Dudley Borough

Within the Black Country, Dudley's 16 miles of navigable canals provides a stunning green corridor through a mainly urban landscape, with an amazing variety of visitor attractions either next to or a short distance from one of our three main canals.

Moor up outside the Red House Glass Cone, Wordsley, reaching 100ft high and one of only four left in the UK, which can be found alongside the Stourbridge Canal's flight of sixteen locks. Take an audio guided tour inside the cone, watch glass making demonstrations, wander around the craft studios and gift shop and enjoy refreshments at the on-site cafe.

Whilst exploring the specialist shops and studios in the Stourbridge Glass Quarter, take time to visit Broadfield House Glass Museum, Kingswinford which contains an internationally important collection of British Glass from the 17th Century to the present day.

The recently installed mooring facilities at The Waterfront, Brierley Hill is an ideal place to rest and relax before venturing out amongst the local bars and restaurants or undertaking some retail therapy at the nearby Merry Hill Shopping Centre. The Festival of Water and Light every October boasts a spectacular firework display, grand finale cavalcade of decorated boats, street entertainment and live music.

Known locally as the Nine Locks - although mysteriously there are only 8 - the impressive Delph Locks marks the division of the Stourbridge and Dudley No. 1 canals. Reward your trip through the locks by stopping at a canal side pub and enjoy a pint of locally brewed real ale.

Dudley Tunnel on the Dudley No 1 canal provides a unique experience where boats are legged through by manpower alone. The Tunnel passes the town centre and the famous Dudley Castle. The 2-mile long tunnel is navigable, but size restrictions and a one-way system apply.

If you haven't got your own boat, Dudley Canal Trust offers an exciting skipper-guided boat trip into underground limestone mines of Castle Hill. The Black Country Living Museum, located next to Dudley Canal Trust and the Singing Caverns is definitely worth visiting to explore the history of the Black Country.

At the top of Castle Hill in Dudley town centre you will find Dudley Zoological Gardens. Dating from 1071 the Castle within the grounds of the Zoo was used as living accommodation by the Earls of Dudley until 1750 when it was gutted by a huge fire. Nowadays, it is in used for events like 'Rock the Castle' and 'Ghost Walks' where you may bump into one of the infamous characters that are reputed to haunt the site! Dudley Zoo was founded in 1937 by the Earls of Dudley and is now home to many endangered animal species.

While moored along the Dudley No. 1 canal, visit Wren's Nest National Nature Reserve, a site of international importance for its geology. Fossils over 420 million years old can be found in the Nature Reserve telling the story of when Dudley was once covered by coral reefs and tropical seas. See if you can find our famous Dudley Bug.

Dudley No. 2. canal passes through Blackbrook Valley which contains Saltwells Nature Reserve. Come and take a charming walk around this nature conservation area. Lady Dudley planted Saltwells Wood in the 18th century to hide the scars of coal mining. Within the wood is Doulton's Claypit , a site of special scientific interest with spectacular cliffs showing a section through the rocks of the Middle and Lower Coal Measures. The claypit has been reclaimed by nature and now has unusual plants including hundreds of Common Spotted and Southern Marsh Orchids as well as carpets of Bluebells.

Buckpool and Fens Pools Nature Reserve also supports a diverse wildlife - Kingfishers, flowering Rush and Arrowhead are plentiful in the Stourbridge Canal which runs alongside, linking Buckpool to the Staffordshire countryside and the Fens Pools. Dudley has plenty of countryside to offer the visitor on foot!

Towards Halesowen, Dudley No. 2 ends at Hawne Basin, near The Leasowes, 57 hectares of woodland, grassland, streams and lakes designed and laid out by the poet William Shenstone between 1743 and 1763. The Lapal Canal Tunnel, opened in 1798, connected the Dudley No. 2 with the Birmingham & Worcester, however due to a major roof fall, closed in 1917.

Visitor Attractions along or near the Dudley No. 1 Canal

• Black Country Living Museum
• Dudley Canal Trust
• Wrens Nest National Nature Reserve
• Dudley Zoo and Castle
• Walk into Dudley Town Centre
• Dudley Museum & Art Gallery
• Dudley Concert Hall
• The Waterfront, Brierley Hill and a visit to Merry Hill Shopping Centre

Attractions along or near the Stourbridge Canal

• Delph Locks and stop off at one of the public houses for lunch
• Take a walk along the canal and see Stourbridge Sixteen Locks
• Glass Quarter, Red House Glass Cone, Stuart Crystal factory shop and Broadfield House Glass Museum
• Stourbridge Town Centre

Attractions along or near the Dudley No. 2 Canal

• Blackbrook Valley and Saltwells Nature Reserve
• Bumble Hole
• The Leasowes
• Halesowen Abbey (ruins)
• Halesowen Town Centre

The Visitor Information Centre in Dudley Town Centre will be able to provide you with a vast array of information about Dudley and the Black Country.

For additional information about other canals within the Black Country, nearby attractions or events on the Black Country Canals, visit the www.blackcountrytourism.co.uk Black Country Tourism website.

Dudley Borough has plenty to offer visitors, whether it's a short trip or longer stay, so come and discover the hidden treasures of Dudley's waterways for yourself.

Services offered:

• Restaurant
• Cafe
• Cottages & hotels
• Boat trips

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