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Hire a canal boat for Mother’s Day
/in News /by Debbie LudfordDay boat hire on Britain’s peaceful network of inland waterways is a great way to enjoy the countryside this spring, and a lovely family day out for Mother’s Day (27 March 2022). Drifters offers day boat hire from 14 boat yards across England and Wales, with prices starting from less than £10 per person. Full […]
Top 9 canalside events in 2022
/in News /by Debbie LudfordBritain’s canals and rivers host hundreds of exciting events each year, bringing people to the waterways and celebrating the things that make them special. These events make great destinations for canal boat holiday-makers, so we’ve put together our top nine events for 2022, along with information on our nearest canal boat hire bases: Easter Boat […]
Top 9 Canal Boat Holidays for 2022
/in News, Uncategorized /by Debbie LudfordFrom rural retreats to vibrant city centres, narrowboat holiday-makers can explore Britain’s beautiful 3,000-mile network of inland waterways. And there’s a choice of hundreds of waterside destinations and historic canalside pubs to visit along the way. Drifters offers over 550 boats for hire from 45 locations across England, Scotland and Wales. 2022 hire prices start […]
We’re opening a new canal boat hire base on the Coventry Canal
/in News /by Debbie LudfordIn 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
/in News /by Debbie LudfordOne 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
/in News /by Debbie LudfordThere 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
/in News /by Debbie LudfordNext 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
/in News /by Debbie LudfordLast 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, […]
Visit the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Afloat
/in News /by Debbie LudfordThe Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will take place 28 July to 8 August 2022. With more canals than Venice, Birmingham is a fantastic city to visit by canal boat, and many of games venues are very close to a canal. These include: Birmingham Arena next to the Birmingham Canal Old Line; Alexander Stadium next to […]
Go canal boating for a haunting Halloween afloat
/in News /by Debbie LudfordWith spooky tunnels, misty towpaths and plenty of ghosts, Britain’s 200-year old canal network provides the perfect backdrop for a haunting Halloween. Drifters’ narrow boat hire prices for boats for up to four people over Halloween start at £560 for a weekend break, £740 for a week. Here’s a guide to our spookiest destinations for […]