Entries by Debbie Ludford

We’re opening a new canal boat hire base on the Coventry Canal

In March 2022, Drifters will open a new narrow boat hire base at Springwood Haven Marina on the Coventry Canal at Nuneaton. Haley Hadley, marketing & sales director for Drifters’ operator ABC Boat Hire, explains: “Along with many other domestic holiday options, we’ve seen an increase in popularity of our holidays over the last two […]

Top 10 places to spot wildlife on a canal boat holiday

One of the things that make our canals and rivers so special, is the wildlife that lives in and beside them. You can spot anything from ducks, moorhens and dragonflies, to kingfishers, otters and water voles. Even in the heart of our towns and cities, you can get close to nature on a canal or […]

Drifters’ Top 12 New Narrowboats for 2022

There are over 35,000 boats on Britain’s 3,000 mile canal network, and around 1,000 of these are holiday hire narrowboats. Today’s narrowboats for hire are fully equipped with all the essential mod cons, including central heating, hot water, televisions, DVD players, fully-equipped kitchens, showers and flushing toilets.  And some offer extras like wider beds, drinks […]

Celebrate 20 years since Anderton Boat Lift reopened

Next year, the Anderton Boat Lift in Cheshire will celebrate 20 years since the completion of its restoration in 2002. Nicknamed ‘The Cathedral of the Canals’, and listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the Waterways, Anderton lifts barges 50 feet from the River Weaver Navigation to the Trent & Mersey Canal. Boat lifts […]

Exploring the Grand Union Canal in Warwickshire

Last month, Elaine Wilson of Eccentric England enjoyed a weekend away on the Grand Union Canal. Travelling with her friend Julie, she set off from our Stockton base, and travelled to Napton and Braunston.  She talks about the people they met, the places they ate and the features aboard their boat. To read Elaine’s review, […]

Spend Christmas or New Year on a narrow boat

Drifters offers winter cruising over Christmas and New Year from nine of its narrow boat hire bases. All our boats have central heating and hot water, and some of our boats also come with multi-fuel stoves. Some routes will be affected at times by the Canal & River Trust’s winter maintenance programme, but the following […]

Scottish Moments, 30 June 2021

‘About renting a canal boat in England and Scotland’ https://www.scottishmoments.com/om-att-hyra-kanalbat-i-england-och-skottland/

Lifestyle North East, November 2021

‘Canal Boat Staycation’ by Elaine Wilson http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/Launch.aspx?EID=48d22dfd-e756-4801-994c-78c49d6fda01

Selling Travel Magazine, September 2021

‘It’s a family affair’ https://www.sellingtravel.co.uk/multi-generational-uk https://issuu.com/bmipublishingltd/docs/stm-sept-oct-2021/8?fr=sMmE2NDQxNjM3NDY