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Bingley Five Rise Locks celebrate 250th anniversary
/in Leeds & Liverpool Canal, News /by Debbie LudfordThis year, the Bingley Five Rise Locks on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal near Bradford in West Yorkshire will be 250 years old! One of the greatest feats of canal engineering of its day, the Grade I listed Bingley Five Rise Locks opened on 21 March 1774. On that day, 30,000 people turned out to […]
Popular canal boat holiday destinations for overseas visitors
/in News /by Debbie LudfordWe’re proud to welcome many overseas visitors to experience a canal boat holiday on Britain’s historic network of inland waterways. Most of our overseas visitors come from America, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Germany and The Netherlands. Our overseas visitors often want to visit some of Britain’s best-known historic towns and cities by canal […]
Everything Americans need to know about canal boat vacations in Britain
/in News /by Debbie LudfordHere at Drifters we’re delighted to welcome aboard our canal boats many customers from the United States wanting to explore historic Britain. To answer frequently asked questions, we’ve put together a guide to everything our American visitors need to know about our canal boat vacations and trips. What’s so appealing about a canal boat vacation […]
Drifters Top 11 New Narrowboats for Hire in 2024
/in News /by Debbie LudfordEvery year we add dozens of new narrowboat to our fleet. There are two main types of narrowboat available: cruiser stern boats have an open back deck with room for a number of people to stand; and semi-traditional boat have a smaller deck/steering area with a seating area that can be enclosed with doors. Here’s […]
Best days out boating on the canals this spring
/in News /by Debbie LudfordDrifters offers day boat hire from 20 locations in England and Wales. With prices starting from just £10 per person, it’s a great way to get the family together for a memorable day out cruising through the countryside this spring. Boats range in size and can accommodate between eight and 12 people. Full tuition is […]
Top 9 canalside events to visit on a canal boat holiday
/in News /by DriftersBritain’s canals and rivers host hundreds of exciting events each year, bringing people to the waterways and celebrating the things that make them special. Here’s our pick of the best canalside events to head to on a canal boat holiday in 2024: 1. Easter Boat Gathering, Friday 29 March to 1 April The annual Easter […]
6 longest tunnels to navigate on a canal boat holiday
/in News /by Debbie LudfordThere are well over 50 tunnels on the canal network, ranging in length from 25 yards (23 metres) to over three miles (5,210 metres). The construction of tunnels was one of the most difficult tasks faced by the early canal engineers, and the dangerous and difficult work led to the death of many navvies, including […]
Best canal boat holidays for beginners
/in News /by DriftersWith Britain’s inland waterways in better shape than ever and providing havens for wildlife, narrowboat holidays are becoming increasingly popular. You don’t need a licence to steer a canal boat and all our operators provide tuition as part of their canal boat holiday hire. Today’s narrowboats are fully equipped with essential home comforts, including central […]
Canal boat holiday ‘bucket list’ guide
/in boating, boating holidays, canal boat holidays, canal holidays Scotland, Kennet and Avon Canal, News /by DriftersThe ‘Seven Wonders of the Waterways’ was compiled by Robert Aickman, co-founder of the Inland Waterways Association, and published in his book ‘Know Your Waterways’ over 70 years ago. Here at Drifters, we’ve added the Falkirk Wheel in Scotland (which opened in 2002) to make the perfect Canal Boat Holiday ‘Bucket List’ guide for 2024: […]
Top 8 Easter canal boat holidays
/in News /by DriftersCanal 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. Drifters’ prices this Easter start at £710 for a short break […]