Today’s narrowboats for hire are fully equipped with all the essential mod cons. These include central heating, hot water, televisions, DVD players, fully-equipped kitchens, showers and flushing toilets. And some boats are fitted with extras, like wider beds, larger showers, baths, solid-fuel stoves and WiFi.
Each year dozens of new boats are added to the Drifters fleet. Here’s a run-down of our top 8 new boats for hire in 2021:
‘Arbury’ is navigating from Braunston
The new 65ft narrowboat for up to six people ‘Arbury’ is now for hire from Drifters’ canal boat hire base at Braunston, on the Grand Union Canal in Northamptonshire. ‘Arbury’ has two double bedrooms (which can also be made up as twins). She has two shower/toilet rooms and a large saloon area where the dining area can be converted into an extra double bed. Arbury’s prices start at £850 for a short break (three or four nights), £1,165 for a week. Price includes diesel, gas, damage waiver, cancellation protection, parking, tuition and first pet. Second pet is charged at £25 per week.
‘Bedford’ glides out of Sowerby Bridge
The new 56ft narrowboat for up to six people ‘Bedford’ is available to hire from Drifters’ base at Sowerby Bridge in West Yorkshire. She has two double cabins (which can also be set up as twins), as well as a saloon dining area which can be converted into a double or two single beds. She has a shower/toilet room, plus a second toilet. Bedford’s 2021 prices start at £825 for a short break, £1,375 for a week. Price includes damage waiver, pre-holiday information, comprehensive instruction, fuel, gas, parking, buoyancy aids and bed linen.
The ‘White Wagtail’ is now available at Whitchurch
This spacious new 70ft narrowboat for up to ten people is based at Whitchurch, on the Llangollen Canal in Shropshire. ‘White Wagtail’ has two flexible cabins which can be made up as doubles or singles, plus two seating areas which can be converted into a double or two singles. There’s an optional high level single bed which can be added above a single bed in both cabins. She features LED lighting throughout, optional wider beds, two TVs, two bathrooms with showers, a fully equipped kitchen and front deck table. 2021 prices aboard ‘White Wagtail’ start at £1,199 for a short break, £1,849 for a week. Price includes bedding, towels, collision damage waiver, first pet, car parking and tuition. Fuel is extra. A £90 deposit is taken for a week’s holiday. Actual cost based on use, circa £10-15 per day.
‘Serena’ arrives at Napton
From July, the 60ft narrowboat for up to six people, ‘Serena’ will be available from Napton, on the Oxford Canal in Warwickshire. She has two double cabins (which can also be made up as twins), two full bathrooms, and an extra outside table for alfresco dining. She has a reverse layout, so the galley is at the back of the boat. The interior dining area can be converted into a double bed. 2021 prices start at £925 for a short break, £1,295 for a week. Price includes up to four adults, fuel, diesel, parking, tuition and bed linen. There’s a compulsory extra £55 damage waiver, pets are charged at £35 each per week and extra adults are charged at £30 each.
‘Fitzroy’ arrives at Trevor
The 65ft Admiral Class narrowboat for four people ‘Fitzroy’ is available to hire from Trevor, on the Llangollen Canal in North Wales. ‘Fitzroy’ has two shower/toilet rooms, full central heating, a well-equipped galley and flexible accommodation in two cabins, ranging from two doubles to four singles. Fitzroy’s 2021 prices start at £835 for short break, £1,150 for a week. Price includes bed linen, towels, cancellation protection, first pet, parking and tuition on arrival. A £50 non-refundable damage waiver and fuel deposit (£50 for a short break, £90 for a week) are extra. Fuel charges are based on use, circa £10-15 per day.
The ‘Blackcap Warbler’ is departing from Anderton
The 69ft ‘Blackcap Warbler’ narrowboat for up to eight people is available to hire from Anderton in Cheshire. The boat has three cabins, two of which can be configured as one double or two singles. The mid cabin next to the second bathroom has a fixed double bed. She has LED lighting throughout, a front deck table, optional wider beds, two shower/toilet rooms, WiFi and two TV’s. 2021 prices aboard ‘Pine Warbler’ start at £1,199 for a short break, £1,849 for a week. Price includes bedding, towels, collision damage waiver, first pet, car parking and tuition. Fuel is extra. A £90 deposit is taken for a week’s holiday. Actual cost based on use, circa £10-15 per day.
‘Bewicks Wren’ is now available from Alvechurch
The 49ft ‘Bewsicks Wren’ narrowboat for up to four people is available to hire from Alvechurch, on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal near Bromsgrove. She offers flexible accommodation for up to four people with optional wider beds. The boat has one cabin, which can be configured as a double or two singles, and the seating/dining area in the saloon can be converted into a double bed. She has a shower/toilet room, front deck table, LED lighting, two televisions and WiFi. 2021 prices aboard ‘Bewicks Wren’ start at £749 for a short break, £1,149 for a week. Price includes bedding, towels, collision damage waiver, first pet, car parking and tuition. Fuel is extra. A £90 deposit is taken for a week’s holiday. Actual cost based on use, circa £10-15 per day.
‘Pine Warbler’ is departing from Kings Orchard
The 69ft ‘Pine Warbler’ narrowboat for up to eight people is available to hire from Kings Orchard on the Coventry Canal. The boat has three cabins, two of which can be configured as one double or two singles. The mid cabin next to the second bathroom has a fixed double bed. She has LED lighting throughout, a front deck table, optional wider beds, two shower/toilet rooms, WiFi and two TV’s. 2021 prices aboard ‘Pine Warbler’ start at £1,199 for a short break, £1,849 for a week. Price includes bedding, towels, collision damage waiver, first pet, car parking and tuition. Fuel is extra. A £90 deposit is taken for a week’s holiday. Actual cost based on use, circa £10-15 per day.
