Question: Can you give any information on cruising the BCN and the Stourport Ring - I have heard that there are some difficult areas. Answer: The BCN and the Stourport Ring can provide excellent cruising - particularly for those who enjoy our industrial heritage although a significant mileage also passes through countryside. The following (edited) tips and notes have been provided by members of the canals internet mailing list: "We stayed outside the sea life centre in central Birmingham and also at the Merry Hill shopping centre at Dudley, with no problems except a bit of noise at chucking out time. We had no problems on the trip through Birmingham except a fouled prop and did not see a soul on some of the outer stretches. We went up the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal on a Sunday in order to go round the black country ring. We then went down the Staffs and Worcs Canal via Bratch to Stourton Junction and back via Black Delph (a highlight of the trip for me), Netherton Tunnel and Gas Street, (we hired a boat from Tardebigge). Personally I would not have felt happy stopping between the tunnel at Kings Norton and central Birmingham (Gas Street) on the Birmingham and Worcester. Gas Street was fine. I would not have wanted to stop anywhere on the Birmingham and Fazeley until we got well beyond the M6 and Fort Dunlop. I felt the bit of the Staffs and Worcs at the top end of Wolverhampton looked a bit grim but beyond the first lock going south it was fine again. We visited the Black Country Museum and the moorings there seemed excellent." TIPS from others. Good Stops (** = Multiple recommendations) Cambrian Wharf - outside the "Longboat" **Tipton Green Junction (not really a junction anymore, just a wide bit with a small park) and a short walk to the "Fountain Inn" and the Black Country Museum (dinner at the Tipton Pie Factory!) **Farmers Bridge Junction. Lots of closed circuit TV cameras in operation and security guards on patrol!! Top lock of "Wolverhampton 21", if you do not mind the sound of trains and shunting engines!! The top of the 21 is a horrible place. Broken glass, noises in the night, malicious untying. (with knives). Instead, go down the 21 and around the corner to the boatyard, which is fairly quiet and secure, with a large dog to alert you to intruders. NIA/Sealife area (At Brindley Place moor onto rings where available, not bollards or you may find yourself adrift in the morning. Don't moor underneath the bridge. You can tie up on the off side against the railings, it is too difficult for pranksters to untie.) Outside 'The New Navigation' Titford Canal Windmill End **Merry Hill Shopping Centre **Sneyd Junction **Bournville, by Cadburys Hawne Basin, on Dudley No 2. The Dry Dock Inn at Bumble Hole Alvechurch Worcester, the Commandery Places to avoid mooring at: Kings Norton junction, Ocker and Rushall Junctions - "Stone Valley" Bloxwich in east Walsall on the Wyrley & Essington Coseley Tunnel between Wolverhampton and Tipton. Farmers Bridge Flight on the Birmingham & Fazeley Navigation Notes Do the Stourport ring anticlockwise and go with the Severn's current rather than try to stem it. The secret of the ring is to follow whatever the lock keeper at Diglis Locks has to say. He can be contacted during the day on 01905 354280. Turning your boat against the current to approach Diglis lock at Worcester can be difficult. Be careful near the cliffs near Stourport. If you meet an oncoming boat you may not be able to pass at some places. Stone throwing. Always have a camera at the ready as that seems to deter most of these offenders. You don't have to waste a picture on them - just point the camera at them. Mooring - tie off to the boat rather than the lane as this dissuades the opportunist. Dudley Tunnel: Ring the Black Country Museum on 01384 236275 between 10am and 5pm and ask for the Tunnel operators. You won't get through unless the water is low and your air draft is significantly less than 2 metres*. They will make every effort to get you through so it is worth going there after a spell of fine, dry weather and measuring up against the loading gauge. * "The official gauge measurements are :- a radius of 43", 22" off the water level. ie MAX height 65" The tunnel tug Captain will also insist that there is a gap! Practise doing the touch free walk through before he gauges you. It is better to get one person to do this with all crew strategically placed inside! The Tipton swing over gauge is only secured by a shackle. Don't listen to DCT when they insist you get gauged at Tipton, as the Park Head gauge is considerably HIGHER (by about 4"!) The Park Head portal stop gate was not locked (2000), so you should be able to do a dry gauge test before calling them out. During normal weir level conditions, the gauge at Tipton is an inch LOWER that the stated measurements! The level (Wolverhampton) does vary considerably, when we did it last year, it went down 2" overnight. Once you know you fit, don't hang about as the level does change overnight. The DCT did not seem to mind HOW you got your boat ballasted down. We used approx 2 ton of pavoirs and a LOT of water in various places, using builders plastic sheet and dustbins - anyone want to borrow 6 pristine dustbins?! Much modification (upwards!) of some 'oles through the side were needed (including exhaust) Make sure you have thin fenders down the safety chain board side, for if you clear the gauge your gunwales, this side, will be the only point of contact in the tunnel. We did not find any tight points (60ft *modern* style NB). The three low sections are near the Park Head portal. The rest (in our ballasted condition) seemed higher than a lot of the Harecastle Tunnel. During the 2 and a half hours allowed for the passage, we were only able to do a pathetic 30 mins legging / poling! Although it is a free service, provided by DCT, on BW's behalf, it is customary to give a donation to DCT. Oldbury Boat Services will *buy* any left over suitable ballast - they may rent it out! - good place to fill up with diesel ballast! Getting rid of ballast can be a *problem*! The Tunnel Tug Captain is pi**ed off with hearing the Dudley Tunnel Song (sorry Jeff!) Try to arrange to do Froghall Tunnel, when your boat is in this ballasted state - we did not! See http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk/tour_00/BCNplus5.html for us doing it last year." Museum Moorings Theoretically, one is supposed to book but in practice there's no problem. There's no charge for mooring but there *is* a charge for visiting the museum (very well worthwhile). If you arrive during opening hours you should check in at The Bottle & Glass Inn. The beer there is very good as well. If you moor overnight on the museum side of the canal you will be very safe but won't be able to leave other than by water. If you moor on the offside you will be able to leave the site using your BW key. URLs http://www.fship.demon.co.uk/Canals98/Report.htm 1998 trip report of the Stourport Ring http://www.bcn-society.org.uk Particularly the 'Find Your Way Around' page (excellent). Ends Dave Green FAQ Manager