Moorings on the BCN

Tuesday, 16 February 2010 21:50

BCN Moorings 2010

Travelling the BCN, it is sometimes difficult to find moorings and make plans accordingly. There are a number of sources of information but a lot of the information is now out of date.

When planning our cruise our research included BW Midlands' moorings leaflet, the BCNS website, BW's Boaters Guide, Nb Indigo Dreaming's BCN moorings leaflet and Captain Ahab's Watery Tales BCN Moorings Blog.

The above were all helpful and are still worth a look – but as of February 2010, (updated to include September 2010) this is our experience. It is not meant to be a comprehensive guide to all moorings on the BCN. We cannot be held responsible for any changes since, nor for any problems you may have; we only write as we found at the time.

The list includes moorings we actually used (click on the Epiphany icon for a link to the appropriate blog) and those we saw during our cruising. Clicking on the camera icon will bring up a photo of the mooring. The limits on mooring were also as we experienced or saw on the BW notices. We are open to correction!

The moorings are in the order we cruised the BCN. There are a couple of sections missed out, as we did not visit them and do not want to give you information without proof!

BCN Schematic Diagram - the numbers correspond to the table below

Table Key: W=Water R=Rubbish E=Elsan P=Pump-out S=Shops B=Bus T=Train TP=Towpath OSM=Off-side mooring V=Designated BW Visitor Mooring

No	Mooring	Limit	Facilities	Notes	Nb E
	Dudley No.1 Canal
1	Merry Hill	14D	W,R,E, S,B,V	Rings above shopping centre on towpath. Facilities at Footbridge after Harbour.
2	Merry Hill Harbour and Hotel area	14D	W,R,E,S ,B,V	Secure pontoon moorings. Off side moorings. Facilities at Footbridge after Harbour.
	Dudley No.2 Canal
3	Blowers Green Pump House, Park Head Junction	24H	W,R,E,V	Bollard moorings. On NE side of Pump House, before Blowers Green Bridge
4	Windmill End	24H	W,S,V	Bollard moorings.
	Birmingham City Centre
5	Birmingham Main Line, outside NIA	48H	S,B,T,V	Rings both sides of canal
6	Cambrian Wharf, top of Farmers Bridge Locks	14D	S,B,T,V	Secure pontoon moorings. OSM rings beside top lock. Facilities across on TP side
7	Birmingham and Fazeley before Farmers top lock	48H	W,R,E,S, B,T,V	Bollard moorings. Facilities within easy reach
8	Birmingham and Fazeley, before Tindall Bridge	48H	S,B,T,V	Bollard moorings. Facilities within easy reach
9	Brindleyplace, Oozells Loop	48H	S,B,T,V	Diesel, coal, W,P, at Sherborne Wharf in Oozells Loop
10	Gas Street Basin	24H	S,B,T,V	In remains of Old Wharf Arm, under Hyatt Hotel
11	Worcester and Birmingham, Holiday Wharf	48H	W,R,E,S, B,T,V	Near the Mailbox and around under footbridge
12	W of Sheepcote Bridge, Main Line	14D	S,B,T,V	Both sides of canal
	Birmingham New Main Line
13	Soho Loop, Hockley Port	48H	W,R,E, S,V	Gated OSM, limited room. Facilities at end of Hockley Port Branch
	Wolverhampton Old Main Line
14	Engine Arm, Wolverhampton Old Main Line	48H	W,R,E,P, S,T,V	One VM in winding hole by facilities
15	Smethwick Pumping Station Old Main Line	24H	S,B,T,V	Rings. Limited room
	Titford Canal (from Old Line)
16	Top of Oldbury Locks	7D	W,R,E, S,B	Facilities in Tat Bank Branch by Pump House
17	Opposite Langley Maltings	?	S,B	Need mooring pins
18	Langley Green Bridge	?	S,B	Need mooring pins
19	Whimsey Bridge, Oldbury	?	S,B	Pontoon mooring at Valencia Garden Centre. and MECCA complex
20	Tividale Aqueduct	24H		Bollard moorings
21	W of Kier's Bridge	?		Rings beside housing estate OSM
22	S of Coseley Tunnel, Coseley Stop	?	S,B	A bit bleak
	Dudley No. 1 Canal N
23	Dudley Road Bridge	48H	W,R,E,P, S,B,V	Facilities opposite Black Country Museum
24	Black Country Museum	48H	W,R,E,P, S,B,V	Secure moorings both sides (BW key). Facilities opposite Museum
	Wyrley and Essington Canal
25	Bentley Arm	48H	S,B,V	Ring moorings for max two boats
26	Wednesfield Junction with Bentley Arm	48H	S,B	Bollard moorings either side of Bentley Arm
27	E of Footbridge after Church Bridge	24H	S,B	OSM with rings
28	E of Pinfold Bridge, Wednesfield VM	48H	S,B,V	Shops and Post Office nearby
29	Lane Head VM	48H	S,B,V	OSM secure moorings, limited room
30	Sneyd Junction. Residential moorings	1H	W,R,E, S,B	Longer mooring only by arrangement with kind residential moorers or warden.
31	Pelsall Common	14D		Mooring pins needed
	Cannock Extension Canal, branch of Wyrley and Essington
32	Most of the canal, TP side	48H		Mooring pins needed
33	Brownhills, Silver Street Wharf (main line)	48H	W,R,E, S,V	Moorings alongside Tesco. Facilities on bend before moorings
	Anglesey Branch of Wyrley and Essington
34	Anglesey Basin	24H	V	Ring moorings by overflow weir. Not usable whilst Chasewater Reservoir is emptied
35	Anglesey Wharf	14D		Mooring pins needed
	Daw End Branch of Wyrley and Essington
36	Daw End VM, S of Northywood Bridge	24H	P,V	OSM
37	TP moorings before Longwood Junction	14D		Mooring pins needed
38	Longwood Junction	48H	W,R,E, B,V	Ring moorings, easy access to bus for Walsall
	Walsall Canal
39	Walsall Town Arm	24H	V	OSM pontoon moorings, BW operational moorings. Moor after 6pm if no workboat there
40	Walsall Town Basin	24H	S,B,T	Pontoon moorings, yellow boom may be pushed aside
41	Ocker Hill Tunnel Arm	48H	W,E,R,V	Secure moorings, rings, BW operational mooring. Can moor against workboats. Residential boaters have key to get out.
42	Ryder's Green Junction	?		Mooring pins needed
	Digbeth Branch
43	Aston University Science Park	48H	V,TP,OSM	Bollards before and after Lister Street Bridge
	Grand Union Canal (Birmingham and Warwick Canal)
44	Camp Hill Top Lock	24H	W,R,E,P, OSM	In arm beside lock
	Dudley No.1 Canal
45	South of Factory Junction	14D		Rings, no limit posted
46	Coronation Gardens, Tipton Green	14D	S,OSM	Rings, no limit posted
	BCN Main Line (after Factory Junction)
47	Broad Street Bridge, Wolverhampton	24H	W,R,E,P, S,B,T, OSM,V	Rings, Facilities in Broad Street Basin opposite. No access to bridge
48	Wolverhampton Top Lock, north of Broad Street Bridge	24H	W,R,E,P, S,B,T,TP, OSM,V	Bollard moorings, both sides. Facilities in Broad Street Basin, south of Broad Street Bridge
	Birmingham & Fazeley
49	Cuckoo Wharf	14D	W,R,E, B,T, OSM,V	Ring moorings, Facilities behind office block. Limited room, can breast up. Last recommended mooring before Aston and Farmers Bridge flights.