Alvechurch - now where have I heard that before?

Sunday, 21 February 2010 19:21

But first to continue our journey from Kings Norton Junction

Leaving the Junction behind

Ahead of us was Wast Hill Tunnel - now, you may remember I am not a "tunnel person" and Wast Hill (or Kings Norton Tunnel) at 2726 yards, is a long one! A tree lined cut leads to this imposing tunnel.

Wast Hill Tunnel

Not only was it high roofed, it was very wet and after a few minutes I was feeling my claustrophobic tunnel syndrome and retreated below to sit in the bows, under the cratch cover and in the dry!

We even passed another boat in the tunnel - a first for us on Epiphany! He hung back at what we think is a wider part of the tunnel and we passed without incident.

Approaching boat

I took a few calming breaths as I took this shot leaving the tunnel

Suddenly we were right out in the countryside - bliss. It was real countryside - rolling hills and vast fields and not a skyscraper in sight! The snow made it all look rather pretty.

Looking back to Bridge 68 and surrounded by fields

Hopwood moorings looked inviting - the "14D" ones before the official visitor moorings (48H) looked inviting and we made a mental note to return. Left to right below, 14D, 48H and under the bridge more moorings by Hopwood House pub.

Lower Bittell Reservoir was next, with its long term moorings The cottage stands between the canal feeder to Upper Bittell Reservoir and the overflow weir into Lower Bittell Reservoir.

Cottage and feeder

The reservoir looked quite low and these two photos give an idea of its seeming isolation

I remember this aqueduct over the road to Barnt Green and the painted barrels are still there!

Crown Meadow Arm is not for navigation. It was formed when the canal was re-aligned for the M42 and is now a nature reserve. The notices make a big show of pointing boaters around the bend away from the Arm.

Crown Meadow Arm off to the left

We were now approaching Alvechurch - see I got to it eventually! The canal curves around the large village, which is in an hollow to the east. First is Withybed Green and The Crown Inn beside Bridge 61. The official Alvechurch visitor moorings(48H) are on a bend here, opposite the private moorings on the off side.

Withybed Green and the beginning of the VMs

The long term moorings continue on both sides after the bridge but at the next bridge the name of Alvechurch is really put on the "boating map". Is this where ABC started? No, not the alphabet, but Alvechurch Boat Centres, now one of the largest hire fleets in the UK. ABC have been a bit of a "sweeper upper" of other troubled hire fleets - Viking, Canal Time, Wessex and Red Lion Boats to name but a few!

Rather usefully, there is a 48H mooring opposite the wharf at Alvechurch Marina - and here we stopped. Our thinking was that if we were unable to move, at least water and diesel would be in reach!

Epiphany moored at Alvechurch

We actually stayed two nights here as we took a trip into the suburbs of Birmingham to see my brother and his wife for a pub lunch and a walk around Cannon Hill Park. It is half an hour on the 146 bus from the village centre, a 20 minute walk away. The bus goes right into the centre of Birmingham too.

Kings Norton Junction to Alvechurch Bridge 60

2 hours six minutes, 5.59 miles, 0 locks