A canal boat holiday is a great way to enjoy the splendid colours of autumn in the hedgerows and trees that line our waterways. These colours are dramatically mirrored in the water and there’s plenty of wildlife to spot along the way, including the arrival of flocks of birds in search of berries. There are […]
Day boat hire on the canals offers the chance to treat Dads with a fun day out on the water, nourished by a pint and a pub lunch along the way. We now offer day boat hire at 18 of our bases. Full tuition is included so if you are new canal boating, we’ll help you […]
Canal boat holidays are great for families – take off together on a micro-adventure afloat, learning how to work the locks and speak the boating lingo, as well as spotting wildlife, exploring traffic-free towpaths and visiting waterside attractions along the way. It’s easy to learn how to steer a narrowboat and you don’t need a licence. […]
Canal boat holidays are fantastic for families, offering the chance to set off on an adventure together – learning how to work the locks and speak the boating lingo, as well as spotting wildlife, exploring traffic-free towpaths and visiting waterside attractions along the way. Here are our top six destinations for Easter 2017: Visit […]
VisitEngland has declared 2017 as the “Year of Literary Heroes” – recognising the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen’s death, 20 years since the first Harry Potter book, and other publishing phenomena that have helped put England on the map. To celebrate, we’ve put together our Top 5 Literary escapes afloat: Explore Ted Hughes’ Calderdale by […]
Day boat hire on the canals offers the chance to spoil hard-working Mums with a relaxing day afloat, nourished by a picnic afloat or a pub lunch along the way. Drifters offers day boat hire at 16 of its bases, from less than £10 per person. Full tuition is included so if you are new […]
Britain’s 2,000 mile network of navigable inland waterways transports canal boat holiday-makers through rural idylls with wooded glades, sweeping farmland and sleepy villages to exciting towns and cities with world-class waterside attractions. Here’s a list of our Top 8 waterside destinations for 2017: 1. Warwick Castle – said to be Britain’s greatest medieval experience, the […]
A is for Anderton Boat Lift – also known as the ‘Cathedral of the Canals’, this fascinating example of Victorian engineering provides a 15-metre vertical link between the Trent & Mersey Canal and River Weaver Navigation. B is for Bingley Five-Rise Locks – completed in 1774, this spectacular staircase of locks on the Leeds & […]
Each year, around one fifth of canal boat hirers are newcomers. A licence isn’t required to steer a narrowboat and all our operators provide boat steering tuition as part of their holiday packages. Here’s a list of our top eight canal boat holidays for beginners: 1. Discover the Breacon Beacons afloat – the beautiful Mon […]
Cruising gently through quiet countryside and stopping off at rural local pubs along the way, a holiday on Britain’s peaceful canal network can offer a great antidote to the hustle and bustle of Christmas. We offer winter breaks* from a number of our bases, giving you the chance to enjoy snug evenings afloat, visit waterside pubs […]
