Hyde to Kidderminster

Thu 30th Aug  Hyde to Kidderminster

It was misty this morning in this beautiful valley, with golden skies at dawn.

Early morning at Hyde

The first lock was Hyde Lock and then we passing through Kinver. It is a fascinating village, with houses cut into the rock, but this time we didn’t stop, negotiating the lock with its horse tunnel under the road, next to the Vine pub.

 Hyde Lock

Kinver Lock and horse tunnel

The Vine

Next on the list was Whittington Lock, by an attractive lock cottage. There are more red rocks after this, and the scenic Clay House Bridge.

Whittington Lock

Clay House Bridge

Red rocks

Nordic Walkers

We went underneath some houses at the very short Cookley Tunnel, and then we were at Debdale Lock, with its mysterious cave alongside.  After this there is a long hairpin bend with sheer red rocks on one side, where thankfully we didn’t meet a boat coming the other way.

Cookley Tunnel

Debdale Lock

The cave

Red cliffs

Going round the bend Click here for video.

We had planned to use the time lapse camera on this section, and it worked. However, every time James tried to convert the photos to a video, the laptop crashed, so there is nothing to see yet.

The camera

We arrived in Kidderminster, where we moored outside Sainsbury’s.

6 locks, 7 miles

Fri 31st Aug  Kidderminster – Severn Valley Railway

Today we walked up the hill to the railway station, and had a day playing with steam trains. We went first to Bridgnorth to wander around looking at the lean to castle, the cliff railway, and the shops. Then a train back to Highley, where there is an engine museum. Then a third train back to Kidderminster, where we had a meal at Pizza Hut. The weather was lovely – pleasant sunshine but not too hot. Here are some photos:

On the train

A mill we passed

They still have telegraph poles here

Bridgnorth Castle

The Severn Crossing

Cliff Railway

Taw Valley steam engine

The engine museum

A train passing our viewpoint from the cafe. Video here

Highley Station

Train arriving

Shunting at Kidderminster

The booking hall

Hugo was pleased to see us when we got back, and he came in with a mouse as a present. James took it up the path a little way and released it.

No boating today. 1 mouse.

Next: Down the final part of the Staffs and Worcs Canal into Stourport