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Home » Publicity

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Narrowboat cruising along a canal in the British countryside

Drifters Press Coverage 2025

January 9, 2026/in Press/by Debbie Ludford

Drifters Canal Boat Holidays press and media coverage in 2025

January

  • International Travel Writers Alliance, mid Jan 2025, Canal boating in Scotland

February

  • Towpath Talk, 1 Feb, ‘Top six new narrowboats for hire in 2025’
  • The Sun, 2 Feb, Valentine weekend breaks ‘Rock my boat’
  • International Travel Writers Alliance, 7 Feb 2025, ‘Plying the Kennet & Avon Canal in winter’

March

  • Towpath Talk, 1 March ‘Top 8 canal boat holidays for spring’
  • Daily Express, 1 March 2025 ‘Canal Urges’
  • Daily Mirror, 1 March 2025 ‘Canal Urges’
  • Sunday People, 2 March 2025 ‘Canal Urges’
  • Daily Star Sunday, 2 March 2025 ‘Canal Urges’
  • com, 10 March ‘Nostalgic holidays boom takes travellers back to the 1990’s and beyond’ Nostalgic holidays boom takes travellers back to 1990s and beyond | escape.com.au
  • com, 17 March Profile of Marion/Love Travelling Soaring Over the Atherton Tablelands with Marion Collinson of Love Travelling Blog | Hot Air Balloon Australia
  • H&N Magazine, 17 March ‘Drifters brings you great British boating experiences’ Drifters Brings You Great British Canal Boating Experiences – HN Magazine
  • The Times, 22 March ‘Book a last-minute holiday for Easter’
  • Travel with Spirit, 23 March 2,000 Miles of Waterway Adventures
  • Towpath Talk, 26 March ‘Boating breaks get top marks’ BOATING BREAKS get top marks | Towpath Talk
  • MSN, 26 March ‘Discover where the wild things really are in the UK this spring’ spot bats on the Mon & Brec
  • Irish News, 26 March ‘Discover where the wild things really are in the UK this spring’ spot bats on the Mon & Brec
  • Ten reasons to take a canal boat holiday, 27 March 10 reasons to take a canal boat holiday this summer | Canal & River Trust
  • About Manchester, 27 March 10 reasons to take a canal boat holiday this summer – About Manchester
  • Canal Boat, 28 March 10 reasons to take a canal boat holiday this summer – Canal Boat
  • Scotland on Sunday, 30 March ‘Where wild things roam’ spot bats on the Mon & Brec

April

  • Towpath Talk, 1 April ‘Cracking Easter Destinations’
  • H&N Magazine, 1 April Enjoy a Canal Boating Summer – HN Magazine
  • The Sunday Post, 6 April ‘Answering the call of the wild is good for your soul’ spot bats on the Mon & Brec
  • The Gazette (Middlesborough/Teeside) 9 April ‘Where the wild things are’ spot bats on the Mon & Brec
  • Derby Telegraph, 9 April ‘Where the wild things are’ spot bats on the Mon & Brec
  • Grimsby Telegraph, 9 April ‘Where the wild things are’ spot bats on the Mon & Brec
  • Burton Mail, 9 April ‘Where the wild things are’ spot bats on the Mon & Brec
  • Surrey Advertiser, 10 April ‘Where the wild things are’ spot bats on the Mon & Brec
  • Bristol Post, 10 April ‘Where the wild things are’ spot bats on the Mon & Brec
  • Liverpool Echo, 10 April ‘Where the wild things are’ spot bats on the Mon & Brec
  • H&N Magazine, 11 April Top 10 Summer Days Out Boating on the Canals – HN Magazine
  • Shropshire Star, 12 April ‘Take a walk on the wild side to discover the UK this spring’
  • Express & Star, 12 April ‘Take a walk on the wild side to discover the UK this spring’
  • The Hinkley Times, 16 April ‘Where the wild things are’ spot bats on the Mon & Brec
  • Loughborough Echo, 16 April ‘Where the wild things are’ spot bats on the Mon & Brec
  • Leek Post & Times, 16 April ‘Where the wild things are’ spot bats on the Mon & Brec
  • North Devon Journal, 17 April ‘Where the wild things are’ spot bats on the Mon & Brec
  • Monkey and Mouse, 28 April 15 Reasons Why You Should Take a Narrowboat Holiday On the Llangollen Canal – Including Itinerary – Monkey and Mouse

May

  • Travel and Holidays – Sixtyplusurfers
  • Allways Traveller, ‘The canal community is truly one of a kind’
  • The Scottish Sun, 6 May ‘I live on a canal boat and it’s the best way to holiday in the UK’
  • The Sun, 6 May I live on a canal boat and it’s the best way to holiday in the UK – here are my two favourite towns to visit | The Sun
  • Yahoo Life!/The Telegraph, 8 May Britain’s best and most underrated canals to explore this summer
  • Daily Telegraph, 8 May The best canal holidays in Britain and tips for beginners
  • Hull Daily Mail, 10 May Travel bUzz, ‘Bradford-on-Avon for £1,358’
  • Wales on Sunday, 11 May Travel bUzz, ‘Bradford-on-Avon for £1,358’
  • Sunday Mercury, 11 May Travel bUzz, ‘Bradford-on-Avon for £1,358’
  • Sunday Sun, 11 May Travel bUzz, ‘Bradford-on-Avon for £1,358’
  • Liverpool Echo, 11 May Travel bUzz, ‘Bradford-on-Avon for £1,358’
  • Manchester Evening News, 11 May Travel bUzz, ‘Bradford-on-Avon for £1,358’
  • Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 12 May Travel bUzz, ‘Bradford-on-Avon for £1,358’
  • South Wales Echo, 12 May Travel bUzz, ‘Bradford-on-Avon for £1,358’
  • Grimsby Telegraph, 12 May Travel bUzz, ‘Bradford-on-Avon for £1,358’
  • The Gazette (Middlesborough/Teesside), 12 May Travel bUzz, ‘Bradford-on-Avon for £1,358’
  • The Journal (Newcastle), 12 May Travel bUzz, ‘Bradford-on-Avon for £1,358’
  • Stoke Sentinel, 12 May TravelbUzz, ‘Bradford-on-Avon for £1,358’
  • H&N Magazine, 20 May Heaven is Going Totally ‘Off Grid’ on a Canal Barge – HN Magazine
  • Parent’s News, 22 May https://parents-news.co.uk/2025/05/best-family-canal-boat-holiday-escapes-into-the-countryside-this-summer/

June

  • Premier Magazine (BidVest Airport Lounges), July 2025 ‘Exploring the UK’s waterways’
  • The Irish Post, 31 May 2025 ‘Birmingham’s Balti’s, blinders and Irish backbone’ Birmingham’s Balti, blinders and Irish backbone | The Irish Post
  • H&N Magazine, 10 June 2025 Grand Union Narrowboats Joins Drifters Boating Holidays – HN Magazine
  • Narrowboat World, 11 June https://narrowboatworld.com/16267-another-boat-hire-company-joins-drifters
  • Boaters’ Update, 20 June ‘Drifters offers peace of mind when it comes to network disruptions’ Boaters’ Update 20 June 2025 | Canal & River Trust
  • Drift Travel Magazine, 24 June, ‘Best Waterside Pubs to Visit on a Narrowboat Holiday’ Best Waterside Pubs to Visit on a Narrowboat Holiday
  • The Buddy Moon, 21 June ‘Living on a boat in Wales (Llangollen Canal)’ TUI Lates Deals 20 Sec | 1920×1080 | 80483
  • The Scotsman, 28 June 2025 ‘The perfect canal boat getaway’
  • The Buddy Moon, 29 June ‘Full Tour of Our Off-Grid 54ft Narrow Boat (Llangollen)’ FULL TOUR of Our OFF-GRID 54ft NARROW BOAT (Llangollen) – YouTube

July

  • Love Travelling Blog, ‘The Falkirk Wheel & Kelpies’, 7 July The Falkirk Wheel & Kelpies – Love Travelling Blog
  • Sunday Mirror, 13 July ‘Fancy a lock-in?’
  • The Chronicle (Newcastle), 30 July ‘Fancy a lock-in?’
  • Cambridge News, 30 July ‘Fancy a lock-in?’
  • Hull Daily Mail, 30 July ‘Fancy a lock-in?’
  • Manchester Evening News, 30 July ‘Fancy a lock-in?’
  • Nottingham Post, 30 July ‘Fancy a lock-in?’
  • South Wales Evening Post, 30 July ‘Fancy a lock-in?’
  • The Gazette (Middlesborough/Teeside), 30 July ‘Fancy a lock-in?’
  • The Journal (Newcastle), 30 July ‘Fancy a lock-in?’
  • The Sentinel (Stoke), 30 July ‘Fancy a lock-in?’
  • Grimsby Telegraph, 30 July ‘Fancy a lock-in?’
  • Liverpool Echo, 30 July ‘Fancy a lock-in?’
  • Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 30 July ‘Fancy a lock-in?’
  • Coventry Telegraph, 30 July ‘Fancy a lock-in?’
  • Derby Telegraph, 30 July ‘Fancy a lock-in?’
  • South Wales Echo, 30 July ‘Fancy a lock-in?’
  • Evening Standard, 30 July ‘Best last minute summer holidays to book before they are gone’ The best last-minute summer holiday deals to book before they’re gone
  • Yahoo Lifestyle, 30 July The best last-minute summer holiday deals to book before they’re gone
  • Birmingham Mail, 31 July ‘Fancy a lock-in?’

August

  • H&N Magazine, 9 August We Fell in Love with Narrowboat Life – HN Magazine
  • Drift Travel, 15 August Cruise the UK’s Waterways: Top Autumn Canal Boat Day Trips
  • Love Travelling, 28 August Sand Lark narrowboat on the Llangollen Canal – Love Travelling Blog
  • Little Wandering Wren, 28 August Supporting The Canal & River Trust : Life is better by the water – LittleWanderingWren
  • Love Travelling, 31 August Cruising the Llangollen Canal: Part One – Love Travelling Blog

September

  • The Mirror, 4 Sep Beautiful UK canal is one of ‘best leafy spots’ for a long weekend this autumn – The Mirror
  • Travel Bunny, 14 Sep Narrow Boat Holidays: a weekend on the waterways 
  • City Girl Network, 15 Sep UK Adventure Holiday Guide: Brecon and Monmonth Canal — City Girl Network
  • Little Wandering Wren, 16 Sep A Stress-Free Narrowboat Escape on the Coventry and Ashby Canals – LittleWanderingWren
  • Food & Drink Life, 18 Sep 4 miles an hour might be the perfect British vacation speed
  • Luxe Beat, 25 Sep Touring English Canals—Our First Narrowboat Adventure – Luxe Beat Magazine
  • Exploring More, October 2025 ‘Great Canal Boat Holidays’

October

  • Food & Drink Life, 30 Sep https://fooddrinklife.com/travelers-rethink-overtourism/
  • Food & Drink Life, 30 Sep https://fooddrinklife.com/canal-journeys-setcation-travelers/
  • com, 1 October 2025 A British Canal Vacation Is An Ideal Slow-Travel Family Adventure
  • The Howarths, 28 Oct Drifters Expands Narrowboat Fleet – The Howorths
  • Escape Magazine, Autumn Adrift, Oct 2025 (Australia)

November

  • Yorkshire Post Saturday Magazine, 1 Nov 2025 (pdf circulated)
  • Urban & Beyond (Olivia Ellis), 3 Nov 2025 A Guide to Canal Boating in the UK: Tracing the Waterways of History
  • Parents News, 5 Nov 2025 Christmas Canal Boat Holidays 2025: Cosy Winter Cruising with Drifters Waterway Holidays
  • H&N Magazine, 5 Nov 2025 Drifters Top 10 New Narrowboats for Hire in 2026 – HN Magazine
  • The Scotsman Magazine, 22 Nov 2025 (pdf circulated)
https://www.drifters.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Alvechurch-11-2021.jpeg 1366 2048 Debbie Ludford https://www.drifters.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/drifters-green.jpg Debbie Ludford2026-01-09 13:32:552026-02-25 09:49:29Drifters Press Coverage 2025
Drifters narrowboat crossing Dundas Aqueduct on the Kennet & Avon Canal in Somerset

Drifters Press Coverage May to Dec 2024

January 9, 2026/in Press/by Debbie Ludford

Drifters Narrow Boat Holidays Press Coverage from May to December 2024

May

  • Daily Telegraph, 8 May ‘Britain’s best and most underrated canals to explore this summer’ The best canal holidays in Britain and tips for beginners (telegraph.co.uk)
  • Manchester Evening News, 25 May ‘Late Breaks Pontcysyllte Aqueduct’
  • Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 25 May ‘Late Breaks Pontcysyllte Aqueduct’
  • Hull Daily Mail, 25 May ‘Late Breaks Pontcysyllte Aqueduct’
  • Birmingham Mail, 25 May ‘Late Breaks Pontcysyllte Aqueduct’
  • Liverpool Echo, 25 May ‘Late Breaks Pontcysyllte Aqueduct’
  • Nuneaton Telegraph, 25 May ‘Late Breaks Pontcysyllte Aqueduct’
  • Parents News, 29 May ‘Seven Wonders of the Waterways’ ‘Seven Wonders of the Waterways’ – Parents News UK (parents-news.co.uk)

June

  • Be Seeing You, 13 June ‘Embrace the Slow Pace Aboard a Canal Boat in Wales’ Embrace the Slow Pace Aboard a Canal Boat in Scenic Wales (beseeingyou.world)

July

  • National World 9 July Travel review: A wonderful week on the Welsh waterways (nationalworld.com)
  • International Travel Writers Alliance Bulletin, July ‘Cruising UK canals in autumn’
  • The Sun, 21 July ‘Meet the Gruffalo, see dinosaurs, jousts and more on a fab day out’
  • Daily Telegraph, 19 July ’20 ways to escape the summer heat in Britain’s cooler corners’ – ‘no.15 Canal Cruise: Brecon Beacons’ How to escape the summer heat in Britain’s cooler corners (telegraph.co.uk)
  • Average Jones, 22 July ‘Narrowboat Nirvana: Navigating the Mon & Brec Canal’ Narrowboat Nirvana: Navigating the Mon and Brec Canal – Average Joes
  • The Spectator, 24 July ‘My canalboat obsession is causing me trouble’ My canalboat obsession is causing me trouble | The Spectator
  • Marine & Aviation, 30 July ‘Narrowboat holidays for October Half Term’Narrowboat holidays for October Half Term – The Howorths

August

  • Daily Mirror, 9 August ‘Britain’s stunning waterways’ Britain’s stunning waterways – ‘UK’s Venice, three mile tunnel and a huge rotating canal’ – Mirror Online
  • The Sun, 31 August. ‘Tiller instinct The UK canal cruise holiday through one of the country’s prettiest cities’ The UK canal cruise holiday through one of the country’s prettiest cities | The Sun
  • Blissful Family Adventures posted two reels/videos of their press trip with Union Canal Carriers, 14 August (916 likes) and 20 August (611 likes). They will also provide us with images, text and video for a Drifters blog.

September

  • Mark Nicholls’ review of his press trip from Anderton Sailing Away On A Narrowboat Break From Anderton To Manchester (tripreporter.co.uk)
  • Motor Caravanner, Sep 2024 ‘Kindred Spirits’ https://thehoworths.com/2024/09/east-midlands/
  • Daily Mirror, Daily Express, 21 September ‘Smooth Sailing’
  • Downie Live Travels by Boat Narrowboating the LONGEST canal locks in the UK – YouTube
  • Downie Live Travels by Boat Boating the city with MORE CANAL than VENICE (youtube.com)
  • Downie Live Travels by Boat https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAnYKDhs3wY&feature=youtu.be

October

  • Little Wandering Wren, 4 Oct ‘Canal boating on the Stratford Canal’ Drifters Waterway Holidays: Canal Boating on the Stratford Canal. – LittleWanderingWren
  • Little Wandering Wren, 11 Oct ‘Your Ultimate Canal Boat Beginners Guide’ Your Ultimate Canal Boat Beginners Guide – LittleWanderingWren
  • Sunday Mirror, 13 October ‘Deals of the Week’
  • Daily Star Sunday, 13 October ‘Deals of the Week’
  • Sunday Express, 13 October ‘Deals of the Week’
  • Irish Sunday Mirror, 13 October ‘Deals of the Week’
  • Sunday Mirror Northern, 13 October ‘Deals of the Week’
  • Stoke Sentinel, 18 Oct ‘Deals of the Week’
  • Bristol Post, 18 Oct ‘Deals of the Week’
  • Parents News, 14 Oct ‘Top 7 October half term narrowboat holidays’ Top 7 October Half Term Narrowboat Holidays (parents-news.co.uk)
  • Parents News, 22 Oct ‘Spend Christmas or New Year on a narrowboat’Spend Christmas or New Year on a Narrowboat

November

  • Kickbacktimes, 4 Nov ‘Drifters Waterway Holidays: dog-friendly canal boating on the Kennet & Avon Canal Drifters Waterway Holidays: dog-friendly canal boating on the Kennet and Avon Canal – Kick Back Times
  • 5 Star Stories, 5 Nov ‘5 Reasons Why You Should Go Canal Boating in the UK’ 5 Reasons Why You Should Go Canal Boating in the UK – 5 Star Stories
  • Allways Traveller, 17 Nov ‘Narrowboating in the UK’
  • A luxury travel blog (120,000 unique visitors per month, combined social media following 1.2 million), 25 Nov ‘Long boating with Drifters Waterway Holidays’ UK family attractions that are worth the money – A Luxury Travel Blog

December

  • Go World Travel (US based digital magazine for world travellers, awarded a Silver for Best Digital Travel Website in 2020 by the Society of American Travel Writers and has over 1 million readers) 17 Dec 2024 A Longboat Adventure in the United Kingdom
  • Love Travelling Blog, Narrowboating on The Four Counties Ring – Part 1 Staffordshire Narrowboating on The Four Counties Ring – Part 1 Staffordshire – Love Travelling Blog
  • Love Travelling Blog, Narrowboating on The Four Counties Ring – Part 2 Cheshire Narrowboating on The Four Counties Ring – Part 2 Cheshire – Love Travelling Blog
  • Parents News, 30 Dec 2024 Top 5 canal boat holidays on the Scottish Lowland Canals
  • Sixtyplussurfers, ‘Top Six Drifters Narrowboats for Hire’, 2 Jan 2025 Travel and Holidays – Sixtyplusurfers
https://www.drifters.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Dundas-Aqueduct-Credit-Canal-River-Trust-1.jpg 1499 2000 Debbie Ludford https://www.drifters.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/drifters-green.jpg Debbie Ludford2026-01-09 13:22:012026-02-25 09:49:39Drifters Press Coverage May to Dec 2024

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https://www.drifters.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Tardebigge-Top-Lock-web-res-scaled.jpg 1707 2560 Drifters https://www.drifters.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/drifters-green.jpg Drifters2026-03-04 10:35:152026-03-04 13:12:15Top of the locks
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