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Chirk Castle close to the Llangollen Canal in Wales

Castles to visit on a narrowboat holiday

August 4, 2025/in News/by Debbie Ludford

There are many castles close to canals and rivers in England and Wales

From prison cells and dungeon tours, to ramparts and banqueting halls, there are some great castles to visit on a narrowboat holiday.

1. Explore the 18th century prison cells at Oxford Castle & Prison

Cruising from our base at Lower Heyford on the Oxford Canal, it’s a tranquil 8-hour cruise to moorings at Hythe Bridge, close to Oxford Castle. The journey to Oxford and back travels 29 miles and passes through 20 locks (10 each way). Oxford Castle was founded by the Norman baron Robert D’Oilly the elder in 1071, but most of the fortress was destroyed in the English Civil War. By the 18th century, the remaining buildings had become Oxford’s local prison. Today, as well as exploring the castle’s tower, crypt and mound, you can take a guided tour of the old prison.

2. See the Changing of the Guard at Windsor Castle

You can visit Windsor Castle on a narrowboat holiday departing from Aldermaston on the Kennet & Avon Canal in Berkshire. It takes 2 days to reach Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. The journey travels 39 miles and passes through 22 locks. With 1,000 years of Royal history to discover, including Charles II’s magnificent State Apartments, Windsor Castle is packed with treasures from the Royal Collection. The Changing of the Guard ceremony, which takes place on Thursdays and Saturdays at 11am, is a colour spectacle of British pageantry.

3. Climb the ramparts at Warwick Castle

From Stockton on the Grand Union Canal in Warwickshire, it’s a 7-hour journey, passing through 20 locks, to Warwick Castle on the banks of the River Avon. This is an amazing castle to visit on a narrowboat holiday! Dating back to William the Conqueror, Warwick Castle has ramparts to climb, the spooky Castle Dungeon tour to experience and the Great Hall and Staterooms to explore. You’ll also find the sights, sounds and smells of the medieval period to witness in the Kingmaker exhibition. And there are soaring birds of prey displays to watch, landscaped gardens wonder through and regular special live action performances.

4. Find out about the siege at Skipton Castle

Cruising from Silsden on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in West Yorkshire, it takes around 3.5 hours to reach Skipton Castle. This 900-year old fortress is one of the most complete and best preserved medieval castles in England. And it’s very close to the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, so it’s a great castle to visit on a narrowboat holiday. Skipton Castle withstood a 3-year siege during the English Civil War. Today, visitors can climb from the depths of the Dungeon up to the top of the Watch Tower, and explore the magnificent Banqueting Hall, Kitchen, Bedchamber and Privy in between.

5. Discover murder holes at Chirk Castle

From Chirk on the Llangollen Canal in North Wales, it takes just 40 minutes to cruise to Chirk Bank visitor moorings. From there, it takes around 30 minutes to walk up to Chirk Castle. Owned by the National Trust, Chirk Castle is one of several medieval marcher fortresses built on the Welsh-English border. Started in 1295, Chirk Castle had the most up-to-date defences of the time. These include round ‘drum’ towers that allowed archers a wide firing field, and created a ‘killing zone’ where the fields of fire overlapped. Today, you can explore the Castle’s lavishly furnished rooms and Adam Tower, complete with two-level dungeons, medieval toilets and murder holes. There’s also 480 acres of parkland with walking trails to enjoy, and glorious gardens to stroll through.

October Half Term canal boat holiday city breaks

July 11, 2025/in News/by Debbie Ludford

Britain’s canals weave through the countryside and into some of our best-loved cities.

You can use your canal boat as a base to explore city centre attractions that are perfect for families.

We’ve published a guide to the best October Half Term canal boat holiday city breaks. Prices start at £845 for a short break (three or four nights) on a boat for up to four people.

Oxford

From our base on the Oxford Canal at Lower Heyford, you can cruise to Oxford in around eight hours, passing through 10 locks along the way. There are places to moor up near Isis Lock, a short walk into the city centre. City centre attractions include the Carfax Tower, Oxford Castle, the Bodleian Library and Ashmolean Museum.

Bath

From Bradford on Avon on the Kennet & Avon Canal in Wiltshire, you can cruise to UNESCO World Heritage Bath. The six hour journey to Sydney Gardens on edge of the city centre travels nine miles through the Avon Valley, passing through three locks along the way. You can moor up at Sydney Gardens and take a 15 minute walk into Bath City Centre to visit attractions, including the Roman Baths, Royal Crescent and Theatre Royal.

Birmingham

From Alvechurch on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal near Bromsgrove, it takes just five hours to reach Birmingham city centre moorings in Gas Street Basin. From there, it’s a short walk to Brindleyplace, home of the National Sea Life Centre Birmingham. And other attractions, including Thinktank, Birmingham’s Science Museum, China Town and the Jewellery Quarter. The route cruises 22 miles of canal (11 each way) and there are no locks.

Cambridge

On a short break from Drifters base on the River Ouse at Ely, you can cruise to the world famous historic city of Cambridge and back. There are moorings just below Jesus Green Lock on the River Cam. From there, you can explore Cambridge, including King’s College Chapel and quaint streets filled with antique shops, museums, art galleries, restaurants and tearooms. The journey from Ely to Cambridge and Wicken Fen and back travels 38 miles, passes through six locks (three each way) and takes around 13 hours.

Worcester

This beautiful Cathedral City on the River Severn is connected to the canal network at Diglis Junction. Drifters offers canal boat holidays from Worcester Marina. From there, you can complete the Droitwich Ring on a 4-night break. This 20-mile circuit takes you through Worcester via the River Severn, along the Droitwich Canals and a section of the Worcester & Birmingham Canal. There are 33 locks and it takes around 16 hours.

Edinburgh

On a 7-night break from Falkirk, where the Scottish Lowland canals meet, you can cruise along the Union Canal to Edinburgh Quay and back. The route starts at the site of the Falkirk Wheel, the world’s first rotating boat lift. The journey then takes you through the Falkirk Tunnel, across the magnificent Avon Aqueduct and through the villages of Linlithgow and Ratho. Once in Edinburgh, you can moor up in Edinburgh Quay and walk into the city centre to visit attractions including Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh Castle and Mary King Close.

Best summer days out canal boating

July 10, 2025/in News/by Debbie Ludford

We offer canal boat day hire from 19 locations

Drifters offers day boat hire from 19 places across England and Wales for the best summer days out canal boating.

Full tuition is included, so if you’re new to narrow boating, you can get the hang of steering, mooring up and working the locks.

All our day boats are equipped with cutlery, crockery and a kettle, and most also have a toilet, cooker and fridge. So you can plan a picnic afloat or stop-off for lunch at a canalside pub along the way.

Boats range in size and can accommodate between eight and 12 people. Day boat prices start at £99 on week days, and £150 on weekends and bank holidays.

To help you plan your family day out afloat, we’ve listed our best summer days out canal boating:

1. Navigate through the Staffordshire countryside to Hopwas

From Kings Orchard Marina, on the Coventry Canal near Lichfield, you can cruise through the Staffordshire countryside to Bonehill Bridge and back. The route takes you through the villages Huddlesford, Whittington and Hopwas. At Hopwas there are two pubs to choose from – the Tame Otter and the Red Lion. The journey to Bonehill and back takes 5.5 hours and there are no locks.

2. Glide along the leafy Worcester & Birmingham Canal to Kings Norton

On a day out from Alvechurch Marin near Bromsgrove, you can cruise north through the remains of the Forest of Arden to Kings Norton Junction. There’s a choice of pubs to visit along the way, including the canalside Crown and Weighbridge pubs at Alvechurch. The route is lock-free but there are 3 tunnels to pass through, including Wast Hill Tunnel, which is nearly 2.5km long.

3. Navigate to The Star Inn at Mamhillad in the Brecon Beacons

Heading out for a day afloat from Goytre Wharf, day boaters can travel along the beautiful Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal, enjoying incredible mountain views. It takes around 2.5 hours to cruise to moorings close to the popular Star pub at Mamhillad, a short walk from bridge 62.

4. Cruise along the Grand Union Canal to Napton-on-the-Hill

From our day boat hire centre at Braunston in heart of the canal network, you can cruise to the historic village of Napton-on-the-Hill. The journey, which takes around 3 hours, takes you through the Northamptonshire countryside and into Warwickshire. Once at Napton, you can moor up and walk into the village where there’s a choice of pubs, including the popular Kings Head.

5. Boat along the Shropshire Union Canal to Nantwich

From our canal boat hire base at Bunbury Wharf on the Shropshire Union Canal near Tarporley, you can cruise south for 6 miles to Nantwich. There you can travel across the impressive Grade II* listed Nantwich Aqueduct, enjoying panoramic views across the town. You’ll pass the Barbridge Inn along the way, and there’s a choice of places to eat and drink in Nantwich. The journey to Nantwich takes around 2.5 hours.

6. Cruise through Shakespeare country to Wilmcote

From Wootton Wawen on the Stratford Canal, you can cruise to the pretty village of Wilmcote, home of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust’s Mary Arden Farm. The journey takes 2.5 hours, and crosses over the Edstone Aqueduct with amazing views across the Warwickshire countryside. From moorings at the top of the Wilmcote lock flight, it’s a short walk into Wilmcote and the Mary Arden Inn.

7. Float across ‘The Stream in the Sky’ in North Wales

From Trevor on the Llangollen Canal, day boaters can cruise across the UNESCO World Heritage status Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. Standing at over 38 metres high above the Dee Valley, this incredible structure offers stunning views of the Dee Valley below. After cruising over the Aqueduct, there are two tunnels and another aqueduct to cross, before reaching the Bridge Inn at Chirk. It takes around 2.5 hours to reach Chirk.

8. Boat along the Kennet & Avon Canal to Avoncliff Aqueduct

From Hilperton Marina, near Trowbridge in Wiltshire, you can head west to the picturesque town of Bradford on Avon. You pass through one lock and then on to the impressive Bath stone Avoncliff Aqueduct. The No.10 Cafe is next to the Aqueduct. The journey to Avoncliff takes around 3 hours.

9. Cruise the Peak Forest Canal to Marple Junction

From New Mills Marina on the Peak Forest Canal in Derbyshire, you can cruise to Marple Junction and back. You’ll enjoy fantastic views of the rolling countryside along the way. At Marple Junction, you can visit the Hatters Arms. And walk up along the Marple Lock flight, to see boats passing through one of the steepest lock flights in Britain.

10. Glide through the Warwickshire countryside to Marston

On a day out boating from Springwood Haven Marina on the Coventry Canal in Warwickshire, you can cruise to Marston and back. You can stop off at the canalside Horseshoes pub along the way.

For more information about Drifters day boat hire, go to https://www.drifters.co.uk/day-boats/

Top 10 aqueducts to glide across on a narrowboat holiday

Top 10 aqueducts to cruise across on a narrowboat holiday

July 10, 2025/in News/by Debbie Ludford

Britain’s 3,000-mile canal network is made up of thousands of historic structures, including dozens of aqueducts.

Aqueducts were originally invented by the Romans. The idea of a ‘canal in the sky’ was initially ridiculed by the canal builders. They were concerned about the amount of masonry required to support the weight of the water above.

However, the engineers found a way and built dozens of canal aqueducts across the canal network.

They have survived to become some of the most iconic sights on our waterways.

To help plan your next adventure afloat, we’ve listed the top 10 aqueducts to glide across on a narrowboat holiday:

1. The Stream in the Sky in North Wales

Standing 38 metres high above the Dee Valley, the awesome Pontcysyllte Aqueduct on the Llangollen Canal in North Wales has UNESCO World Heritage Status. Designed by Thomas Telford, its 305-metre long cast iron trough in which narrowboats float, is supported by 19 enormous hollow pillars. Ox blood was added to the lime mortar used to bind the masonry together. It was believed the blood of a strong animal would help strengthen the structure. You can reach this aqueduct from our hire boat yards at Trevor, Chirk, Blackwater Meadow, Whitchurch, Wrenbury and Whixall.

2. Avoncliff Aqueduct in Wiltshire

Designed by canal engineer John Rennie, the beautiful Bath stone Avoncliff Aqueduct carries the Kennet & Avon Canal across the Avon Valley near Bath. It is over 100 metres long and 18 metres wide. You can reach this aqueduct on a canal boat holiday from our bases at Bath, Monkton Coombe, Bradford on Avon, Hilperton and Devizes.

3. Chirk Aqueduct on the Welsh border

Also part of the Llangollen Canal World Heritage site, the striking Chirk Aqueduct was completed in 1801. It was designed by William Jessop and Thomas Telford. It is 220 metres long and carries the Llangollen Canal 21 metres high above the River Ceiriog, using 10 circular masonry arches. You can easily reach the Chirk Aqueduct from our bases at Trevor, Chirk, Blackwater Meadow, Whitchurch and Whixall.

4. The Iron Trunk Aqueduct in Buckinghamshire

This magnificent engineering structure was the world’s first wide canal cast iron trough aqueduct. It takes the Grand Union Canal 12 metres high across the River Great Ouse, close to the village of Cosgrove. It was built in 1811 by canal engineer Benjamin Beavan, and is made up of two cast iron trough spans, with a single masonry pier. Our nearest narrowboat hire base is a five hour cruise away at Gayton.

5. Dundas Aqueduct in Somerset

Another magnificent Bath stone aqueduct designed by John Rennie, this structure on the Kennet & Avon Canal near Bath was completed in 1810. It’s designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument and connects the Kennet & Avon Canal to the Somerset Coal Canal. You can easily be reach Dundas Aqueduct on a canal boat holiday from our bases at Bath, Monkton Coombe, Bradford on Avon, Hilperton and Devizes.

6. Edstone Aqueduct in Warwickshire

Carrying the Stratford Canal across three railway tracks, a minor road, a stream and a field, this 146 metre long structure is the longest cast iron aqueduct in England. Completed in 1816, it was amongst the earliest prefabricated structures, made up of 35 separate sections bolted together. Our nearest canal boat hire base is just under an hour away at Wootton Wawen.

7. The Lune Aqueduct in Lancashire

This Grade I listed iconic structure carries the Lancaster Canal 16 metres high above the River Lune. It was designed by John Rennie and has five 21 metre high semi-circular arches. The nearest Drifters’ base is a week’s cruise away at Acton Bridge on the River Weaver.

8. Nantwich Aqueduct in Cheshire

The Nantwich Aqueduct offers canal boat holiday-makers panoramic views across the historic market town of Nantwich. This Grade II* listed historic structure carries the Shropshire Union Canal over the A534 Chester Road. It was designed by the famous canal engineer Thomas Telford and completed 1826. Our nearest bases are at Nantwich and Bunbury.

9. Barton Swing Aqueduct in Greater Manchester

This Grade II* listed aqueduct carries the Bridgewater Canal across the Manchester Ship Canal. It opened in 1893 and was the first and only swing aqueduct in the world. Weighing 1,450 tonnes, the 100-metre long aqueduct swings open, full of water, to allow the passage of ships along the Manchester Ship Canal. Our nearest base is a nine-hour cruise away at Acton Bridge.

10. Avon Aqueduct in Scotland

At 247 metres long, the impressive Avon Aqueduct in Scotland is the second longest aqueduct in Britain. It carries the Union Canal 29.5 metres high above the River Avon near Linlithgow. Designed by Hugh Baird, with advice from Thomas Telford, the aqueduct was constructed between 1819 and 1821. Our nearest canal boat hire base is around three cruising hours away at Falkirk.

To find out more about visiting the canals in England and Wales, go to https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/

Interior of Chirk Tunnel on a narrowboat holiday

Top tunnels to navigate on a canal boat holiday

July 10, 2025/in News/by Debbie Ludford

There are over 50 canal tunnels, ranging in length from 23 metres to over 3 miles

Drifters has published a guide to the top tunnels to navigate on a canal boat holiday.

The construction of tunnels was one of the most difficult tasks faced by the early canal engineers. The dangerous and difficult work led to the death of many navvies, including 14 when a section of the Blisworth Tunnel collapsed in 1896.

We’ve published a guide to the top tunnels to navigate on a canal boat holiday in England and Wales:

The Standedge Tunnel (5,210 metres/5,698 yards)

Tunnelling for 3.24 miles beneath the Pennines, this incredible feat of 18th and 19th century engineering is the longest, highest and deepest tunnel on the canal system. Cutting through solid rock, it took the navvies 16 years to build and opened in 1811. In the 20th century, the Huddersfield Canal fell into disrepair, becoming un-navigable by 1948, but after a long restoration programme, both the canal and tunnel were reopened in 2001. It takes around 1 hour and 20 minutes to navigate through Standedge Tunnel. Narrowboat holiday-makers need to book their passage though with a Canal & River Trust chaperone. Our nearest base is at Sowerby Bridge, 20 miles and 65 locks away. The journey to Standedge takes around 21 hours (3 days).

Blisworth Tunnel (2,794 metres/3,056 yards)

At 1.74 miles long, Blisworth Tunnel on the Grand Union Canal at Stoke Bruerne in Northamptonshire is the second longest navigable tunnel on the canal system. Construction began in 1793, and it was opened in 1805. It’s wide enough to accommodate two narrowboats, so it’s not necessary to book a passage through it. From Gayton it takes around 38 minutes to reach the northern entrance of the Blisworth Tunnel.

Netherton Tunnel (2,768 metres/3,027 yards)

Tunnelling for 1.72 miles, Netherton Tunnel is on the Birmingham Canal Navigations Netherton Branch in Birmingham. It was the last tunnel constructed during the canal age, and was built with towpaths on both sides. From Alvechurch, it takes around 8 hours to reach Netherton Tunnel.

Harecastle Tunnel (2,676 metres/2,926 yards)

Harecastle Tunnel on the Trent & Mersey Canal is 1.65 miles long and it takes around 30 minutes to navigate through. Designed by Thomas Telford, it was completed in 1827. Passage through the tunnel is in a single direction at a time, because only one of the two original Harecastle Tunnels is in operation. Access is controlled by the Canal & River Trust’s Tunnel keeper team, allowing groups of boats to pass through in convoy, before reversing the flow of traffic. Our nearest base is at Stoke on Trent. From there it takes around 1.5 hours to reach the southern entrance of Harecastle Tunnel.

Wast Hills Tunnel (2,493 metres/2,726 yards)

At 1.55 miles long, it takes around 37 minutes to navigate through Wast Hills Tunnel, on the Worcestershire & Birmingham Canal. Designed by Thomas Cartwright and completed in 1796, Wast Hills is wide enough to accommodate two narrowboats, so it’s not necessary to book a passage through it. From Alvechurch it takes about 1.5 hours to cruise to the southern entrance of Wast Hills Tunnel.

Braunston Tunnel (1,867 metres/2,042 yards)

Braunston Tunnel on the Grand Union Canal in Northamptonshire is 1.17 miles long and was completed in 1796. It takes around 20 minutes to navigate and it’s wide enough to accommodate passing narrowboats, so there’s no need to book a passage. Our Braunston base is 1.5 hours away.

Chirk Tunnel (421 metres/460 yards)

Chirk Tunnel on the Llangollen Canal in Wales is one of the longest tunnels on the waterways system to have a towpath running through it. This tunnel is next to the magnficent Chirk Aqueduct, which carries the canal across the English/Welsh border. Chirk Tunnel’s north portal is just over a mile from our base at Chirk Marina.

Canal boat holiday on the Llangollen Canal

The Buddy Moon crossed Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

June 26, 2025/in News/by Debbie Ludford

The Buddy Moon Youtube travel diary has reviewed a narrowboat holiday on the Llangollen Canal.

Earlier this month, Leanne and Dan from The Buddy Moon crossed the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, on the Llangollen Canal in North Wales.

They cruised along the 11-mile section of the canal designated at UNESCO World Heritage site, travelling to Llangollen and back. This included going across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, also known as ‘The Stream in the Sky’.

Leanne and Dan describe the experience of learning how to steer the boat, going through tunnels, operating lift bridges and mooring up. The Buddy Moon crossed Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and filmed the experience, capturing the amazing views!

On the first night of their trip, they visit the Telford Inn at Trevor Basin for pie and chips.

They experienced a three-night weekend break, picking their boat up from our narrowboat hire base at Chirk.

You can watch their first video, describing the journey across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, here Living on a Boat in Wales (Llangollen Canal)

Their second video picks up the journey from Trevor to Llangollen and includes a tour of their boat: http://FULL TOUR of Our OFF-GRID 54ft NARROW BOAT (Llangollen) – YouTube

Best waterside pubs to visit on a narrowboat holiday

June 24, 2025/in News/by Debbie Ludford

Waterside pubs are popular destinations for canal boat holiday-makers, and there are hundreds to choose from.

We’ve published a guide to some of the best waterside pubs to visit on a narrowboat holiday this summer.

It’s great to be beside water, especially in the summer. Canal and riverside pubs are popular destinations, and there are hundreds to choose from across Britain’s 3,000-mile network of navigable inland waterways.

With names like The Lock Inn, The Navigation Inn, The Narrowboat, The Tunnel and The Bridge, canalside pubs often date back to the days when canals were the transport network of the industrial revolution. Canalside inns provided refreshment for working boat families, their horses, and professional leggers who propelled boats through tunnels.

Today they are popular destinations for narrowboat holiday-makers, as well as people wanting to sit in a canalside pub garden, watching the boats go by.

1. The Bridge Inn, Chirk Bank in Shropshire

You can reach this popular watering hole on the Llangollen Canal on a short break from Chirk, Trevor or Blackwater Meadow. Also known as The Trap, the historic Bridge Inn is on the 11-mile stretch of the Llangollen Canal designated a UNESCO World Heritage site and has views of the magnificent Chirk Aqueduct.

2. The Hollybush Inn at Denford in Staffordshire

Housed in an old flour mill on the Caldon Canal, the Hollybush Inn is surrounded by Staffordshire Moorlands. The pub offers award winning ales and delicious homemade food. It has a large canalside beer garden and is both family and dog friendly. From Stoke on Trent it takes around 7 hours to reach The Hollybush.

3. The Stubbing Wharf at Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire

The Stubbing Wharf on the Rochdale Canal offers home cooked food, including Sunday lunch roasts. It has a choice of real ales and a canalside beer garden. The pub was built soon after the completion of the Rochdale Canal in 1789. It served travellers on both the canal and the turnpike road. Its curious name derives from the ancient settlement of Stubbing, an Anglo-Saxon word for clearing where the tree stumps have been left. From Sowerby Bridge it takes around 5.5 hours to reach Hebden Bridge.

4. The Swan at Fradley Junction in Staffordshire

At the junction of the Trent & Mersey and Coventry canals at Alrewas, the historic Swan pub is known locally as the ‘Mucky Duck’. The pub offers traditional home cooked meals and a choice of cask ales. The Swan’s bar area is decorated with Roses & Castles narrowboat art. The Swan at Fradley is a 1.5-hour cruise from Kings Orchard and a 6-hour cruise from Great Haywood.

5. The Blue Lias Inn at Stockton in Warwickshire

Located on the Grand Union Canal, this historic rural pub was named after the limestone and clay that is quarried locally. The clay is derived from material laid down in the early Jurassic seas, when dinosaurs roamed the earth. The Blue Lias is around 2.5 hours by boat from Stockton.

6. The Plume of Feathers at Barlaston in Staffordshire

This popular pub on the Trent & Mersey Canal is part owned by the actor Neil Morrissey. Visitors can sample some of Neil’s own beers and ales, and choose from a menu of homemade dishes made from fresh local ingredients. It takes just over 3 hours to reach Barlastan from Stoke on Trent, and 7 hours from Great Haywood.

7. The Crown Inn at Alvechurch in Worcestershire

This historic country pub next to the Worcester & Birmingham Canal has a rustic charm, a good selection of ales and lagers and great value food. Our nearest base is just 15 minutes away at Alvechurch.

8. The Olde Barbridge Inn at Nantwich in Cheshire

This historic pub on the Shropshire Union Canal near Nantwich sells a selection of local ales brewed at its own local brewery. The pub serves classic British food made with local produce. Our nearest bases are at Nantwich and Bunbury.

9. The Boat Inn, Gnosall in Staffordshire

This traditional family run pub on the banks of the Shropshire Union Canal can be reached on a short break from Brewood. It has a patio area overlooking the canal and is renowned for its homemade pies and fish and chips.

10. The Fleur De Lys at Lowsonford in Warwickshire

This pretty 17th century country pub on the banks of the Stratford Canal has a lovely beer garden. The Fleur De Lys has been famous for its pies since the 1950’s, all served with seasonal vegetables, chunky chips and gravy. Our nearest base is just 3 hours away at Wootton Wawen.

Drifters offers peace of mind

June 18, 2025/in News/by Debbie Ludford

With the choice of 40 departure points, Drifters offers flexibility

As climate uncertainty becomes an increasingly common backdrop to global travel, Drifters offers peace of mind and adaptability if you choose to explore Britain’s historic canal system.

With over 500 canal boats for hire across 40 locations in England, Wales and Scotland, we welcome travellers to rediscover the power of going with the flow.

Britain’s canal network is in great shape

Despite being over 200 years old, Britain’s canals are remarkably robust. Today, the Canal & River Trust invests more than £200 million a year to maintain the network, with the bulk of repair work scheduled outside peak boating months. There are now record numbers of boats on the water—clear evidence that canal holidays remain a popular and dependable choice.

In 2022—one of the UK’s hottest and driest summers on record—85% of the canal network – over 1,700 miles, remained open and fully navigable.

In the rare event that a navigation restriction affects one part of the system, we are usually able to relocate you to an alternative base.

Drifters Director Leighton Jones explains, “Narrowboat holidays offer a wonderfully relaxing and dependable experience, giving you the peace of mind to enjoy Britain’s beautiful and historic waterways.

“With careful management and excellent communication, we ensure our guests can explore the canals confidently, knowing that we’re ready to help if their plans need adjusting.

“In the rare event that planned holiday routes are significantly impacted, Drifters hire boat operators proactively reach out to customers to discuss suitable alternatives, whether that’s relocating the holiday or finding other solutions to ensure our guests remain satisfied.”

Canal boat holidays are a sustainable choice

Canal boat holidays are not only reliable—they’re also a sustainable choice. Cruising at 4mph through peaceful countryside and waterside communities offers a slower, greener way to unwind.

In a summer landscape increasingly impacted by airport disruption, and weather extremes abroad, Britain’s inland waterways remain a calm and steady alternative.

Explore Birmingham city centre by boat

June 11, 2025/in News/by Debbie Ludford

With more canals than Venice, travelling by boat is a great way to explore Birmingham

Earlier this year, James Ruddy of the Irish Post set off from our Alvechurch base to explore Birmingham city centre by boat.

Travelling with his partner Sue, James cruised along the Worcester & Birmingham Canal to Gas Street Basin.

In his article, James talks about the history of the canals in Birmingham and the part played by Irish navvies in their construction. He says, “It was hard not to think of their (the Irish workers) sacrifices when we faced our first and only real challenge, the seemingly endless and gloomy depths of the Wast Hill Tunnel, which is over a mile and a half long and took us over 35 minutes to pass through with just our boat headlight as our guide.”

James and Sue stopped at Bournville, the UK’s “Chocolate Town” and visited Cadbury World. Once moored up in Birmingham city centre at Brindleyplace, they walked into Chinatown for a meal and visited a pub in Birmingham’s famous Jewellery Quarter.

You can read James’s ‘Birmingham’s Balti, blinders and Irish backbone‘ review in the Irish Post.

Grand Union Narrowboats has joined Drifters

June 10, 2025/in News/by Debbie Ludford

We have a new canal boat hire base on the Grand Union Canal at Weedon

Grand Union Narrowboats, based at Weedon in Northamponshire, has joined the Drifters boating holidays group.

Now made up of 10 canal boat hire operators, Drifters aims to share best practice and promote canal boat holidays to newcomers.

Drifters offers the choice of over 500 canal boats for hire from 40 locations across England, Wales and Scotland. The group now represents over half the number of holiday hire boat available across Britain’s 2,000-mile canal network.

The Weedon hire fleet was been operating since 1963. The Furniss family bought the business in 2015, and Grand Union Narrowboats currently offers the choice of 14 narrowboats for hire. Boats range in size from narrowboats for two to eight people.

Grand Union Narrowboats owner Steve Furniss explains: “We’re pleased to be part of the Drifters group, helping to bring newcomers to our holidays. The tuition and reassurance we provide to newcomers is a key part of the service we provide to our customers. During our boat handovers, we show people how all the controls on the boat work and we ensure all our novice customers get practical steering tuition along with instruction through their first locks.

“From Weedon, we offer a great choice of routes on the Grand Union Canal, Oxford and Ashby canals, as well as the River Thames. Our most popular short breaks routes for beginners, include cruising south along the Grand Union Canal to Wolverton and back. This journey takes boaters through the historic canal villages of Bugbrooke, Stoke Bruerne and Cosgrove. Canal features include the Blisworth Tunnel, the flight of locks at Stoke Bruerne and famous Iron Trunk Aqueduct, and there are plenty of canalside pubs to choose from.”

Drifters 2025 hire prices start at £715 for a short break, £970 for a week on a boat for up to four people. Day hire prices start at £99 for a boat for up to 10 people.

Step off the grid for a mindfulness break

June 6, 2025/in News/by Debbie Ludford

Step off the grid for a mindfulness break on Britain’s inland waterways

Travelling at just 4 miles per hour on a canal boat is the chance to step off the grid for a mindfulness break.

Research by Canal & River Trust, the charity that cares for the nation’s 2,000 miles of canals and rivers, shows spending time by the waterways can lower levels of anxiety and make you happier*.

Waterways are described as ‘great places to relax and de-stress’ and canal boat holidays are often said to be ‘the fastest way to slow down’.

Britain’s canals and rivers are an important place for biodiversity, with over 1,000 wildlife conservation sites. Getting close to nature is widely recognised to benefit our mental and physical health and wellbeing.

Here are some insights into the relaxing effect of a narrowboat holiday, described by journalists who have enjoyed the experience:

Step back in time to a slower era

Paul Miles lives on a boat and says, ‘Holidaying on the inland waterways is to step back in time to a slower era. Grooves on bridges worn by ropes are a visible reminder of the days when life proceeded at the walking pace of a horse, 4mph, still the speed limit today.’

The Telegraph, ‘Britain’s best and most underrated canals to explore this summer‘, 8 May 2025

A slow boat to happiness in Wiltshire

Annabel Abbs reviewed her family holiday on the Kennet & Avon Canal in the Guardian, and said ‘the gentle, soothing monotony of a canal had taken away all desire to show and share on social media’ and everyone’s ‘phones showed an average 70% drop in useage.

The Guardian online, ‘A slow boat to happiness: our family holiday on Wiltshire’s Kennet & Avon Canal‘, 18 May 2025

Off grid on the Grand Union Canal in Warwickshire

Angela Riches of H&N Magazine holidayed on the Grand Union Canal and said, ‘It’s been a long time since we were so completely off grid but this slow pace of life gave us a complete reset.’

H&N Magazine, ‘Heaven is going totally off grid on a canal barge‘, 22 May 2025

The perfect antidote in Shropshire

Dan Sanderson described his family holiday on the Shropshire Union Canal as ‘the perfect antidote to the stresses of modern city life’ and said ‘chugging along at an average speed of just 2mph…time and distance become an obscure concept and you are left with little option than to sit back and enjoy the view’.

The Mailonline, ‘Ready, steady…slow!’, 8 July 2023

A Wiltshire retreat

Paul Miles, while on the Kennet & Avon Canal, explained: “Life in the slow lane is the norm on the canals. It heightens my sense of observation.’

The Telegraph, ‘I’ve been in happy self-isolation for the last 10 years’, 20 March 2020

Northamptonshire slow zone

Fiona Whitty enjoyed a narrowboat holiday on the Grand Union Canal and said: “As an antidote to fast living, travel is all about going slow nowadays – and you don’t get much slower than a canal boat with a speed of 4mph.”

Sunday Mirror, ‘Slow-go zone’, 27 March 2022

A Shropshire escape

In his review of a Drifters’ canal boat holiday on the Shropshire Union Canal, Dixe Wills says: “The sedateness of our progress up to Shropshire, coupled with an almost complete absence of intrusions from the modern world, created a bubble that we were reluctant to burst.”

The Guardian, ‘The ripple effect: a leisurely boating break in Shropshire’, 29 July 2020

Putting the brakes on in Leicestershire

Gareth Butterfield reviewed a holiday on the Ashby Canal saying: “there’s something incredibly cathartic about slowing yourself down to canal pace…a week at walking pace is just the tonic for people who need to put the brakes on from time to time.”

Manchester Evening News, ‘I raise eyebrows taking a big lizard on a narrowboat trip along the Ashby canal’, 17 April 2022

Meandering into North Wales

Mary Novakovich, who took a narrowboat holiday on the Llangollen Canal, setting out from Chirk, said “Meandering along at a languid 3mph – slower than my walking pace – we had plenty of time to absorb our surroundings as we spotted herons and steered under pretty arched bridges.”

The Independent, ‘Knot Too Shabby’, 16 May 2021

A break from modern life in Yorkshire

Jaymi McCann enjoyed a holiday on the Leeds & Liverpool and said: “The canal remains unchanged over its two centuries but its purpose has been transformed: coal barges have given way to leisure boaters. Its engineers could have little envisaged its current use but the languid pace is what makes it such a break from modern life.”

Sunday Express, ‘A Slow Boat To Yorkshire’ 22 May 2016

Bucolic scenes in Warwickshire

Lyn Hughes describes her journey along the Grand Union Canal from Napton, observing “bucolic scenes of gently rolling farmland, dotted with grazing cows and sheep. The bank was thick with overhanging willows, bulrushes, rosebay willowherb and purple loosestrife. Dragonflies buzzed past, and clouds of butterflies danced over the wildflowers.”

Wanderlust, ‘Tales from the Riverbank’, November 2020

A balming power

Richard Morrison says: “I do believe that today the canals have a mysterious, balming power that is without equal in Britain – not just because they trundle holidaymakers through glorious landscapes at a maximum of 4mph, but also because they stealthily, almost secretly, carry the peace of rural England into the heart of frenetic cities.”

The Times, ‘Canals – a calming, beautiful antidote to modern life’, 5 February 2007

*’Assessing the wellbeing impacts of waterways usage in England and Wales’, 2018

Top 5 canals on screen

May 21, 2025/in News/by Debbie Ludford

Britain’s 3,000-mile network of navigable canals and rivers has featured in many movies and television shows over the years.

Channel 4’s long running ‘Great Canal Journeys’ with Timothy West and Prunella Scales is still enjoyed across the globe.

Other more recent television series that have put canals at the centre of the action, include: Robbie Cumming’s ‘Canal Boat Dairies’; and Channel 4’s ‘Narrow Escapes’.

To celebrate filming on the waterways, we’ve put together our top 5 canals on screen destinations:

1. Slow Horses

Based in London and starring Gary Oldman and Jack Lowden, this massive Apple TV drama series features a number of scenes filmed on the Regent’s Canal, at locations including Primrose Hill, Kings Cross and Haggerston. You can reach the Regent’s Canal at Little Venice on a two-week holiday from Aldermaston on the Kennet & Avon Canal in Berkshire.

2. Archie

Depicting the life of Hollywood’s legend Cary Grant, this ITV four-part drama features scenes filmed at the National Waterways Museum Ellesmere Port. The BBC’s Dodger series and the Tolkein movie also filmed there. You can reach Ellesmere Port on a four night break from Bunbury on the Shropshire Union Canal in Cheshire.

3. Peaky Blinders

The Birmingham Black Country Museum is the official home of the BBC’s epic gangster drama, the Peaky Blinders. Over the years, many scenes have been filmed at the 26-acre Museum, including new scenes that will appear in the Peaky Blinders movie, expected to be released in the autumn. You can reach the Birmingham Black Country Museum on a short break from Alvechurch on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, near Bromsgrove.

4. Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, which carries the Llangollen Canal across the River Dee in North Wales, features in Wallace & Gromit’s recent BAFTA award-winning Vengeance Most Fowl movie. You can reach this UNESCO World Heritage site on a short break from our bases on the Llangollen Canal at Trevor, Chirk and Blackwater Meadow.

5. The Day of the Jackal

This HBO blockbuster starring Eddie Redmayne and Lashana Lynch, filmed some of its London scenes on the Regent’s Canal at Camden. The Regent’s Canal in Camden also features in Back to Black, the Amy Winehouse biopic and Apple TV’s series Trying, starring Rafe Spall and Sian Brooke. You can reach the Regent’s Canal at Little Venice on a two-week holiday from Aldermaston on the Kennet & Avon Canal in Berkshire.

Off grid on the Grand Union Canal

May 20, 2025/in News/by Debbie Ludford

Angela Riches of H&N Magazine took a press trip on the Grand Union Canal

Setting off from our base on the Grand Union Canal at Napton in Warwickshire, Angela, Dave and their crew cruised to Hillmorton and back.

They did the journey to Hillmorton and back on a four-night mid-week break with Drifters.

She says: “From start to end, this journey took us gently (between one and four miles an hour), through gorgeous English countryside.”

Starting on the Grand Union Canal at Napton, they transferred onto the North Oxford Canal at Braunston.

Angela’s article describes the facilities on board their narrowboat for up to six people ‘Sienna’. She lists the pubs they visited, including The Admiral Nelson at Braunston and The Folly at Napton.

And she offers tips for beginners and says: “It’s been a long time since we were so completely off grid but this slow pace of life gave us a complete reset. We could have easily done another week!”

You can read Angela’s article here.

Top of the Locks 2025

May 20, 2025/in News/by Debbie Ludford

There are over 1,800 locks on Britain’s canal network

Our Top of the Locks 2025 guide lists the top 7 flights of locks on canals in England and Wales.

Locks enable canal boats to travel up and down hills. There’s no mystery to using locks – just a series of step-by-step tasks.

A lock is simply a chamber with gates at either end. By emptying or filling the chamber with water, boats can move up or down onto a new section of waterway.

There are many different kinds of locks, but they all on work on a similar principle.

With the lock gates closed, boaters should open the sluices (paddles) to let the water in or out. When the water level under the boat is the same as the level it’s moving to, the boat can move in or out of the lock.

Some locks are operated by boaters, others by lock keepers.

Tuition is included in all our canal boat holiday packages.

During your handover procedure, our boat yard staff will usually be able to take you through your first lock.

To celebrate these marvels of canal engineering, we’ve put together a guide to the Top 7 lock flight destinations for 2024 narrow boat holidays:

1. Caen Hill on the Kennet & Avon Canal in Wiltshire

Caen Hill at Devizes in Wiltshire is one of the ‘Seven Wonders of the Waterways’ and a scheduled monument. With 29 locks spread out over two miles, raising the canal by 72 metres, it takes around six hours to passage through. The 16-lock section clustered together up the hill is truly a magnificent site, and one of the most iconic on the waterway network. Our Devizes narrowboat hire base is at the base of the Flight at Foxhangers Marina.

2. Hatton on the Grand Union Canal in Warwickshire

The Hatton Flight was nicknamed ‘The Stairway to Heaven’ by the boaters who once carried cargos on the canals. This impressive flight of 21 locks raises boats up 45 metres over two miles, and takes around four-and-a-half hours to travel through. Just below the Top lock, you’ll find the Hatton Locks Café. Our nearest canal boat hire base is eight cruising hours away at Stockton. The journey travels 11 miles and passes through 22 locks.

3. Wigan on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in Lancashire

This epic flight of 21 locks is said to be one of the most fearsome on the waterways. Descending 70 metres in less than two miles, it takes around five hours to pass through all the locks. The flight travels through New Springs, a suburb of Wigan which was once an industrial hub with collieries and ironworks lining the canal. Today it’s a post-industrial landscape of waste ground, modern housing and terraced streets. From our Barnoldswick base, it takes around 19 cruising hours to reach Wigan Top Lock Junction, travelling 48 miles and passing through 20 locks.

4. Tardebigge on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal in Worcestershire

With 30 locks spread out over two-and-a-quarter miles, this awesome flight of locks is the longest on the inland waterways system. In total, the locks raise and lower boats 67 metres and it takes around five-and-a-half hours to travel through them. Our nearest canal boat hire base is an hour’s cruise away at Alvechurch.

5. Bingley Five Rise on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in West Yorkshire

Another one of the ‘Seven Wonders of the Waterways’, this spectacular staircase of five locks is near Bradford. It raises (or lowers) boats 18 metres in five cavernous chambers. The locks open directly from one to another, with the top gate of one forming the bottom of the next. It takes around one-and-a-half hours to work through. The size of the chambers can be intimidating even for experienced boaters, but friendly lock-keepers are on hand to help. You can reach the Bingley Five Rise Locks on a short break from Silsden.

6. Foxton on the Leicester Line of the Grand Union Canal in Leicestershire

Surrounded by stunning views of the Leicestershire countryside, this set of 10 locks raises boats up 23 metres in just a quarter-of-a-mile. Foxton Locks is the longest set of staircase locks in the UK, and is a Grade II Listed structure. In staircases, the locks open directly one from another so that the top gate of one forms the bottom of the next. It takes around 45 minutes to pass through. There are lock keepers on hand to help. They offer key advice when it comes to opening the paddles: “Red before white, you’ll be alright. White before red, you’ll be dead.” Drifters’ nearest narrowboat boat hire base is around 13 cruising hours away at Braunston. The journey to Foxton Top Staircase travels 27 miles and passes through 13 locks.

7. Marple on the Peak Forest Canal in Cheshire

One of the steepest flights on the system, the 16 locks at Marple raise boats by 64 metres over just one mile. The locks are built of local stone and are mostly tree-lined, giving the canal a lovely secluded feeling. The Peak Forest Canals is said to be one of Britain’s most scenic waterways, running through beautiful countryside on the edge of the Peak District National Park. From Stoke on Trent it takes around 19 hours to reach Marple Bottom Lock. The journey there travels 32 miles and passes through 14 locks.

Electric day boat hire on the Kennet & Avon Canal in Wiltshire

Hire an electric canal boat for the day

May 17, 2025/in News/by Debbie Ludford

Drifters offers electrically-powered narrow boat hire for the day at six locations

You can hire an electric canal boat for the day with Drifters member ABC Boat Hire at six places in England and Wales.

Full tuition is included, so it’s a great way for newcomers to canal boating to get the hang of steering, mooring up and working the locks.

All our electric day boats are equipped with a toilet, cooker, fridge, cutlery, crockery and a kettle. So you can plan a picnic afloat or stop-off for lunch at a canalside pub along the way.

In total, our members offer day boat hire at 19 locations across England and Wales. Boats range in size and can accommodate between eight and 12 people.

Day boat hire prices start at £99 and are pet-friendly.

Here’s a guide to where you can hire an electric canal boat for the day:

1. Derbyshire – enjoy views of the Peak District on the Peak Forest Canal

On a day out boating from New Mills Marina on the Peak Forest Canal in Derbyshire, day boaters can cruise to Marple and back, enjoying fantastic views of the rolling countryside along the way. There are moorings at the bottom of the Marple Lock flight where day boaters can see boats passing through one of the steepest lock flights in Britain, and they can walk to the Hattons Arms in Marple. The journey to Marple and back takes five-and-a-half hours and there are no locks.

*Electric day boat ‘Field Day’ can accommodate up to 10 people and summer prices start at £139.

2. Worcestershire – glide along the leafy Worcester & Birmingham Canal

On a day out from Alvechurch Marina near Bromsgrove, boaters can cruise north through the remains of the Forest of Arden to Kings Norton Junction and back. Along the way, day boaters can stop off at the canalside Hopwood House pub and take a walk around the Bittell Reservoirs. The route is lock-free but takes you through Wast Hill Tunnel, which is over a mile-and-a-half long.

*Electric day boat ‘Away Day’ can carry up to 10 people and summer prices start at £155.

3. Wiltshire – boat along the Kennet & Avon Canal to Avoncliff Aqueduct

From Hilperton Marina, near Trowbridge in Wiltshire, you can cruise west through the Bath Valley to Avoncliff and back. You’ll pass through the picturesque town of Bradford on Avon with its canalside Barge Inn. There’s just one lock to pass through at Bradford on Avon, before reaching the impressive Avoncliff Aqueduct. Here you can moor up and visit the No.10 canalside cafe. The journey to Avoncliff and back takes around six hours.

*Electric day boat ‘Great Day’ can carry up to 10 people and prices start at £155.

4. Warwickshire – cruise through the countryside to Atherstone

You can hire an electric canal boat for the day from Springwood Haven Marina on the Coventry Canal near Nuneaton. On a day out boating from Springwood Haven, you can cruise through the Warwickshire countryside to the historic market town of Atherstone and back. The route passes the canalside Anchor Inn. The journey to Atherstone and back takes around three hours.

*Electric day boat ‘Sunny Day’ can accommodate up to 10 people and summer prices start at £139.

5. Northamptonshire – visit the Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne

On a day out from Gayton Marina on the Grand Union Canal near Northampton, you can navigate to the historic canal village of Stoke Bruerne and back. Along the way, the journey goes through the Blisworth Tunnel, the third longest tunnel on the canal system which takes around 30 minutes to navigate. Once through the tunnel, you can moor up in the pretty canal village of Stoke Bruerne. The Canal & River Trust’s Canal Museum offers an insight into the lives of the working boat people. There are woodland walks and a choice of canalside pubs to visit, including the Boat Inn and the Navigation. The journey to Stoke Bruerne and back takes around four hours.

*Electric day boat ‘Day Break’ can accommodate up to 10 people and summer prices start at £209.

6. Shropshire – cruise along the Llangollen Canal to Whixall Mosses Nature Reserve

From Whitchurch Marina on the Llangollen Canal in Shropshire, you can cruise lock-free to Whixall Mosses Nature Reserve and back. The journey there and back takes around four hours, and there are three lift bridges to go through each way. Whixall Moss is part of the Marches Mosses, collectively making up the largest area of lowland-raised peatbog in the UK. There aren’t any canalside pubs or cafes to visit on this route, but there are places in Whitchurch to pick up picnic supplies.

*Electric day boat ‘Perfect Day’ can accommodate up to 10 people and summer prices start at £139.

You’ll find more information about our day boat hire locations here.