Kidderminster

When you think about living on a narrowboat, you don't think about mooring outside Sainsburys in Kidderminster as something you really want to do. When you actually live on a narrowboat, this kind of proximity to a large shop is something to be celebrated.

The Staffs and Worcester at Kidderminster runs alongside Crossley retail park. Over the road is Weavers Wharf retail park which flows into the city centre. It's incredibly handy and we brought several trolley loads right up to Rainboat, loading supplies from Sainsburys and Pets at Home in through the side hatch.

If you take the time to look, Kidderminster has some beautiful buildings. Two churches can be seen from the canal, as well as a the tall brick chimney and multistorey Slingfield Mill building; once a carpet mill, now a Premier Inn.

Despite the large chain stores dominating the periphery, the town has maintained a thriving centre. It is a great advantage that all areas are within easy walking distance.

A short way back along the towpath lies Stourvale Nature Reserve. Formerly a large industrial estate, the land now has ponds, wetlands, meadows and woodland. The River Stour runs through it and on several days we saw kids swimming.

After taking the dogs on a long walk, we left them on Rainboat and set out to explore the town. Cutting through the market stalls we had a simple, cheap and tasty lunch at The Swan; an old pub opposite the Town Hall which is currently behind hoarding and undergoing major refurbishment.

Another gem to be found in Kidderminster is the Severn Valley Railway. We were taken back in time for a couple of hours on our return journey to Highley. The heritage line runs all the way to Bridgnorth, 16 miles away, but it would have been to long to leave Leo and Tiger. We picked up our pink card tickets at the booking office and looked around the station while we waited. The love and care that goes in to preserving the past here shines through. A stationary carriage has interactive displays to teach us about its former life. One of these is an old whiskey barrel with feely and sniffy holes. Vicky recoiled when she inhaled one, reading a second too late that it was animal poo, to represent the livestock transported. Sticking her hand inside another she felt a large rock. Withdrawing, she saw her fingers smeared with black dust- coal!

We rode in a Harry Potteresque carriage on the way out and in the buffet car on the return. The route followed the Severn, passing fields of red poppies, sheep grazing the hillside and even West Midlands Safari Park! It must be the only railway in the UK with views of rhinoceroses!Read more