Spring days out afloat
Drifters offers canal boats for day hire at 19 locations in England and Wales
Spring is a great time of year to get family and friends together for a day out boating.
Britain’s 2,000-mile network of canals and rivers in England and Wales wind through some of the nation’s best-loved countryside. You can pack a picnic or stop off at a canalside pub for lunch.
We offer day boat hire at 19 locations in England and Wales. Full tuition is included and all our day boats are equipped with cutlery, crockery and a kettle. Most also have a toilet, cooker and fridge.
Boats range in size and can accommodate between 8 and 12 people. Our boats are pet-friendly and many have electric engines.
Here’s a guide to some of our best spring days out afloat:
Cruise through Shakespeare country to Wilmcote (Warwickshire)
On a day out boating from Wootton Wawen on the Stratford Canal you can cruise to the village of Wilmcote and back. The journey takes 2.5 hours each way and crosses the impressive Edstone Aqueduct, with beautiful views across the Warwickshire countryside. You can visit the Mary Arden Inn at Wilmcote or the View Restaurant at Hill Farm Marina, close to Edstone Aqueduct.
*Day boats ‘Dolly’, ‘Charlie’ and ‘Emma’ can carry up to 10 people each. Weekday hire is £120. Weekend and bank holiday day boat hire is £165.
Boat through the Shropshire Lake District to Prees (Shropshire)
From Blackwater Meadow Marina on the Llangollen Canal near Ellesmere, you can cruise through the Shropshire Lake District to Prees and back. The lock-free return journey takes around 6 hours and goes through one short tunnel. The route passes Blake Mere and Cole Mere where there are some great walking and picnic spots.
*Day boat ‘Lazy Days’ can carry up to 10 people. Weekday hire starts at £119. Weekend and bank holiday day hire starts at £149.
Navigate through Cannock Chase to the Wolseley Arms (Staffordshire)
From Great Haywood on the Trent & Mersey Canal near Stafford, you can cruise to the historic market town of Rugeley and back. The journey takes around 2 hours and goes through 2 locks. You’ll pass through the Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. And you’ll pass the popular Wolseley Arms pub at Wolseley Bridge. When you reach the village of Rugeley, you walk to the canalside Colliers pub.
*Day boats ‘Daphne’ and ‘Abi’ can carry up to 10 people each. Weekday hire is £120. Weekend and bank holiday day boat hire is £165.
Glide along the leafy Worcester & Birmingham Canal (Worcestershire)
On a day out from Alvechurch Marina near Bromsgrove you can cruise through the remains of the Forest of Arden to Kings Norton Junction and back. Along the way you can stop off at the canalside Hopwood House pub and enjoy a walk around the Bittell Reservoirs, a haven for bird life. The route is lock-free and takes you through Wast Hills Tunnel, which is over 1.5 miles long.
*Electric day boats ‘Away Day’ and ‘Fun Day’ can carry up to 10 people. Weekday hire starts at £131. Weekend and bank holiday day hire starts at £164.
Navigate to The Star Inn at Mamhillad in the Brecon Beacons (Monmouthshire)
On day out boating along on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal from Goytre Wharf you can cruise through the beautiful Usk Valley. It takes around 2.5 hours to reach moorings close to the popular Star pub at Mamhillad, a short walk from bridge 62.
*Electric day boat ‘Golden Day’ can carry up to 10 people. Weekday hire starts at £131. Weekend and bank holiday day boat hire starts at £164.
Cruise along the Grand Union Canal to Napton-on-the-Hill (Northamptonshire)
On a day boat from Braunston in heart of the canal network you can reach the historic village of Napton-on-the-Hill. The lock-free journey goes through the Northamptonshire countryside and into Warwickshire. When you reach Napton, you can moor up and walk into the village where there’s a choice of pubs, including the Kings Head. There’s also a shop with a deli, local produce and homemade meals. The journey to Napton and back takes around 6 hours.
*Day boat ‘Ouzel II’ can carry up to 12 people. Weekday hire is £150. Weekend and bank holiday day boat hire is £195.
Float across ‘The Stream in the Sky’ (Wrexham)
From Trevor on the Llangollen Canal in North Wales you can travel across the UNESCO World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. Standing at over 38 metres high above the Dee Valley, this incredible structure offers amazing views of the Dee Valley below. After cruising across the Aqueduct, there are 2 tunnels and another aqueduct to cross, before you reach the Bridge Inn at Chirk Bank. The journey to Chirk and back takes around 5 hours.
*Day boats ‘Jacob’, ‘Daniel’ and ‘Lotty’ can carry up to 10 people. Weekday hire is £155. Weekend and bank holiday day boat hire is £199.
Boat along the Kennet & Avon Canal to Brassknocker Basin (Wiltshire)
From Bradford on Avon Marina you can cruise west through the Bath Valley to Brassknocker Basin and back. The route takes you through Bradford on Avon Lock and across the magnificent Bath stone Avoncliff and Dundas aqueducts. At Brassknocker Basin you can stop off at the Angelfish café. The journey there and back travels 9 miles and takes around 4 hours.
*Day boats ‘Jacy’, ‘Emily’, ‘Katherine’, ‘Sally’ & ‘Grace’ can carry up to 10 people each. Weekday hire is £185. Weekend and bank holiday day boat hire is £199.
Navigate through the West Berkshire countryside to the Spring Inn (Berkshire)
From Aldermaston on the Kennet & Avon Canal near Reading you can cruise through the West Berkshire countryside to Theale and back. There you can take a 10-minute walk to enjoy lunch at the Spring Inn at Sulhamstead. The total journey takes just over 4 hours and passes through 2 locks each way.
*Day boat ‘Happy Days’ can carry up to 10 people. Weekday hire starts at £149. Weekend and bank holiday hire starts at £249.
Enjoy views of the Peak District on the Peak Forest Canal (Derbyshire)
On a day out boating from New Mills Marina you 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 and the chance to watch boats passing through one of the steepest lock flights in Britain. The Hatton Arms in Marple is a short walk away. The journey to Marple and back takes 5.5 hours and there are no locks.
*Electric day boat ‘Field Day’ can accommodate up to 10 people. Weekday hire starts at £119. Weekend and bank holiday day boat hire starts at £149.
Float along the Shropshire Union Canal to Nantwich (Cheshire)
From Bunbury Wharf near Tarporley you can cruise south for 6 miles to Nantwich and back. The journey travels across the impressive Grade II* listed Nantwich Aqueduct, with panoramic views across the town, and passes the canalside Olde Barbridge Inn. The journey to Nantwich takes around 2.5 hours and there are no locks.
*Day boat ‘Bella’ can carry up to 10 people. Weekday hire is £99. Weekend and bank holiday day boat hire is £165.
Boat along the Kennet & Avon Canal to Avoncliff Aqueduct (Wiltshire)
From Hilperton Marina, near Trowbridge you can cruise west through the Bath Valley to Avoncliff and back. Along the way you’ll pass through the medieval market town of Bradford on Avon. There’s just one lock to pass through at Bradford on Avon. When you reach the impressive Bath stone Avoncliff Aqueduct you can moor up visit The Cross Guns pub. Or the No.10 canalside cafe. The journey to Avoncliff and back takes around 6 hours.
*Electric day boat ‘Seize the Day’ can carry up to 10 people. Weekday hire starts at £131. Weekend and bank holiday day boat hire starts at £219.
Cruise through the countryside to Atherstone (Warwickshire)
On a day out from Springwood Haven Marina on the Coventry Canal near Nuneaton you can cruise through the Warwickshire countryside to the historic market town of Atherstone and back. The route passes the canalside Anchor Inn and return journey takes around 3 hours.
*Electric day boat ‘Sunny Day’ can accommodate up to 10 people. Weekday hire starts at £119. Weekend and bank holiday hire starts at £149.
Navigate to the Fenn’s, Whixall & Bettisford Mosses National Nature Reserve (Shropshire)
From Whitchurch Marina on the Llangollen Canal you can cruise through the Shropshire countryside to the Fenn’s, Whixall and Bettisford Mosses National Nature Reserve. The journey there and back takes around 6 hours. There are no locks but there are 3 lift bridges to negotiate. Whixall Mosses Nature Reserve is the perfect spot for a walk and a picnic.
*Electric day boat ‘Perfect Day’ can accommodate up to 10 people. Weekday hire starts at £131. Weekend and bank holiday hire starts at £219.
