Investigating Winter Moorings - Kinver

I was asked by new online boating magazine, "The Floater", to investigate winter moorings. So I decided to use it as a walk - starting at the Stewponey Lock near Kinver.

Some boats don't have a home mooring, but cruise round the canals all year. If they want to stay in one place, they have to apply (and pay) for a winter mooring. They can then stay for November to the end of February

On this mooring, above the lock, there were no over-winterers - these boats were just temporary visitors

Below the lock, I was excited to see a moored boat. But it outside the designated area - and its owner said he was off to Birmingham in his boat soon.

This boat was the only one here taking advantage of the Winter Mooring Scheme (it had a licence in the window with a big W on it)

I walked on to Dunsley Tunnel

At least I was out of the wind here!

The tunnel goes through red sandstone.

Amazingly, for late November, the grass is still growing: it's still really green. And neither Hurricane Abigail, nor Storm Barney have blown off all the leaves.

Hyde Lock, one of the most picturesque sites on the Staffs and Worcs canal. There are no winter moorings here - it's too popular with year round residential boats.

Under Kinver bridge I looked towards the next set of designated Winter Moorings.

A lovely venue, but no sign of boats

The sign, with a complete absence of boats.

Looking towards Hyde Lock on my way back to the start.

Next, I went to Greensforge, near the Navigation Pub, where there are also Winter Moorings. No boats to be seen.
And four days later, I walked at Stourport. No-one using the winter moorings there either.

So it would seem that boaters are not really interested in the new Winter Mooring Scheme. Of five sites visited, there was only one boat taking advantage of it. Either the sites are in the wrong place, or travelling boaters don't want to stay put, or most likely of all in my opinion - it's just too expensive. It costs between £520 and £800 for the period for these moorings, which have no onsite services such as electricity, water or waste disposal.   If you want to learn more, the December issue of the Floater will be looking at what could be a widespread boycott of winter mooring sites across the country

Lack of winter-moored boats aside, this is a good walk. I walked from the Stewponey along the Staffs and Worcs Canal to just past Kinver Bottom Lock, returning by the same route. It was a good walk of around 4 miles in lovely countryside.

Want to see more walks? Mobile users can click here for a list of recent walks  (which are visible top right for computer users)