Bank holiday rural retreats on a canal boat
Britain’s canals take boaters through some of our best loved countryside
You can enjoy the choice of hundreds of bank holiday rural retreats on a canal boat with Drifters.
There are so many places to moor up your canal boat in quiet backwaters. And the chance to visit historic country pubs and farm shops along the way.
Here’s a list of our top 6 bank holiday boating rural retreats:
1. Cruise through the Staffordshire countryside to Shebdon
From our canal boat hire base at Brewood on the Shropshire Union Canal in Staffordshire, it takes just over five hours to reach the small village of Shebdon, surrounded by beautiful countryside. The journey takes you through 13 miles of scenic countryside and woodland. Then passes through a series of small villages and hamlets with historic pubs. These include Wheaton Aston with its Hartley Inn; Gnosall with its Boat Inn; and the Junction Inn at Norbury Wharf. Canal features encountered along the way include Stretton Aqueduct, a lock at Wheaton Aston, Cowley Tunnel, Shelmore Embankment and Grub Street Cutting. The journey there and back takes around 11 hours.
2. Boat through the Warwickshire countryside to Napton
From our base at Stockton on the Grand Union Canal it’s a two-hour cruise through the countryside to Napton. Here a herd of water buffalo can often be seen grazing. In 1999, the Buffalo Farm at Chapel Green started milking 20 water buffalo, and now the herd is 300 strong. Napton Village Stores sells the farm’s Buffalo burgers, sausages, meatballs, steaks and ice cream. They also sell veg boxes, homemade meals, cider and homemade cakes.
3. Navigate through the Staffordshire countryside to Fradley
Our base at Great Haywood offers a great bank holiday rural retreat in the Staffordshire countryside. On a weekend break, you can cruise along the Trent & Mersey Canal to Fradley Junction and back. Along the way, you’ll pass through the Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Before setting off, the Canalside Farm Shop at Great Haywood is perfect for stocking up on local food. The shop sells a variety of produce sourced from local farms, including homemade sausages, fruit, vegetables, free range eggs and baked products. The journey to Fradley and back travels 25 miles, through 10 locks (five each way) and takes around 12 hours.
4. Cruise through the Brecon Beacons to Llangynidr
The beautiful Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal runs through the Brecon Beacons National Park. The waterway offers the chance to escape to the country and experience incredible mountain views. On a weekend’s break from Goytre Wharf near Abergavenny, you can cruise lock-free to Llangynidr and back. The route goes through a series of small villages with historic pubs, including the Lion Inn at Govilon.
5. Travel slowly through the Leicestershire countryside to Stoke Golding
From Springwood Haven, it takes around six hours to cruise to the historic village of Stoke Golding. This bank holiday rural retreat on a canal boat takes you through the Leicestershire countryside along the Ashby Canal. There are no locks along the way. Stoke Golding has one of the most beautiful churches in England and a choice of pubs, including the White Swan. Before setting off, you can stock up on local produce at the Poplars Farm shop and café near Nuneaton. The shop sells fruit, vegetables, honey, local cheese, eggs, poultry and jams.
6. Potter through the Shropshire countryside to Chirk
On a weekend break from Blackwater Meadow on the Llangollen Caanl you can cruise through the Shropshire countryside to Chirk and back. The journey there and back takes around 11 hours and there are only two locks to go through each way. You’ll travel across the stunning Chirk Aqueduct, crossing the border from England to Wales. Then on through Chirk Tunnel to Chirk Marina, where you can moor up to visit the National Trust’s Chirk Castle. There’s a café at the castle, and choice of canalside pubs, including The Bridge at Chirk Bank.
