Experience Christmas or New Year on a narrowboat
Drifters offers winter canal holidays from five locations in England and Wales
With quiet canals, cosy waterside pubs and festive waterside destinations, why not experience Christmas or New Year on a narrowboat.
We offer winter cruising* from five of our bases, with boats offering accommodation for between two to 12 people.
All our winter boats have central heating, hot water, televisions, DVD players and WiFi. Some also have multi-fuel stoves. So, whatever the weather, it’s always nice and cosy on board.
Prices over Christmas and New Year start at start at £970 for a week on a boat for up to four people.
1. Cruise through the Welsh mountains to Llangollen
From our canal boat rental base at Trevor on the Llangollen Canal in North Wales, it takes around 2 hours to cruise to Llangollen. There you can moor up in Llangollen Basin and enjoy visiting this beautiful mountainside town. Places to visit include: the Llangollen Steam Railway; Plas Newydd house; Castell Dinas Bran; and Horseshoe Falls. There’s a great choice of independent shops and places to eat, including the popular Corn Mill with river and mountain views.
2. Navigate through the Bath Valley to Georgian Bath
From Bradford on Avon on the Kennet & Avon Canal in Wiltshire, it takes around 4 hours to cruise to moorings at Sydney Gardens, just a 15 minute walk from Bath City Centre. The journey passes through just one lock and crossing the magnificent Avoncliff and Dundas Aqueducts. There’s so much to see and do in the UNESCO World Heritage City of Bath, including a visit to the Roman Baths and Pump Rooms.
3. Cruise through the countryside to Staffordshire’s foodie capital
Heading north from Great Haywood on the Trent & Mersey Canal in Staffordshire, you can reach the historic market town of Stone in around 5 hours. The journey passes through 8 locks (4 each way) and passes through 10 peaceful miles of Staffordshire countryside. Pubs to enjoy along the way include the Saracen’s Head at Weston and the Dog & Doublet at Sandon. Once at Stone, considered to be Staffordshire’s foodie capital, there’s a great choice of places to eat and shop.
4. Float to through the Warwickshire countryside to Stratford-upon-Avon
From Wootton Wawen on the Stratford Canal in Warwickshire, it’s a 6-hour cruise to Stratford-upon-Avon. The journey takes you through the Warwickshire countryside, passing through 17 locks along the way. Once in Stratford, you can moor up in Bancroft Basin, just a short walk from this popular tourist town’s excellent choice of theatres, restaurants, markets and museums.
5. Navigate through the Cheshire countryside to Chester
From Bunbury on the Shropshire Union Canal near Tarporley, you can cruise to Chester and back. The 12-mile return journey through the Cheshire countryside passes through 18 locks and takes around 14 hours. Pubs to enjoy along the way include the Shady Oak at Wharton’s Lock and Cheshire Cat at Christleton. Once at Chester, you can moor up to experience Christmas or New Year in this ancient city with Roman Walls, Chester Rows shops and a great choice of places to eat and drink.
*NB some routes may be affected by winter maintenance work on the canal network.
