance	75 miles
Locks	101
Hours	approx. 45hrs

A ring route that requires two weeks to navigate, an extension of the previous Lapworth Ring post- more suited for those looking for a longer UK boating holiday.

Which Canals are part of the Black Country Ring?

• Birmingham & Fazeley Canal
• Coventry Canal
• Trent & Mersey Canal
• Worcester & Birmingham Canal
• Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal
• Grand Union Canal

The Black Country Ring encompasses the Cannock Chase woodland, a medieval royal hunting forest, with wild deer still roaming this SSSI.  The star attraction is the Black Country Museum established in 1975 and covering 26 acres. The museum celebrates the Black Country area’s traditions with over 50 authentic shops and houses, allowing you to step back in time and appreciate the historic way of life.

Starting at Autherley Junction on the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal, cruising north towards Stafford centre, the first two hours of cruising will be lock free to ease you into steering the boat and taking in the Staffordshire countryside. At Gailey the locks begin, starting with a flight of four. Penkridge is situated on the left, a traditional market town, with important Staffordshire heritage derived from the collegiate church, which still dominates the sky views.

North from Penkridge is Stafford town centre, a perfect place to stop for the night to eat out and experience the local culture, with its mixture of wooden beamed and contemporary architecture. Victoria Park is also located in this town, equipped with a new play area for the children, a sensory garden and riverside walks are also available here. From Stafford, you charter the waters towards the Trent & Mersey Canal, passing Tixall Wide at Great Haywood (info on the Four Counties Ring post.)

Cruising down the Trent & Mersey Canal, we recommend stopping off near Rugeley and making your way to Cannock Chase if you have a little time to explore. There’s so much to do and see here, including Chasewater Country Park, where you can do varied walks along the water, pony trekking, wildlife centre, Go Ape outdoor climbing centre, Chasewater Railway, Silverblades Ice Rink and a small theatre, to name a few! Not to mention taking advantage of the great Staffordshire scenery.

From Rugeley to Tamworth the waterways are virtually lock free, allowing you to make up some time if you spend a little longer than expected sampling the many activities!  At Tamworth you will find Drayton Manor Family Theme Park, packed with lots of family friendly roller coaster rides, a couple of restaurants and a conservation area. Mooring up near Watling Street at Fazeley Junction on the Coventry Canal, providing you with some choice of whether you’d prefer to eat out at a nearby pub Indian or Chinese!

From Fazeley Junction, you are approximately 8 hours cruising to Aston Locks near Gas Street Basin. From here you can choose either to navigate the extended section of this ring, through Lapworth (click for Lapworth Ring article) or cruise through the Birmingham navigations for a shorter route. We recommend a 7 night holiday minimum to complete the ring, perfect for those with a little previous experience to soak in the Staffordshire countryside and Birmingham City Centre.

Search for your boating holiday on the Black Country Ring:

Departing between which dates?

22nd Apr – 28th April 201629th Apr – 5th May 20166th May – 12th May 201613th May – 19th May 201620th May – 26th May 201627th May – 2nd Jun 20163rd Jun – 9th Jun 201610th Jun – 16th Jun 201617th Jun – 23rd Jun 201624th Jun – 30th Jun 20161st Jul – 7th Jul 20168th Jul – 14th Jul 201615th Jul – 21st Jul 201622nd Jul – 28th Jul 201629th Jul – 4th Aug 20165th Aug – 11th Aug 201612th Aug – 18th Aug 201619th Aug – 25th Aug 201626th Aug – 1st Sept 20162nd Sep – 8th Sep 20169th Sep – 15th Sep 201616th Sep – 22nd Sep 201623rd Sep – 29th Sep 201630th Sep – 6th Oct 20167th Oct – 13th Oct 201614th Oct – 20th Oct 201621st Oct – 27th Oct 201628th Oct – 3rd Nov 20164th Nov – 10th Nov 201611th Nov – 17th Nov 201618th Nov – 24th Nov 201625th Nov – 1st Dec 20162nd Dec – 8th Dec 20169th Dec – 15th Dec 201616th Dec – 22nd Dec 201623rd Dec – 29th Dec 201629th Dec – 5th Jan 2017—————————-2017 Holiday Dates—————————-6th Jan – 12th Jan 201713th Jan – 19th Jan 201720th Jan – 26th Jan 201727th Jan – 2nd Feb 20173rd Feb – 9th Jan 201710th Feb – 16th Feb 201717th Feb – 23rd Feb 201724th Feb – 2nd Mar 20173rd Mar – 9th Mar 201710th Mar – 16th Mar 201717th Mar – 23rd Mar 201724th Mar – 30th Mar 201731st Mar – 6th Apr 20177th Apr – 13th Apr 201714th Apr – 20th Apr 201721st Apr – 27th Apr 201728th Apr – 4th May 20175th May – 11th May 201712th May – 18th May 201719th May – 25th May 201726th May – 1st Jun 20172nd Jun – 8th Jun 20179th Jun – 15th Jun 201716th Jun – 22nd Jun 201723rd Jun – 29th May 201730th Jun – 6th Jul 20177th Jul – 13th Jul 201714th Jul – 20th Jul 201721st Jul – 27th Jul 201728th Jul – 3rd Aug 20174th Aug – 10th Aug 201711th Aug – 17th Aug 201718th Aug – 24th Aug 201725th Aug – 31st Aug 20171st Sep – 7th Sep 20178th Sep – 14th Sep 201715th Sep – 21st Sep 201722nd Sep – 28th Sep 201729th Sep – 5th Oct 20176th Oct – 12th Oct 201713th Oct – 19th Oct 201720th Oct – 26th Oct 201727th Oct – 2nd Nov 20173rd Nov – 9th Nov 201710th Nov – 16th Nov 201717th Nov – 23rd Nov 201724th Nov – 30th Nov 20171st Dec – 7th Dec 20178th Dec – 14th Dec 201715th Dec – 21st Dec 201722nd Dec – 28th Dec 2017

For how long?

Full WeekWeekend BreakMidweek BreakShow All Available

Or click to search for all our Canal Boat Holidays or to search for motor cruisers available for Norfolk Broads boat hire.

Here is a visual illustration of the Black Country route without the extended Lapworth section.