Explore the waterways by canal boat this October Half Term
Canal boat holidays are great for families! They offer the chance to set off together on an adventure afloat, learning how to steer the boat, work the locks and stop at canalside attractions along the way.
A licence isn’t required to steer a canal boat, and all Drifters operators provide hirers with boat steering tuition as part of their holiday packages. All our narrow boats are equipped with essential home comforts, including central heating, hot water, TV, showers, flushing toilets, and many now have WiFi too.
Here are Drifters Top 5 narrowboat holidays for beginners for the October Half Term holiday:
1. Travel along the leafy Calder & Hebble Navigation to Brighouse
On a short break from Drifters’ boat yard at Sowerby Bridge, you can travel to Brighouse and back. This historic town, famous for its Brighouse and Rastick Brass Band, offers glorious Pennines walks, as well as great places to eat and shop. Along the way, you’ll pass through the historic market town of Elland and the village of Mirfield, with medieval stocks and ducking stool. The journey there and back travels 12 miles, passes through 20 locks (10 each way) and takes around eight hours.
2. Cruise through the Shropshire Lake District
From our narrow boat hire base at Whixall on the Prees Branch of the Llangollen Canal, you can cruise to Ellesmere in the heart of the Shropshire Lake District. The journey to Ellesmere takes around four cruising hours and there are no locks to pass through. Once at Ellesmere, there’s a choice of independent shops and restaurants, as well as gardens, woods and castle grounds to explore.
3. Visit Coventry UK City of Culture afloat
From our narrowboat hire base at Braunston, it takes 12 hours to reach Coventry Basin. The journey travels 28 miles and passes through just four locks, perfect for a week away. You’ll go up the North Oxford Canal, transferring on to the Coventry Canal at Hawksbury Junction. The route will take you through the Northamptonshire countryside, and past a series of canalside pubs, including the Greyhound Inn at Hawkesbury Junction.
4. Navigate to Market Drayton, home of the gingerbread man
On a week’s break departing from our Gailey base on the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal, you can cruise to Market Drayton and back. The journey there and back cruises 68 miles, passes through 14 locks and takes around 30 hours. Highlights include: the historic village of Brewood; walks at Belvide Reservoir; and cruising through deep wooded cuttings. There’s a good choice of canalside pubs along the way, including the Royal Oak at Gnosnall.
5. Visit Georgian Bath afloat
On a short break from our Devizes base in Wiltshire, you can travel along the beautiful Kennet & Avon Canal to moorings at Sydney Wharf. The journey travels 19 miles, passing through eight locks and takes around nine hours. Along the way, the route passes through a series of towns and villages with canalside pubs, including the Barge Inn at Bradford on Avon and the Cross Guns at Avoncliff. Once at Sydney Wharf, you can moor up and take a 15-minute walk into Bath City Centre to visit the Roman Baths and other World class attractions.
