Hire an electric canal boat for the day
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.
