Photos: Diliff, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Michael Garlick , Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 DeFacto, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo credits
Photos: Diliff, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Michael Garlick , Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 DeFacto, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Swans and towpaths along the Avon
Your local guide
Emma Whitfield
View profile
Highlights
- Narrowboats moored at the canal basin
- Where the canal meets the river
- A resident group of mute swans
- Willows leaning over the towpath
- The lock gates working close up
About this tour
This is a short nature walk along the Avon towpath, starting at the Bancroft Gardens canal basin and following the river to a quiet bend where swans nest most of the year. The camera stays close to the water throughout, catching the boats, the willows and whatever birdlife is out that morning. It is the calmest of the town's sessions rather than a history lesson.
We check the sound over the noise of the lock gates, then walk the towpath at a relaxed pace with plenty of pauses for the water and the birds. Questions about the canal or the wildlife come up naturally as we go. I close with a short note on the best times of day to see the swans if you plan to walk the towpath yourself another day.
It suits anyone who wants a slower, quieter session away from the theatre crowds. Families with young children who enjoy wildlife tend to like the pace of this one.
Included
- Live video walk with a local guide
- Questions to your guide all the way
- A short list of places to visit later
Not included
- Internet connection
- Travel to the city
Itinerary
-
Welcome and sound check 5 min
The guide joins the video call, checks the picture and sound with you, and gives you a quick sense of Stratford-upon-Avon before heading out.
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Bancroft Gardens basin 21 min
The camera holds on the canal basin where narrowboats moor beside the lock gates, and I explain how the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal joins the river here after eight kilometres from Birmingham.
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Swan-feeding bend 21 min
Further along the towpath a resident group of mute swans usually gathers at a bend in the river, and I point out how the current here is slow enough for them to nest close to the bank in spring.
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Your questions 9 min
Time to ask anything about Stratford-upon-Avon: prices, safety, food, or whatever you are curious about.
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A short list to keep 4 min
Before you go, the guide sums up with a few things worth remembering: a dish to try: Ploughman's lunch and Shottery, worth a slower look.
Good to know
- A stable wifi or mobile connection makes the picture smoother than a shaky one.
- Any phone, tablet or laptop with a camera works. You watch, the guide does the walking.
- Times are shown in London time, so check the time where you are before you book.
- The session is not recorded, and recording it yourself is not allowed. Feel free to take your own notes.
- Ask questions any time, out loud or in the chat. The guide will pause to answer.
- Sessions run in small groups, up to 12 people, so there is room for everyone to ask something.
Questions about this tour
What will the session cover?
The guide walks through Stratford-upon-Avon, showing you Bancroft Gardens basin and Swan-feeding bend live on camera, plus whatever else you would like to see.
What happens if my connection drops?
Rejoin with the same link within a few minutes and the guide will catch you up on anything you missed.
Can I ask the guide questions during the session, or is it a fixed script?
Anything, any time. Sessions leave room for your own questions throughout, not just at the end.
How it works
- You get one join link after booking.
- Join from any device: phone, tablet or laptop.
- We connect on a video call and I walk the towpath with the phone held low, level with the water.
Times shown in London time (GMT)
Cancellation
Flexible
- Cancel up to 24 hours before the start: full refund.
- Cancel less than 24 hours before the start, or no-show: no refund.
- If the guide cancels or the date does not reach its minimum group: full refund.
- Cancel in My Account → Bookings; the refund is calculated from the start time in the tour's local time.
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Next: Sat 7 Nov · 12 seats left From 19,00 €
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