westwd

Seconded, Pershore is much nicer and worth stopping.

Worth it though.

I'd look for the Crabmill Inn at Preston Bagot as an option. My preference is to drop onto the River and moor opposite the RSC rather than stay in Bancroft basin.

Looks like that's the second bottle speaking....

The most tedious bit of the Avon ring by some margin though. Particularly when the rest is so delightful.

Ring every time, Avon ring is pleasant but there's a good few locks. For those who think rings are the devil's idea, just head down to Tewkesbury and turn around. That way you get two bites at Stratford and don't have to do the Severn between Tewkesbury and Worcester (which is indescribably tedious).

Anglo Welsh have semi-trad sterns with central heating and wood burning stoves (need to clean them and return in the same state as hired though).

September is a good choice. Most hire boats aren't suited to winter cruising though.

I don't disagree but I'm still not convinced that "avoid like the plague" is necessarily sound planning advice. Cheshire ring, Avon ring, Warwickshire ring, Leicester ring all done in the last 4 summer holidays with no tangible detriment to cruising enjoyment.

Transparent A4 plastic document folder for your Nicholsons guidebook. Easier than a map case to open and turn pages. It's left to the reader to work out the need for a "Nicholsons" (other guides are available to suit) and keeping it dry. (Ans - to find the nearest pub when it's hoofing down).

In terms of when to cruise, we only ever cruise during school holidays. No need to avoid them. The canal towpaths are not lined with raggamuffins intent on making off with your brightwork, nor are the canals filled with families cruising. The canals are pretty empty in the holidays perhaps because all the childless boaters give them a miss, maybe austerity has hit, who knows. I've only found two queues in the last 5 years of boating. (each delayed by about 30mins) in the summer holidays and not had a problem mooring. School holiday boating is not a problem.

Line of small buoys across the arm now. I wondered why, now I know.

Wide brimmed hat and a strip of old towel (or a Shemagh) to stop any drips going down your neck.

"Travelling Man" - now available on DVD