Short Break Cruises from Autherley Junction

Find Your Holiday

Short Break Cruises

Shropshire Union Canal
2 locks
All of the locks are single on this canal, which makes life easier. A suggested route would be as follows:
Friday
After handover instruction's, the suggested route is to cruise at your leisure through unspoilt countryside. The first lock is at Wheaton Aston, which is about three hours from Autherley. Overnight moorings are available after the water point. The village has a shop and a pub.
Saturday
Continue on for about six hours of lock free cruising to the Wharf Tavern at Goldstone Bridge. The boat can be turned at this point or continue on to Market Drayton, which is another hour on the journey.
Sunday
Return towards Autherley, mooring at Brewood for the night
Monday
Return your boat before 9.00am.
Pearsons Welsh Waters Guide

Pearson's Canal Companion Guidebook

Updated for 2020. This extended 10th edition of Michael Pearson's Welsh Waters Canal Companion focusses on the Llangollen, Montgomery and Monmouthshire & Brecon canals in Wales, and the Shropshire Union Canal in England. Over 200 miles of canals expertly interpreted to inspire you, on foot, afloat or by bicycle.

Buy this guide on Amazon.

More information from Canal & River Trust
Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal South
28 locks
From Autherley you are ideally placed to explore the Southern Section of the Staffs & Worcs Canal
Friday
Pick up boat at 2.30pm. After handover instructions, turn right out of Autherley Heading south, after two hours or so you will be at Wightwick Bridge 56, which is close to the Mermaid pub for the night.
Saturday
Continue on towards The Bratch staircase of three locks dropping the boat down 30ft to the next level. There are shops and pubs in the next town Wombourne. Continue on through the picturesque Staffordshire countryside until you reach Kinver. This will be a good place to turn the boat around and moor overnight. A short walk from the canal are Kinver Edge Rock houses.
Sunday
Make your way back towards Autherley and maybe moor overnight at Compton.
Monday
Return your boat before 9.00am.
Pearsons Stourport & BCN Guide

Pearson's Canal Companion Guidebook

Coverage within this Canal Companion include: River Severn (Worcester-Stourport); Staffs & Worcs Canal (Stourport to Great Haywood); BCN Main Line (Aldersley to Birmingham); Worcs & Birmingham Canal (Birmingham to Worcester); Birmingham & Fazeley Canal (Birmingham-Fazeley); Coventry Canal (Fazeley-Fradley); Trent and Mersey Canal (Fradley-Great Haywood); Stourbridge & Dudley Canals (Stourton-Netherton); BCN Northern Waters (Wolverhampton-Walsall-Brownhills).

Buy this guide on Amazon.

More information from Canal & River Trust
Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal North
24 locks
From Autherley you are ideally placed to explore the Northen Section of the Staffs & Worcs Canal
Friday
Pick up boat at 2.30pm. After handover instructions turn left out of Autherley, this section of the Staffs & Worcs Canal forms part of the four counties ring. It meanders gently through pleasant countryside until the busy market town of Penkridge is reached. This is a good stop over point, with plenty of shops & pubs.
Saturday
continue on north past the outskirts of Stafford and on to Tixall Wide, a large artificial lake, quite unique to the canal system. This will be a good turning point.
Sunday
Make your way back towards Autherley, stopping at the Fox & Anchor pub in Cross Green
Monday
Return your boat before 9.00am.
Pearsons Stourport & BCN Guide

Pearson's Canal Companion Guidebook

Coverage within this Canal Companion include: River Severn (Worcester-Stourport); Staffs & Worcs Canal (Stourport to Great Haywood); BCN Main Line (Aldersley to Birmingham); Worcs & Birmingham Canal (Birmingham to Worcester); Birmingham & Fazeley Canal (Birmingham-Fazeley); Coventry Canal (Fazeley-Fradley); Trent and Mersey Canal (Fradley-Great Haywood); Stourbridge & Dudley Canals (Stourton-Netherton); BCN Northern Waters (Wolverhampton-Walsall-Brownhills).

Buy this guide on Amazon.

More information from Canal & River Trust

Why not plan your route in minute detail using canalplan.org.uk?

If you like technology then there is now a great canal map APP available for phones and tablets.
Why not download it and try it out? See https://opencanalmap.uk/