Top 8 New Narrowboats for Hire in 2021

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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.

Beginners narrowboat holiday on the Llangollen Canal

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Elaine Wilson of Eccentric England took her first canal boat holiday in October.

She and her friend Julie set off from our narrowboat hire base at Whixall Marina.  This is on the Prees Branch of the Llangollen Canal.

They pottered slowly along, getting the hang of the steering.

Elaine describes the wildlife they saw, and the places where they moored up.

They visited Ellesmere, in the heart of the Shropshire Lake District. They also visited the historic town of Whitchurch.

You can read Elaine’s blog here https://eccentricengland.co.uk/home/canal-boat-holidays/

Mudpie Fridays, 14 October 2020

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Clare at Mudpie Fridays offers ’10 Tips for your first narrowboat break with kids’.  She and her family took a canal boat holiday on the Kennet & Avon Canal.

https://mudpiefridays.com/2020/10/14/10-tips-for-your-first-narrowboat-break-with-kids/

Enjoy a day afloat on a canal boat

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Day boat hire on Britain’s peaceful network of inland waterways is a great way to explore your local countryside this summer.

Drifters offers day boat hire from 16 boat yards across England and Wales, with prices starting from less than £10 per person.

Full tuition is included so if you’re new to canal boating, it’s a great chance to get the hang of steering, mooring up and working the locks.  Our day boats are equipped with cutlery, crockery and a kettle and most also have a toilet, cooker and fridge.

So why not pack up a picnic and ship out for the day, exploring your local countryside and stopping off for a drink at a canalside pub along the way.

Here’s a list of Drifters’ day boat hire locations in 2020:

Berkshire

Kennet & Avon Canal at Aldermaston, near Reading – ‘Heyday’ can carry up to 8 people, prices start from £129.

Cheshire

Shropshire Union Canal at Bunbury, near Tarporley – ‘Bella’ can carry up to 10 people each, weekday hire is £99, weekends & bank holidays £140.

Trent & Mersey Canal at Anderton, Cheshire – ‘Daydream’ can carry up to 12 people, prices start at £139.

Leicestershire

Grand Union Canal Leicester Line at Market Harborough – ‘Moorhen’ can carry up to 12 people, weekday hire starts at £160, weekends & bank holidays from £210.

Northamptonshire

Grand Union Canal at Braunston – ‘Water Ouzel’ can carry up to 12 people.  Weekday prices are £140, £175 for weekends and bank holidays.

Grand Union Canal at Gayton Marina, near Northampton – ‘Day Lark’ can carry up to 12 people, prices start at £129.

Shropshire

Llangollen Canal at Whixall – ‘Julia’ can carry up to 10 people each, weekday hire is £99, weekends & bank holidays £140.

Llangollen Canal at Whitchurch – ‘Day Tripper’ can carry up to 10 people, prices start from £119.

Llangollen Canal at Blackwater Meadow Marina, near Ellesmere – ‘Lazy Days’ can carry up to 10 people, prices start at £119.

Staffordshire

Trent & Mersey Canal at Great Haywood, near Stafford – ‘Daphne’ and ‘Abi’ can carry up to 10 people each, weekday hire is £99, weekends & bank holidays £140.

Warwickshire

Stratford Canal at Wootton Wawen, near Stratford upon Avon – ‘Dolly’ and ‘Charlie’ can carry up to 10 people each, weekday hire is £99, weekends & bank holidays £140.

Wiltshire

Kennet & Avon Canal at Hilperton, near Trowbridge, Wiltshire (‘Cheers’ can carry up to 10 people, prices start from £122).

Worcestershire

Worcester & Birmingham Canal at Alvechurch, near Bromsgrove – ‘Away Day’ can carry up to 10 people, prices start at £137.

Worcester & Birmingham Canal at Tardebigge, near Bromsgrove – ‘Emma’ can carry up to 10 people each, weekday hire is £99, weekends & bank holidays £140.

North Wales

Llangollen Canal at Trevor, near Llangollen, Wrexham (‘Jacob’, ‘Daniel’ and ‘Lotty’ can carry up to 10 people each.  Weekday hire is £120, £160 weekends and bank holidays.

South Wales

Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal at Goytre Wharf, near Abergavenny – ‘Robin’ and ‘Rooster’ can carry up to eight people, prices start from £137.

 

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

The History of canal boat holidays

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Our rivers have been used for transport since prehistoric times, but it was the Industrial Revolution that created the need to move large quantities of raw materials, goods and commodities efficiently, and resulted in the construction on thousands of miles of canals across England, Wales and Scotland.

The history of inland waterways pleasure boat hiring started in the 1860’s when it became fashionable to take boat trips on the Norfolk Broads and the Thames.  By the late Victorian era, the Thames had entered what some authors have described as the ‘Golden Age’ for leisure.

In 1916, shipping agent Peter Bonthron published ‘My holidays on inland waterways’, detailing his 2,000-mile journey around Britain’s waterways at the beginning of the 20th century

But it was Tom Rolt’s book ‘Narrow Boat’, published in 1944 and describing his 400-mile journey aboard ‘Cressy’ along the network of canals in the Midlands, that is said to be ‘the book that saved Britain’s canals’.

‘Narrow Boat’ tells the story of how Rolt and his wife fitted out the boat as their home and celebrates the lives of the working boatmen, the canal craft and the timeless countryside they discovered on their travels.  The book was an instant success and has since inspired generations of boaters.

Although by the 1950’s commercial use of the canals was had significantly declined, as interest started to grow in using canals for leisure, a number of canal boat hire companies were established.  Many of the canal boats available for hire at this time were converted working boats but by the 1960’s more narrowboats were being specially constructed for the leisure hire trade.

Since the late 1990’s our inland waterways have entered a new ‘Golden Age’ of leisure use, with over 200 miles of waterways re-opened and over £1billion invested in their restoration and upkeep

There are now over 35,000 canal boats on our inland waterways, more than at the time of the Industrial Revolution.  Over 1,000 of these are specially designed and constructed canal boat holiday hire boats with modern conveniences  – hot water, central heating, flushing toilets, well equipped kitchens with cookers, fridges, microwave ovens, televisions, DVD players and many now have Wifi too.

There are also a number of hotel boat operators, offering skippered and fully catered canal holidays.

For more information about the history of the canals, visit the Waterways Archive https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/places-to-visit/national-waterways-museum/the-waterways-archive

Ways to reduce plastic waste afloat

Ways to reduce plastic waste afloat

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Programmes like Blue Planet II and Our Planet have highlighted the damage plastic is wreaking on our oceans and the animals that live there.

Sadly our beautiful inland waterways are also affected by plastic waste – and a staggering 80 per cent of marine debris comes from inland sources.

To help combat the blight of plastic pollution in our canals and rivers, we’ve put together a list of easy ways to reduce the plastic waste you might generate on a canal boat holiday, and to prevent plastic from entering our waterways:

  1. Don’t use products with microbeads – much of the plastic polluting our waterways and oceans is microplastics which derive from bigger items breaking down, but also from consumer products like face wash and toothpaste.  Avoid items with ‘polypropylene’ or ‘polyethylene’ on the ingredients list and go for natural biodegradable alternatives.  And remember to use eco-friendly washing up liquid as the water you’ve used to wash-up with will drain into the canal.
  2. Bring a refillable thermos and reusable plastic bottles – so if you stop off to buy a coffee somewhere on your narrowboat holiday you won’t need a disposable cup and you won’t have to buy bottled water.  You can use boiled water from the boat’s tank to make a cup of tea and we suggest bringing one large bottle or canteen to top up at water points for drinking water.
  3. Bring your own shopping bags – remember to pack your re-useable bags every time you shop and avoid products with excess packaging.
  4. Make use of recycling facilities – most canalside rubbish compounds only accept boaters’ bagged domestic rubbish, but there are an increasing number of boaters’ recycling points available, so look out for them.  The rubbish you put in the Canal & River Trust’s canalside Biffa bins will be sorted at the depot, with suitable waste sent for recycling.
  5. Bag all rubbish – and make sure the bags are tied securely so that they can’t spill open.  Only dispose of your bagged domestic rubbish inside bins marked domestic waste and don’t forget to close the lid.  If the bins are full, keep your rubbish securely on board until the next available waste disposal point.
  6. Control your fenders – a frightening number of plastic boat fenders end up at the bottom of locks.  Don’t leave them dangling when cruising – except bow and stern fenders.  And when your fenders are in use, make sure they are properly secured.
  7. Help clean up – by joining one of the many Plastic Patrol or Canal & River Trust Towpath Taskforce events taking place across the country.  Or if you don’t fancy taking part in an organised event, why not pledge to pick up and dispose of at least one piece of canalside litter a day while on your narrowboat holiday?

 

Top 10 tips for narrowboat novices

Top 10 tips for narrowboat novices

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Spring is here and Britain’s beautiful canal network offers over 2,000 miles of waterways to explore.  If you’ve ever fancied taking a canal boat holiday, what better time to take the plunge?

You don’t need to be an expert to hire a canal boat and each year around one fifth of narrowboat hirers are new to the waterways. 

To help make your first canal boat holiday smoother, we’ve put together 10 Top Tips for beginners:

  1. You don’t need a licence – and boat steering tuition is provided as part of our holiday packages, but if you’d like to get ahead of the game, take a look at the Canal & River Trust’s Boaters Handbook Video for some sound advice https://www.drifters.co.uk/boating-video.html
  2. Keep to the right – unlike cars on our roads, canal boats travel on the right side of our canals and rivers
  3. Steering basics – push the tiller right to go left, and left to go right – and put the engine in reverse to stop
  4. Slow down to walking pace – there’s a 4mph speed limit on the inland waterways and you’ll know if you’re going too fast if you’re creating too much wash which disturbs wildlife and erodes the banks
  5. Go even slower – when approaching bridges, locks, bends or junctions, and when passing other canal boats or anglers 
  6. Lock logic – always have a steerer on the boat when in a lock, make sure the boat is kept forward of the cill (step) and close the gates and paddles behind you
  7. Sharing is caring – always share a lock with another boat if possible to save water and share the work!
  8. Tunnel tricks – switch on your headlight and sound your horn before entering a tunnel, and if it’s a one-way tunnel, first make sure there’s no boat inside
  9. Mooring musts – when mooring up at busy spots, make sure you don’t leave a big gap and never moor opposite winding holes, on bends, near bridges, on lock landings (unless waiting to lock through) or at water points (unless filling up)
  10. Tying up – to keep your boat secure, you need to tie it to the bank with a rope from both the front and the back, and on rivers you should fix your upstream rope first.

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Top 8 Narrowboat Holidays for Novices

Drifters’ Top 12 places to hire a boat for the day

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Day boat hire on the canals offers the chance to enjoy a fun day out on the water, nourished by a pint and a pub lunch along the way.

We offer day boat hire from 16 our boat yards across England, Scotland and Wales, with prices starting at less than £10 per person.  Full tuition is included so if you are new to canal boating, it’s a great way to get the hang of steering, mooring up and working the locks.  Our day boats are equipped with cutlery, crockery and a kettle and most also have a toilet, cooker and fridge. 

Here’s a list of our top 12 day boat hire centres and destinations for 2019:

  1. Boat to the beautiful Avoncliff Aqueduct – from Hilperton Marina near Trowbridge in Wiltshire, day boaters can head west along the beautiful Kennet & Avon Canal to the stunning Avoncliff Aqueduct and back, passing through the historic town of Bradford on Avon, with its stunning medieval Tithe Barn.  Once at Avoncliff, boaters can moor up and visit the popular canalside Cross Guns pub and admire the beautiful Bath stone aqueduct.  It takes just under two hours to reach Avoncliff, passing through just one lock. ***Day boat ‘Cheers’ can carry up to 10 people, weekday hire starts at £99, weekends & bank holidays £160.
  2. Cruise through the Shropshire Lake District – from Drifters’ new canal boat hire base at Whixall on the Prees Branch of the Llangollen Canal in Shropshire, day boaters can cruise along the Llangollen Canal to Ellesmere in around two-and-a-half hours, passing lakes at Lyneal Moss and Colemere Country Park along the way.  Once at Ellesmere, boaters can moor up and explore the famous Mere with its historic castle, woodland paths and fascinating wildlife.  The journey travels eight miles and takes around two hours.  ***Day boats ‘Bella’ and ‘Julia’ can each carry up to 10 people. Weekday hire is £99, weekends & bank holidays £140.
  3. Meander to Middlewich and back – Drifters’ narrowboat hire base at Anderton on the Trent & Mersey Canal in Cheshire, is next to the historic Anderton Boat Lift.  This incredible edifice, also known as ‘the Cathedral of the canals’, provides a 50-foot vertical link between the River Weaver and the Trent & Mersey Canal.  From Anderton, day boaters can travel along the Trent & Mersey Canal to Middlewich, passing through Marbury Country Park and Marston Flash along the way.  It takes around three hours, travelling nine miles with no locks, to reach Middlewich Big Lock, where the popular canalside Big Lock pub offers refreshments.  Or travel back five miles to lunch at the Old Broken Cross pub. ***Day boat ‘Daydream’ can carry up to 12 people, weekday hire starts at £99, weekends & bank holidays £190.
  4. Explore Shakespeare’s country – from Wootton Wawen near Henley in Arden in Warwickshire, boaters can head south along the peaceful Stratford Canal to the pretty village of Wilmcote to enjoy lunch at The Mary Arden Inn and a visit to the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust’s Mary Arden’s Farm, the childhood home of Shakespeare’s mother.  The journey takes two-and-a-half hours each way, and crosses over the impressive Edstone Aqueduct with beautiful views across the Warwickshire countryside. ****Day boat hire from Wootton Wawen starts at £99 for up to 10 people, £140 on weekends and bank holidays.
  5. Travel across ‘The Stream in the Sky’ – from Drifters’ canal boat hire base at Trevor on the Llangollen Canal in North Wales, it’s a 20-minute cruise to the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, which this year celebrates 10 years of World Heritage Status.  Standing 38 metres high above the Dee Valley and stretching for 305 metres, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is truly one of the wonders of the waterways.  After cruising over the Aqueduct, there are two tunnels to pass through – Whitehouses and Chirk, as well as Chirk Aqueduct with a viaduct running alongside it.  It takes around two-and-a-half hours to reach Chirk and the Poacher’s Pocket pub at Glendrid.  ***Day boat hire from Trevor starts at £120 for up to 10 people, £160 on weekends and bank holidays.
  6. Cruise gently through the Warwickshire countryside to Hillmorton – from Drifters’ day boat hire base at Braunston in Northamptonshire, it takes around three hours chugging gently along seven miles of the North Oxford Canal to reach the pretty canalside village of Hillmorton.  There’s a choice of pubs at Hillmorton – the canalside Old Royal Oak or the Stag & Pheasant in the village.  Day boaters can turn before three locks at Hillmorton or boat through with the help of volunteer lock keepers Maurice Farndon and Vince Laramy, who last year helped over 10,000 boaters through this busy flight of locks. ****Day boat ‘Ouzel II’ can carry up to 12 people.  Weekday hire is £145, and £175 on weekends and bank holidays.
  7. Catch a lift on the Falkirk Wheel in Scotland – from Falkirk at the junction of the Forth & Clyde and Union canals in Scotland, day boat hirers can travel through the incredible Falkirk Wheel, the World’s first rotating boat lift and along the Union Canal to Polmont, where they can moor up and enjoy a short walk to The Claremont Inn.  Or continue on to the canalside Bridge 49 café bar and bistro, next to Causewayend Marina. ****Day boat hire on the ‘Jaggy Thistle’ which can carry up to eight passengers, is £250, Friday to Sunday.
  8. Glide through the Brecon Beacons – from Goytre Wharf on the beautiful Monmouth & Brecon Canal near Abergavenny, boaters can enjoy incredible mountain views on the two-and-a-half-hour journey to the popular Star pub at Mamhillad, a short walk from bridge 62. ***Day boat ‘Rooster’ can carry up to eight people, weekday hire from £99, weekends & bank holidays £160.
  9. Tunnel through rural Worcestershire – from Tardebigge on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal near Bromsgrove, cruise north to Kings Norton Junction, a pretty rural route with historic pubs along the way, including the family-friendly Hopwood House at Hopwood.  The route is lock-free but there are three tunnels to pass through, including the 2493-metre long Wast Hill Tunnel, one of the longest canal tunnels in the country. ****‘Emma’ can carry up to 10 people each, weekday hire is £99, weekends & bank holidays £140.
  10. Cruise through the Leicestershire countryside to Foxton Locks – from Union Wharf in Market Harborough it’s a pleasant two-and-a-half hour cruise along the Grand Union Canal Leicester Line to the top of Foxton Locks.  Here day boaters will find stunning views of the Leicestershire countryside, plenty of places to picnic and the historic waterside Foxton Locks Inn for a pub lunch or drink.  Visitors can also watch canal boats negotiate the famous Foxton Staircase flight of locks and find out about the intriguing Victorian Foxton Inclined Plane Boat Lift that once operated there in the tiny Foxton Canal Museum. ***Day boat ‘Moorhen’ can carry up to 12 people, weekday hire starts at £160, weekends & bank holidays from £210.
  11. Travel the Trent & Mersey to Rugeley – from Drifters’ boat yard at Great Haywood on the Trent & Mersey Canal near Stafford, day boaters can cruise four miles, passing through two locks to reach the historic market town of Rugeley.  The journey, which takes around two hours, passes the National Trust’s stunning Shugborough Estate, the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust’s Wolseley Centre and the popular Wolseley Arms pub at Wolseley Bridge.  ***Day boats ‘Daphne’ and ‘Abi’ can carry up to 10 people each.  Weekday hire from Great Haywood starts at £99, £140 on weekends and bank holidays.
  12. Boat through the countryside to The Spring Inn – from Drifters’ canal boat hire base at Aldermaston in Berkshire, day boaters can cruise through the countryside for two hours to Tyle Mill Lock in around two hours.  From Tyle Mill Lock, it’s a ten minute walk to the Spring Inn gastropub in Sulhamstead, serving a weekly Sunday roast, as well as lunch and supper daily. ***Day boat ‘Hey Day’ can carry up to 10 people, weekday hire starts at £99, weekends & bank holidays £160.

 

 

Top 10 Canal Events for 2019

Top 10 Canal Events for 2019

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Britain’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 10 events for 2019, along with information on our nearest canal boat hire bases:  

  1. Easter Boat Gathering, 19-20 April – the annual Easter Boat Gathering at the National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port marks the official start of the boating season.  Over the weekend, dozens of boats will moor up across the Museum’s seven-acre site and visitors can enjoy live music, workshop tours, historic boats and museum activities.
  2. St Richard’s Canal Festival, 3-5 May – this annual event, which takes place in Vines Park alongside the Droitwich Barge Canal, will be extra special this year as the Worcester & Birmingham Canal Society will be celebrating the 45th anniversary of the start of the restoration of the Droitwich Canals.  The event offers family entertainment, live music, boats, classic cars, art workshops, community stalls, a real ale bar and the annual ‘Great Droitwich Duck Race’ with over 1,000 plastic ducks competing.  Drifters’ nearest canal boat rental bases are Worcester and Stoke Prior.
  3. Rickmansworth Canal Festival, 19-20 May – celebrating canals, the community and the environment, the annual Rickmansworth Canal Festival attracts a spectacular array of canal boats from across the country.  Occupying part of the Aquadrome and the Grand Union Canal towpath between Stockers Lock and Batchworth Lock, the event hosts a range of music, performing arts, displays, presentations, traders and catering.  Drifters’ nearest canal boat hire base is on the Grand Union Canal at Braunston.
  4. Crick Boat Show & Waterways Festival, 25-27 May – close to 300 exhibitors will gather at Crick Marina on the Leicester Line of the Grand Union Canal near Daventry to celebrate the canals and showcase thousands of inland waterways products and services.  Now Britain’s biggest inland waterways festival, the event offers visitors a fantastic day out by the water, with free boat trips, live music, children’s activities, arts and crafts stands and a wide variety of food and drink stalls.  Drifters’ nearest narrowboat hire bases are at Gayton, Braunston and Market Harborough.
  5. Chester Dragon Boat Festival, 9 June – this annual and very colourful charity event on the River Dee in Chester sees over 20 dragon boat teams of up to 16 paddlers and a drummer battling to become the champions.  Drifters’ nearest narrowboat hire rental centres are Bunbury and Brewood.
  6. Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, 1-7 July – every yearthousands of people from around the World descend on the pretty town of Llangollen on the Llangollen Canal to celebrate dance, music, costume and culture.  The Llangollen Eisteddfod is one of the world’s great musical and culture events with six days of world-class competitions and concerts featuring an array of international performers.  Drifters’ nearest canal boat hire bases are at Trevor, Chirk and Blackwater Meadow.
  7. Stratford River Festival, 6-7 July – this two-day free annual event offers visitors waterside family fun in Stratford-upon-Avon with music, a gathering of boats, craft and food stalls, family zone, charity stalls, illuminated boat parade and spectacular fireworks.  Drifters’ nearest canal boat hire base is Wotton Wawen.
  8. Gathering of Historic Boats at Audlem, 27-28 July – over 30 historic narrowboats will gather on the Shropshire Union Canal at Audlem, celebrating the fascinating history of working boats.  Boats on display will include ‘Saturn’, a 1906 Shropshire Union Canal fly boat, which often worked from Audlem carrying cheeses and other produce loaded from the canal warehouse at Audlem, now the Shroppie Fly pub.Drifters’ nearest canal boat hire bases are at Bunbury and Brewood.
  9. Stoke Bruerne Village at War, 7-8 September – organised by the Friends of the Stoke Bruerne Canal Museum, the annual vintage themed Village at War event takes people back to the 40’s with live music, tea dances, vintage fashion shows, a Black Market, tanks and other military vehicles, re-enactments and displays.  Historic boats are on show, including the Museum’s own restored narrowboat ‘Sculptor’, which saw action in London as a fire boat during the Blitz.  Drifters’ nearest narrowboat hire bases are Gayton, Braunston, Stretton and Rugby.
  10. Stone Food & Drink Festival, 4-6 October – Staffordshire’s biggest celebration of all things gastronomic takes place at the Georgian market town of Stone on the Trent & Mersey Canal.  As well as a range of themed food marquees, the festival hosts demonstrations by top chefs, a beer festival, live music, gourmet dining in the pop up restaurant, street food and a farmers’ market.  Drifters’ nearest narrowboat rental bases are Great Haywood, Brewood and Peak District.

https://www.drifters.co.uk

 

9 new narrowboats for 2019

9 new narrowboats for 2019

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As part of our preparations for the new boating season, Drifters is adding dozens of new canal boats to its fleets across the network. To celebrate, here’s our Top 9 new narrowboats for 2019:

  1. ‘Gemini’ gets going at Whixall – from 5 April 2019 the new luxury 69ft narrowboat ‘Gemini’, with accommodation for up to 10 people, will be available to hire from Drifters’ new narrowboat hire base at Whixall, on the Prees Branch of the Llangollen Canal in Shropshire.  ‘Gemini’ will offer canal boat holiday-makers a semi-traditional stern, a spacious shower, two toilets, full central heating, a well-equipped galley and flexible accommodation in five cabins, ranging from five doubles to two doubles and six singles.  From Whixall it takes just 30 minutes to reach the main line of the Llangollen Canal, where on a short break, boaters can reach Chirk, with its magnificent aqueduct, 459-yard tunnel and choice of canalside pubs.  On a week’s holiday from Whixall, boaters can cruise on to the Eisteddfod town of Llangollen, travelling across the incredible Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, which this year celebrates 10 years of World Heritage Status.  2019 prices for ‘Gemini’ start at £825 for a short break (three or four nights), £1,175 for a week.  Diesel is extra – a £50 deposit is taken for short breaks (three or four nights), £90 for a week. Charge based on use, circa £10-15 per day.  Second pet is charged at £25 for a short break, £35 for a week.
  2. ‘Purbeck’ is the new pride of the Braunston fleet – available from 31 March 2019, the new 48ft narrowboat for two people, ‘Purbeck’, based at Drifters canal boat hire base on the Grand Union Canal in Braunston, Northamptonshire, is fitted to a high standard and designed to be a couple’s perfect romantic escape boat. The spacious saloon area features comfortable armchairs, the large ensuite shower room comes complete with toiletries, and the shiny new galley has granite worktops and everything needed for self-catering. WiFi, TV, DVD player, Radio and CD player, hairdryer and USB/phone charging points are all provided.  On a week’s holiday from Braunston, boaters can cruise to Snarestone and back, travelling a total of 95 miles, through eight locks in around 40 hours. As well as sections of the Grand Union, North Oxford and Coventry canals, the route includes the peaceful lock-free Ashby Canal and the Battle of Bosworth Heritage Centre & Country Park at Sutton Cheney.  2019 prices for a week on ‘Purbeck’ start at £820. Price includes diesel, gas, damage waiver, cancellation protection, parking, buoyancy aids, tuition and first pet. Second pet is charged at £25.
  3. ‘Poppy’ pops in at Wootton Wawen – from 15 April, the new luxury narrowboat for four people ‘Poppy’ will be available to hire from Drifters’ canal boat rental base at Wootton Wawen, on the Stratford Canal near Henley-in-Arden in Warwickshire.  This 66ft long semi-traditional stern narrowboat offers heritage features, including a Belfast sink, port holes and a fuel stove in the saloon.  As well as full radiator central heating, WiFi, and a large TV, ‘Poppy’ also provides extra facilities, such as two showers and two toilets, two double beds (one of which can be made into twin beds) in separate cabins and LED lighting.  On a short break from Wootton Wawen, narrowboat holiday-makers can travel to Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon and back.  On a week’s holiday, boaters can reach historic Warwick or Birmingham City Centre.  2019 prices for ‘Poppy‘start at £740 for short break, £1,060 for a week.  Diesel is extra – a £50 deposit is taken for short breaks (three or four nights), £90 for a week. .  Charge based on use, circa £10-15 per day.  Second pet is charged at £25 for a short break, £35 for a week.
  4. ‘York’ is the new star in Yorkshire – perfect for families or two couples, the 54ft narrowboat or up to six people ‘York’ is now available to hire from Drifters canal boat holiday base at Sowerby Bridge, at the junction of the Rochdale Canal and Calder & Hebble Navigation in West Yorkshire.  ‘York’ has a flexible layout with two cabins which can either be doubles or singles, plus an area of the saloon which can be converted into two singles or one double.  ‘York’ is equipped with all mod cons, including a mains hair dryer, central heating, TV/DVD player, radio CD, bathroom with corner shower toilet, basin and a radiator and a fully equipped galley kitchen. On a short break from Sowerby Bridge, canal boat holiday-makers can travel along the Rochdale Canal to Hebden Bridge and back, a journey which takes around 11 hours, passing through 20 locks (10 on the way, 10 on the way back) and travelling 14 miles.  The old mill town of Hebden Bridge is nestled in a fork in the hills, and has a series of scenic waymarked walks to enjoy and an amazing variety of shops, cafes, restaurants and pubs.  Along the way, boaters pass through the beautiful Calder Valley village of Mytholmroyd, the birthplace of Ted Hughes.  On a week’s holiday, boaters can travel on to Wakefield to visit the waterside Hepworth Wakefield Art Gallery, displaying an extensive collection of modern and contemporary British art.   2019 prices for ‘York’ start at £600 for a short break (three or four nights), £1,000 for a week. Price includes damage waiver, diesel, parking, bed linen, life jackets, cruising guide, first pet and tuition.  Second pet is £25 by prior arrangement.
  5. ‘Sagittarius’ begins cruising in Bath – from 25 May, the new luxury 69ft luxury narrowboat for up to 10 people ‘Sagittarius’ will be available to hire from Drifters canal boat hire base on the Kennet & Avon Canal at Bath.  ‘Sagittarius’ has a semi traditional stern, a spacious shower, two toilets, full central heating, well-equipped galley and flexible accommodation in five cabins, ranging from five doubles to two doubles and six singles.  From Sydney Wharf in Bath, it takes around 10 hours to reach Fox Hanger Wharf at the base of the Caen Hill Flight of locks, perfect for a short break.  On a week’s holiday, boaters can travel on through the beautiful Vale of Pewsey to Pewsey Wharf and back.  2019 prices for ‘Sagittarius’ start at £825 for a short break, £1,175 for a week.  Diesel is extra – a £50 deposit is taken for short breaks (three or four nights), £90 for a week. Charge based on use, circa £10-15 per day.  Second pet is charged at £25 for a short break, £35 for a week.
  6. ‘Aurora’ arrives at Napton – with 6ft inches of headroom, and providing accommodation for up to eight adults and two children, the new 70ft narrowboat Aurora is now available to hire from Drifters’ narrowboat base at Napton Marina, on the Oxford Canal in Warwickshire.  ‘Aurora’ has four cabins, two of which have king sized beds, another cabin which can either be a double or two singles, a cabin with two single beds and a convertible double bed in the saloon.  She also has two bathrooms with fresh water flush toilets, radiator central heating and a fully equipped galley kitchen with a microwave, toaster, coffee maker, oven and hob, plus WiFi and an entertainment unit in the saloon with LCD TV, CD/DVD/MP3 Player.  On a short break from Napton, boaters can travel along the Oxford Canal to Rugby and back, passing through a series of pretty canalside villages with traditional pubs along the way.  On a week’s break, boaters can travel on to Coventry to visit the City’s famous cathedral, home to the World’s largest tapestry, Graham Sutherland’s ‘Christ in Glory’. 2019 prices for ‘Aurora’ start at £895 for a short break (three or four nights), and £1,295 for a week.  Price includes VAT, cancellation protection, gas, diesel, bedlinen, car parking, life jackets, tuition and inventory.  A compulsory non-refundable damage waiver of £55 is extra, and pets are charged at £35 each. 
  7. The ‘Bar Tailed Lark’ launches at Anderton – the new 66ft narrowboat for up to six people ‘Bar Tailed Lark’ is available to hire from Drifters’ canal boat base at Anderton in Cheshire, at the junction of the River Weaver and the Trent & Mersey Canal.  ‘Bar Tailed Lark’ offers flexible accommodation in two cabins, which can either be doubles or singles, and the option of a dinette double in the saloon.  The Lark features LED lighting, a TV in both a bedroom and in the saloon, two showers, a fully equipped kitchen and front deck table.  On a short break from Anderton, boaters can travel along the picturesque River Weaver to the pretty Cheshire village of Lymm and back, cruising for a total of 35 miles, and passing through two locks (one of the way and one on the way back) in around 13 hours. Along the way, canal boat holiday-makers pass by a series of canalside pubs and enjoy stunning views of the Pennines in the distance.  On a week’s holiday from Anderton, boaters can travel on to the ancient City of Chester. 2019 prices aboard ‘Bar Tailed Lark’ start at £779 for a short break (three or four nights), or £1,199 for a week. Prices include damage waiver, gas, parking, tuition on arrival, towels, bedding and first pet.  Fuel is extra and a £50 fuel deposit is taken for a short break, £90 for a week.  Charges are based on use, circa £10-15 per day.  Additional pets are charged at £30 each.
  8. The ‘Willow Warbler’ arrives at Worcester – the spacious new 69ft narrowboat for up to eight people ‘Willow Warbler’ is available to hire from Drifters’ canal boat hire base on the River Severn at Worcester.  ‘Willow Warbler’ has three flexible cabins which can be made up as doubles or singles, plus a convertible dinette double in the saloon.  The Warbler features LED lighting, a TV in both a bedroom and in the saloon, two showers, a fully equipped kitchen and front deck table.  On a four night short break from Worcester, canal boat holiday-makers can tackle the Droitwich Ring, travelling 21 miles through the beautiful Worcestershire countryside, and passing through 33 locks in around 16 hours.  On a week’s break from Worcester, boaters can travel around the 79-mile long Stourport Ring, which takes in sections of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal, Worcester & Birmingham Canal Navigation, the River Severn, Birmingham Canal Main Line and Stourbridge canals.  2019 prices aboard the ‘Willow Warbler’ start at £999 for a short break (three or four nights), and £1,399 for a week.  Prices include damage waiver, gas, parking, tuition on arrival, towels, bedding and first pet.  Fuel is extra and a £50 fuel deposit is taken for a short break, £90 for a week.  Charges are based on use, circa £10-15 per day.  Additional pets are charged at £30 each.
  9. The ‘Bays Wren’ moves in at Falkirk – the new 47ft narrowboat for up to four people, ‘Bays Wren’ has one flexible cabin which can be made up as either a double or single, plus the option of a dinette double in the saloon.  The Wren features LED lighting, a TV in both the bedroom and in the saloon, a shower room and toilet, a fully equipped kitchen and front deck table.  On a four night mid-week break from Drifters’ base at Falkirk, Edinburgh Quay is a sedate 11-hour journey along the lock-free Union Canal.  The journey starts with a trip through the iconic Falkirk Wheel (the world’s first rotating boat lift) and then passes through the lovely lowland villages of Linlithgow, Broxburn and Ratho.  Visitor moorings are available at Edinburgh Quay, just a five-minute walk from Princes Street and many of the City’s attractions. On a week’s break, boaters can also travel along the Forth & Clyde Canal to Glasgow, passing the colossal 30 metre high Kelpie horse statutes along the way.  2019 prices aboard the ‘Bays Wren’ start at £519 for a short break (three or four nights), and £799 for a week.  Prices include damage waiver, gas, parking, tuition on arrival, towels, bedding and first pet.  Fuel is extra and a £50 fuel deposit is taken for a short break, £90 for a week.  Charges are based on use, circa £10-15 per day.  Additional pets are charged at £30 each and an additional licence is required at Falkirk, charged at £15 for three nights, or £25 for longer, payable by cash or card on arrival.