Best narrowboat holidays for wildlife spotting
Britain’s canals and rivers provide homes for many birds, animals, fish and insects
Cruising gently through the countryside on a narrowboat, you can enjoy spotting water birds, dragonflies, kingfishers and bats. Even in city centres, Britain’s network of inland waterways provide safe havens for a wide variety of plants and animals.
We’ve published a guide to the best narrowboat holidays for wildlife spotting.
1. Spot Kingfishers on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal, South Wales
Isolated from the main canal network, this beautiful waterway meanders peacefully for 36 miles through the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park. The Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal in Wales provides excellent habitat for many woodland and water birds, including kingfishers. Usually glimpsed as a sudden flash of glistening blue, the ‘King of Fishers’ travels at lightning speeds catching several fish each day.
We have a narrowboat hire base on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal at Gotyre Wharf.
2. Watch out for Bats on the Caldon Canal, Derbyshire
The 17-mile long Caldon Canal in Staffordshire has stunning wooded sections, providing rich habitat for bats. There are 18 different kinds of bat in Britain, including Daubenton’s bats, also known as the ‘water bat’. They use the canal and river network extensively for foraging. Bats can frequently be found roosting in hollowed out tree trunks and in canal bridges and aqueducts. The Canal & River Trust has published a guide on how to spot bats.
We have a canal boat hire base at Stoke on Trent, where the Caldon Canal meets the Trent & Mersey Canal.
3. Count Dragonflies on the Ashby Canal, Leicestershire
A 6-mile section of the Ashby Canal is designated a Special Site of Scientific Interest (SSSI). This recognises the diversity of the canal’s plant, insect and animal life, including 9 species of dragonfly. These colourful insects, whose origins began 300 million years ago, are voracious hunters. They use the reed fringes of our canals and rivers as breeding and hunting grounds.
You can reach the Ashby Canal on a week-long canal boat holiday from our bases at Springwood Haven, Braunston, Napton and Stockton.
4. Look out for Otters on the Montgomery Canal, Shropshire
This beautiful canal runs for 38 miles between England and Wales. It’s designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on both sides of the border. And the entire length in Wales is also recognised as a Special Area of Conservation, making it one of the most important sites for wildlife in Europe. Thanks to the work of conservationists, otters populations are showing healthy signs of growth after their sad decline in the 1950’s. Lakes, rivers and coastal areas are the otters’ natural habitats. But these timid nocturnal creatures can also be seen hunting on quiet stretches of the canals.
You can reach the Montgomery Canal on a short break or week away from our narrowboat rental bases at Blackwater Meadow, Chirk, Trevor. Whitchurch and Whixall.
5. Listen for Reed Bunting on the Droitwich Canals, Worcestershire
Many birds live and nest amongst the reeds that line some canals, including the chirruping reed bunting. Look out for them perched high on reed tops singing at the top of their voices. One of the best places to see these lively little birds are the Droitwich Canals in Worcestershire. These canals offer a linear mosaic of habitats, including substantial reedbeds. Reed buntings are sparrow-sized but slim with long, deeply notched tails. The male has a black head with a white collar in the summer. The black head becomes a dull brown in the winter. Females have a brown head, buff throat and buff-coloured lines above and below their eyes.
You can cruise the Droitwich Canals on a short break or week away from our Stoke Prior and Worcester bases.
6. Keep an eye out for Water Voles on the Oxford Canal, Oxfordshire
The endangered water vole is a special sight on our canals and rivers. Thanks to conservation efforts by the Canal & River Trust and the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust, water voles have been spotted along the Oxford Canal. Often mistaken for rats, water voles have distinguishing features, including shorter tails, a more rounded face and small ears, mostly hidden by fur. The Canal & River Trust offers tips on how to spot a water vole.
Drifters has bases on the Oxford Canal at Lower Heyford and Napton.
