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children on a narrowboat holiday in Britain

Best family canal boat holiday escapes this summer

March 24, 2026/in News/by Debbie Ludford

Canal boat holidays offer the chance to escape into the countryside for a nostalgic outdoor family adventure

To help plan your next adventure afloat, we’ve published a guide to our best family canal boat holiday escapes this summer.

There are over 3,000 miles of historic navigable waterways to explore in Great Britain, passing through some of our best loved countryside. Escaping into the country aboard a narrowboat gives you the chance to go off grid and connect with nature and each other.

Nigel Stevens of Drifters explains: “Families tend to arrive at our boat yards in a stressed and rushed state of mind. But once they’ve settled into the slower pace of life of a canal boat holiday, cruising slowly through the countryside, they unwind and become focused on the journey and each other.

“Parents often say how much they enjoyed seeing their children getting away from their screens and instead watching out for wildlife, noticing their surroundings and helping with the locks, steering and mooring up. They also enjoy playing cards and board games together in the evening, bringing back memories of their own family holidays when they were children.”

2026 summer holiday prices start at £910 for a short break (3 or 4 nights) on a boat for four people, £1,265 for a week.

Here’s a guide to our top 9 family canal boat holiday escapes this summer:

1. Cruise through the Fens to Cambridge and back (34 miles, 4 locks, 12 hours)

On a weekend break from Ely on the River Great Ouse, you can cruise gently through the countryside to Cambridge and back. The journey begins on the River Ouse to Wicken Fen, one of the National Trust’s beautiful wetland nature reserves. There you can moor up to enjoy walking through fenland and farmland, past marshes and reed beds. The journey then connects to the River Cam, and goes into the famous university city of Cambridge, where there are many beautiful buildings, including King’s College Chapel. Cambridge also has a great choice of shops and restaurants to visit, including the Ivy Brasserie and Bills.

2. Float across ‘The Stream in the Sky’ (28 miles, 4 locks, 12.5 hours)

From Chirk on the Llangollen Canal in North Wales, the Eisteddfod town of Llangollen on the edge of the Berwyn Mountains can be reached on a short break. Along the way, you’ll cruise across the UNESCO World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. In Llangollen, you can enjoy visiting the town’s independent shops, pubs and restaurants, as well as its Steam Railway and Horseshoe Falls. On the return journey, you’ll head back across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and can continue on past Chirk Marina to experience more of the 11-mile World Heritage site, going through Chirk Tunnel and over Chirk Aqueduct and on to Whittington. Canalside pubs to enjoy include the Bridge at Chirk Bank and the Sun at Trevor.

3. Cruise up the Shroppie to Barbridge and back (84 miles, 58 locks, 42 hours)

On a week-long break from Autherley near Wolverhampton, you can cruise up the Shropshire Union Canal to Barbridge and back. The route takes you through the Staffordshire countryside and a series of villages with historic pubs. These include: the Lesters Arms at Brewood; the Hartley Arms at Wheaton Aston; the Boat Inn at Gnosall; and the Shroppie Fly at Audlem. The canal goes through a series of deep cuttings, full of vegetation and wildlife. Along the way, you can visit Market Drayton, famous for its gingerbread, the Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker Museum and the Dorfold Hall Jacobean Museum at Nantwich. At Barbridge you’ll find the canalside Olde Barbridge Inn.

4. Navigate to Bradford on Avon & back (20 miles, 14 locks, 11 hours)

On a short break from Devizes on the Kennet & Avon Canal you can navigate to the medieval market town of Bradford on Avon and back. The route takes you through the Wiltshire countryside, and a series of locks and swing bridges. Bradford on Avon on the edge of the Cotswolds, often described as a ‘mini Bath’, is the perfect destination for a family canal boat holiday escape this summer. The town has a great choice of independent shops, cafes and restaurants, as well as riverside walks and historic buildings, including a stunning medieval Tithe Barn. Canalside pubs to enjoy include the Barge Inn at Seend and the Canal Tavern at Bradford on Avon.

5. Boat through the Yorkshire countryside to the old mill town of Hebden Bridge (14 miles, 20 locks, 11 hours)

On a short break from Sowerby Bridge in West Yorkshire, you can travel along the Rochdale Canal to the old mill town of Hebden Bridge and back. Climbing through woods, fields and small stone towns, the journey there and back covers 14 miles, passes through 20 locks (10 each way) and takes around 11 hours. Once at Hebden, you can enjoy a variety of shops, cafes, restaurants and pubs, as well as stunning countryside walks with woods and crags to explore. Canalside pubs to visit include the Shoulder of Mutton at Mytholmroyd and the Stubbing Wharf at Hebden Bridge.

6. Travel along the peaceful Ashby Canal SSSI to Shakerstone and back (95 miles, 8 locks, 37 hours)

On a week’s holiday from Braunston on the Grand Union Canal in Northamptonshire, you can explore the beautiful Ashby Canal. The route starts with navigating a section of the Oxford Canal and passing through three locks at Hillmorton. You’ll then transfer onto the Coventry Canal at Hawkesbury Junction and the Ashby Canal at Marston Junction. This peaceful 22-mile long waterway passes the historic town of Market Bosworth and the site of the Battle of Bosworth Field. A 6-mile stretch of the Ashby Canal from Snarestone to Carlton Bridge is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its aquatic plants and dragonflies, making it one of the best canals to spot wildlife. Canalside pubs to visit include the Admiral Nelson at Braunston, the Greyhound at Hawkesbury Junction and the Barley Mow at Newbold.

6. Cruise through Cannock Chase to Fradley & back (25 miles, 10 locks, 12 hours)

On a short break from Great Haywood on the Trent & Mersey Canal near Stafford, you can cruise to Fradley Junction and back. They journey passes through the Cannock Chase Forest with over 6,800 acres of heath land and ancient woodland to explore. At Fradley you can follow the woodland trail at boardwalk at Fradley Pool Nature Reserve. Canalside pubs to visit include the Wolseley Arms at Wolseley Bridge, the Ash Tree at Rugeley and the Swan Inn at Fradley.

7. Boat to the ‘Gateway to the Yorkshire Dales’ & back (23 miles, 6 locks, 12.5 hours)

On a short break from Silsden on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, you can cruise to Gargrave ‘Gateway to the Yorkshire Dales’ and back. The route takes you through the beautiful River Aire Valley and Skipton with its medieval castle and woods. At Gargrave you can moor up and walk into the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Pubs to enjoy include the White Lion at Kildwick, the Slaters Arms at Bradley and the Mason’s Arms at Gargrave.

8. Navigate the Grand Union Canal to Linslade and back (73 miles, 28 locks, 30 hours)

On a 7-night break from Weedon in Northamptonshire you can cruise along the Grand Union Canal to Linslade and back. The journey takes you past a series of canalside pubs. These include: the Narrow Boat at Stowe Hill; the Navigation Inn at Thrupp; the Red Lion at Fenny Stratford; and the Three Locks at Soulbury. Places to visit along the way include the Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne and Linford Lakes Nature Reserve at Great Lindford. The route also goes through the 1.74-mile long Blisworth Tunnel, the third longest navigable tunnel on the UK canal system. At Linslade, next to Leighton Buzzard, there’s an arts centre and a choice of places to eat and shop.

9. Travel through the Scottish Lowlands to Edinburgh & back (64 miles, 6 locks, 22 hours)

On a week’s break from Falkirk you can cruise along the peaceful Union Canal to Edinburgh Quay and back. The journey begins with a passage through the Falkirk Wheel, and then passes through the lovely Scottish Lowland villages of Linlithgow, Broxburn and Ratho. Visitor moorings are available at Edinburgh Quay, just a 5-minute walk from Princes Street. From there, you can visit the City’s many attractions, including Edinburgh Castle and Mary King Close. Pubs to enjoy along the way include the Bridge Inn at Ratho and the West Port Hotel at Linlithgow.

Best narrowboat holidays for wildlife spotting

February 14, 2026/in News/by Contact

Britain’s canals and rivers provide homes for many birds, animals, fish and insects

Cruising gently through the countryside on a narrowboat, you can enjoy spotting water birds, dragonflies, kingfishers and bats. Even in city centres, Britain’s network of inland waterways provide safe havens for a wide variety of plants and animals.

We’ve published a guide to the best narrowboat holidays for wildlife spotting.

1. Spot Kingfishers on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal, South Wales

Isolated from the main canal network, this beautiful waterway meanders peacefully for 36 miles through the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park. The Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal in Wales provides excellent habitat for many woodland and water birds, including kingfishers. Usually glimpsed as a sudden flash of glistening blue, the ‘King of Fishers’ travels at lightning speeds catching several fish each day.

We have a narrowboat hire base on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal at Gotyre Wharf.

2. Watch out for Bats on the Caldon Canal, Derbyshire

The 17-mile long Caldon Canal in Staffordshire has stunning wooded sections, providing rich habitat for bats. There are 18 different kinds of bat in Britain, including Daubenton’s bats, also known as the ‘water bat’. They use the canal and river network extensively for foraging. Bats can frequently be found roosting in hollowed out tree trunks and in canal bridges and aqueducts. The Canal & River Trust has published a guide on how to spot bats.

We have a canal boat hire base at Stoke on Trent, where the Caldon Canal meets the Trent & Mersey Canal.

3. Count Dragonflies on the Ashby Canal, Leicestershire

A 6-mile section of the Ashby Canal is designated a Special Site of Scientific Interest (SSSI). This recognises the diversity of the canal’s plant, insect and animal life, including 9 species of dragonfly. These colourful insects, whose origins began 300 million years ago, are voracious hunters. They use the reed fringes of our canals and rivers as breeding and hunting grounds.

You can reach the Ashby Canal on a week-long canal boat holiday from our bases at Springwood Haven, Braunston, Napton and Stockton.

4. Look out for Otters on the Montgomery Canal, Shropshire

This beautiful canal runs for 38 miles between England and Wales. It’s designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on both sides of the border. And the entire length in Wales is also recognised as a Special Area of Conservation, making it one of the most important sites for wildlife in Europe. Thanks to the work of conservationists, otters populations are showing healthy signs of growth after their sad decline in the 1950’s. Lakes, rivers and coastal areas are the otters’ natural habitats. But these timid nocturnal creatures can also be seen hunting on quiet stretches of the canals.

You can reach the Montgomery Canal on a short break or week away from our narrowboat rental bases at Blackwater Meadow, Chirk, Trevor. Whitchurch and Whixall.

5. Listen for Reed Bunting on the Droitwich Canals, Worcestershire

Many birds live and nest amongst the reeds that line some canals, including the chirruping reed bunting. Look out for them perched high on reed tops singing at the top of their voices. One of the best places to see these lively little birds are the Droitwich Canals in Worcestershire. These canals offer a linear mosaic of habitats, including substantial reedbeds. Reed buntings are sparrow-sized but slim with long, deeply notched tails. The male has a black head with a white collar in the summer. The black head becomes a dull brown in the winter. Females have a brown head, buff throat and buff-coloured lines above and below their eyes.

You can cruise the Droitwich Canals on a short break or week away from our Stoke Prior and Worcester bases.

6. Keep an eye out for Water Voles on the Oxford Canal, Oxfordshire

The endangered water vole is a special sight on our canals and rivers. Thanks to conservation efforts by the Canal & River Trust and the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust, water voles have been spotted along the Oxford Canal. Often mistaken for rats, water voles have distinguishing features, including shorter tails, a more rounded face and small ears, mostly hidden by fur. The Canal & River Trust offers tips on how to spot a water vole.

Drifters has bases on the Oxford Canal at Lower Heyford and Napton.

Canal boat travelling along the Llangollen Canal in Shropshire

May bank holiday weekend breaks on a canal boat

January 20, 2026/in News/by Debbie Ludford

There are hundreds of destinations to visit on a bank holiday canal boating break

Britain’s beautiful 3,000-mile network of inland waterways takes canal boat holiday-makers through the countryside and into historic towns and cities. There are places to moor up in quiet backwaters for the perfect rural retreat, as well as moorings close to attractions and amenities in towns and cities, like Linlithgow and Bath.

Drifters 2026 Top May Bank Holiday Weekend Breaks on a Canal Boat:

1. Cruise the Rochdale Canal to Hebden Bridge

On a weekend break from Sowerby Bridge, you can cruise through the West Yorkshire countryside to Hebden Bridge and back. The journey begins with 3 locks, including Tuel Lane Lock, the deepest in the country. At Luddenden Foot you can stop to visit the Lord Nelson pub, set within a Conservation Area. The route then passes through Mytholmroyd, birthplace of Ted Hughes and through Fallingroyd Tunnel to Hebden Bridge. There you can moor in the centre of town and discover a good choice of pubs, restaurants, cafes and independent shops. There are also some fantastic walks from Hebden, including up to Heptonstall and along Hardcastle Crags.

The journey to Hebden Bridge and back travels 14 miles, passes through 20 locks and takes around 11 hours.

2. Travel along the Union Canal to Linlithgow

From Falkirk at the Junction of the Union and Forth & Clyde canals, you can cruise through the Scottish Lowlands to Linlithgow and back. This route begins by going through a manned lock into the canal basin, and then up the Falkirk Wheel, the world’s first rotating boat lift. After that, the journey takes you through Roughmute Tunnel, followed by another 2 manned locks. Now on the Union Canal, you’ll travel through the Falkirk Tunnel and across the massive Avon Aqueduct. After enjoying miles of peaceful countryside, you’ll reach the historic town of Linlithgow, where you can visit the beautifully preserved remains of Linlithgow Palace on the shores of Linlithgow Loch, the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots. Linlithgow has some excellent eateries, including the award-winning Four Marys pub.

The journey to Linlithgow and back passes through 6 locks (3 each way) and takes around 8 hours.

3. Navigate the Grand Union Canal to Cosgrove

On a weekend break from Weedon on the Grand Union Canal in Northamptonshire, you can cruise to Cosgrove and back. This route travels through the countryside, passing the Narrow Boat pub at Stowehill Wharf and the Bakers Arms in the village of Bugbrooke. Soon after, you’ll enter the 1.74-mile long Blisworth Tunnel, emerging into the picturesque ‘canal village’ of Stoke Bruerne, home of the Canal & River Trust’s Canal Museum and a choice of canalside pubs. There are then seven locks to go through before reaching Thrupp Wharf and the Navigation Inn. At Cosgrove, boaters can moor up to explore the Ouse Valley Park, the site of Wolverton Medieval Village and the Barley Mow pub.

The journey to Cosgrove and back travels 36 miles, passes through 16 locks and takes around 16 hours.

4. Cruise through the Brecon Beacons to Llangynidr

Isolated from the main canal network, the beautiful Monmouth & Brecon Canal runs through the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park. It offers an escape to the country with incredible mountain views. On a weekend’s break from Goytre Wharf, near Abergavenny you can cruise to Llangynidr and back. The route goes through a series of small villages with historic pubs, including the Lion Inn at Govilon, deep in the Welsh countryside.

The journey to Llangynidr and back travels 32 miles and takes around 13 hours. There are no locks on this route.

5. Float across the UNESCO World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct in North Wales

On a weekend break from Chirk, you can cruise the 11-metre section of the Llangollen Canal designated a UNESCO World Heritage site to the Eisteddfod town of Llangollen, on the edge of the Berwyn Mountains. Along the way, you’ll cross the 38-metre high Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, experiencing stunning views of the Dee Valley below. When you reach Llangollen, you can moor up in Llangollen Basin and enjoy visiting the town’s independent shops, pubs and restaurants, as well as its Steam Railway and Horseshoe Falls. Canalside pubs to enjoy along the way include the Aqueduct Inn at Froncysyllte and The Sun at Trevor.

The journey to Llangollen and back travels 14 miles and takes around 6 hours.

6. Boat through the Northamptonshire countryside to Hillmorton

From Stockton on the Grand Union Canal in Warwickshire, it takes just over 6 hours to cruise to the village Hillmorton. The route takes you past the village of Napton-on-the-Hill, where the village store sells products from the nearby Buffalo Farm, including buffalo burgers, sausages, meatballs, steaks and ice cream. Napton Village Stores also sells bakery and deli products, veg boxes, homemade meals, cider and homemade cakes. Continuing through the countryside, you’ll will next reach the village of Braunston, where there’s a choice of pubs including the canalside Admiral Nelson. Heading on north up the Oxford Canal, you’ll soon reach the village of Hillmorton, home of the Stag & Pheasant pub.

The journey to Hillmorton and back travels 30 miles, passes through 12 locks (6 each way) and takes around 12.5 hours.

7. Travel through the Leicestershire countryside to Stoke Golding

From Springwood Haven on the Coventry Canal, it takes around 6 hours to cruise to the historic village of Stoke Golding. At Marston Junction, you’ll transfer onto the lock-free Ashby Canal to continue travelling on through the Leicestershire countryside. The journey takes boaters through Sutton Cheney, home of the Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre & Country Park. Then on past Dadlington and the Dog & Hedgehog pub. Stoke Golding has one of the most beautiful churches in England and there’s a choice of pubs, including the White Swan. Before heading out, you can stock up on local produce at the Poplars Farm shop and café near Nuneaton, selling fruit, vegetables, honey, local cheese, eggs, poultry and jams.

The journey to Stoke Golding and back travels 27 miles and takes around 12 hours. There are no locks on this route.

8. Cruise through the Staffordshire countryside to Shebdon

From Brewood on the Shropshire Union Canal in Staffordshire, it takes just over 5 hours to reach the village of Shebdon, surrounded by beautiful countryside. The journey takes you through miles of scenic countryside and woodland, and a series of villages, including Wheaton Aston with its Hartley Inn and Gnosall with its Boat Inn. Canal features encountered along the way include Stretton Aqueduct, a lock at Wheaton Aston, Cowley Tunnel, Shelmore Embankment and Grub Street Cutting. At Shebdon, you can moor up to visit the canalside Wharf pub.

The journey to Shebdon and back travels 27 miles, through 2 locks and takes around 11 hours.

9. Navigate through Cannock Chase to Fradley

On a weekend break, from Great Haywood on the Trent & Mersey Canal, you can cruise through the Staffordshire countryside to Fradley Junction and back. You’ll pass through Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty along the way. Before heading out, the Canalside Farm Shop at Great Haywood is perfect for stocking-up on local produce, including sausages, fruit, vegetables, free range eggs and baked products.

The journey to Fradley and back travels 25 miles, through 10 locks (5 each way) and takes around 12 hours.

10. Float along the Kennet & Avon Canal to Georgian Bath

From the base of the Caen Hill flight of locks at Devizes in Wiltshire, you can travel along the beautiful Kennet & Avon Canal to Bath and back. As well as 16 locks (8 each way), the journey takes boaters through a series of swing bridges. And across the magnificent Bath stone Avoncliff and Dundas aqueducts. Canalside pubs to enjoy along the way include the Barge Inn at Seend, the Canal Tavern at Bradford on Avon and the Cross Guns at Avoncliff. There are places to moor alongside Sydney Gardens, and from there it’s a 15-minute walk into Bath city centre, home to world famous attractions, including the Roman Baths and the Royal Crescent.

The journey to Bath and back travels 38 miles, passes through 16 locks (8 each way) and takes around 20 hours.

Canal boats on the Ashby Canal at Sutton Cheney in Leicestershire

A short break from Springwood Haven

October 13, 2025/in News/by Debbie Ludford

Mary & Kevin of Luxe Beat review their first canal boat holiday

Departing from Springwood Haven Marina on the Coventry Canal near Nuneaton, Mary and Kevin of Luxe Beat Magazine have reviewed their Drifters holiday.

It was their first canal boat holiday experience. After their boat handover and tuition, they began their four-day cruise through the Warwickshire and Leicestershire countryside.

Mary and Kevin’s review describes the facilities on board their boat, their route and the wildlife they saw along the way. They provide information about the history of the canal network, and the area they visited.

After transferring onto the Ashby Canal at Marston Junction, they cruised to Stoke Golding and back. Pubs they visited along the way include the Lime Kilns and George & Dragon.

You can read ‘Touring English Canals – Our First Narrowboat Adventure’ here.

You can also read the Little Wandering Wren’s review of a holiday from Springwood Haven Marina here.

Foxy Lark, and canal boat available for hire from Drifters boating holidays

Holidaying on the Ashby Canal

September 30, 2025/in News/by Debbie Ludford

Little Wandering Wren has reviewed a canal boat holiday on the Ashby Canal

Setting off from our canal boat hire base at Springwood Haven, on the Coventry Canal near Nuneaton, Jenny and her crew enjoyed holidaying on the Ashby Canal.

Jenny’s article describes their boat, Foxy Lark and the facilities on board. She provides details about the route, places to moor up and the pubs they visited. Along the way, they visited the Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre.

One of the aspects of canal boat holidays that Jenny loves the most is the wildlife you see. She says. ‘The immersion in wildlife and nature is to be treasured. From swans and their cygnets to dragonflies darting amongst the reeds, our canals are teeming with life. In spring and summer, the towpaths’ wildflowers put on their own special show.’

The Ashby Canal is one of the most important for wildlife, with the section from Snarestone to Carlton Bridge designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

The Ashby Canal is lock-free, making it a great waterway to explore for canal boat holiday beginners.

You can read Jenny’s ‘Stree-Free Narrowboat Escape’ article here.

Jenny has also published an article about the Canal & River Trust, the national charity that cares for 2,000 miles of canals and rivers in England and Wales.

Step off the grid for a mindfulness break

June 6, 2025/in News/by Debbie Ludford

Step off the grid for a mindfulness break on Britain’s inland waterways

Travelling at just 4 miles per hour on a canal boat is the chance to step off the grid for a mindfulness break.

Research by Canal & River Trust, the charity that cares for the nation’s 2,000 miles of canals and rivers, shows spending time by the waterways can lower levels of anxiety and make you happier*.

Waterways are described as ‘great places to relax and de-stress’ and canal boat holidays are often said to be ‘the fastest way to slow down’.

Britain’s canals and rivers are an important place for biodiversity, with over 1,000 wildlife conservation sites. Getting close to nature is widely recognised to benefit our mental and physical health and wellbeing.

Here are some insights into the relaxing effect of a narrowboat holiday, described by journalists who have enjoyed the experience:

Step back in time to a slower era

Paul Miles lives on a boat and says, ‘Holidaying on the inland waterways is to step back in time to a slower era. Grooves on bridges worn by ropes are a visible reminder of the days when life proceeded at the walking pace of a horse, 4mph, still the speed limit today.’

The Telegraph, ‘Britain’s best and most underrated canals to explore this summer‘, 8 May 2025

A slow boat to happiness in Wiltshire

Annabel Abbs reviewed her family holiday on the Kennet & Avon Canal in the Guardian, and said ‘the gentle, soothing monotony of a canal had taken away all desire to show and share on social media’ and everyone’s ‘phones showed an average 70% drop in useage.

The Guardian online, ‘A slow boat to happiness: our family holiday on Wiltshire’s Kennet & Avon Canal‘, 18 May 2025

Off grid on the Grand Union Canal in Warwickshire

Angela Riches of H&N Magazine holidayed on the Grand Union Canal and said, ‘It’s been a long time since we were so completely off grid but this slow pace of life gave us a complete reset.’

H&N Magazine, ‘Heaven is going totally off grid on a canal barge‘, 22 May 2025

The perfect antidote in Shropshire

Dan Sanderson described his family holiday on the Shropshire Union Canal as ‘the perfect antidote to the stresses of modern city life’ and said ‘chugging along at an average speed of just 2mph…time and distance become an obscure concept and you are left with little option than to sit back and enjoy the view’.

The Mailonline, ‘Ready, steady…slow!’, 8 July 2023

A Wiltshire retreat

Paul Miles, while on the Kennet & Avon Canal, explained: “Life in the slow lane is the norm on the canals. It heightens my sense of observation.’

The Telegraph, ‘I’ve been in happy self-isolation for the last 10 years’, 20 March 2020

Northamptonshire slow zone

Fiona Whitty enjoyed a narrowboat holiday on the Grand Union Canal and said: “As an antidote to fast living, travel is all about going slow nowadays – and you don’t get much slower than a canal boat with a speed of 4mph.”

Sunday Mirror, ‘Slow-go zone’, 27 March 2022

A Shropshire escape

In his review of a Drifters’ canal boat holiday on the Shropshire Union Canal, Dixe Wills says: “The sedateness of our progress up to Shropshire, coupled with an almost complete absence of intrusions from the modern world, created a bubble that we were reluctant to burst.”

The Guardian, ‘The ripple effect: a leisurely boating break in Shropshire’, 29 July 2020

Putting the brakes on in Leicestershire

Gareth Butterfield reviewed a holiday on the Ashby Canal saying: “there’s something incredibly cathartic about slowing yourself down to canal pace…a week at walking pace is just the tonic for people who need to put the brakes on from time to time.”

Manchester Evening News, ‘I raise eyebrows taking a big lizard on a narrowboat trip along the Ashby canal’, 17 April 2022

Meandering into North Wales

Mary Novakovich, who took a narrowboat holiday on the Llangollen Canal, setting out from Chirk, said “Meandering along at a languid 3mph – slower than my walking pace – we had plenty of time to absorb our surroundings as we spotted herons and steered under pretty arched bridges.”

The Independent, ‘Knot Too Shabby’, 16 May 2021

A break from modern life in Yorkshire

Jaymi McCann enjoyed a holiday on the Leeds & Liverpool and said: “The canal remains unchanged over its two centuries but its purpose has been transformed: coal barges have given way to leisure boaters. Its engineers could have little envisaged its current use but the languid pace is what makes it such a break from modern life.”

Sunday Express, ‘A Slow Boat To Yorkshire’ 22 May 2016

Bucolic scenes in Warwickshire

Lyn Hughes describes her journey along the Grand Union Canal from Napton, observing “bucolic scenes of gently rolling farmland, dotted with grazing cows and sheep. The bank was thick with overhanging willows, bulrushes, rosebay willowherb and purple loosestrife. Dragonflies buzzed past, and clouds of butterflies danced over the wildflowers.”

Wanderlust, ‘Tales from the Riverbank’, November 2020

A balming power

Richard Morrison says: “I do believe that today the canals have a mysterious, balming power that is without equal in Britain – not just because they trundle holidaymakers through glorious landscapes at a maximum of 4mph, but also because they stealthily, almost secretly, carry the peace of rural England into the heart of frenetic cities.”

The Times, ‘Canals – a calming, beautiful antidote to modern life’, 5 February 2007

*’Assessing the wellbeing impacts of waterways usage in England and Wales’, 2018

Best October Half Term narrowboat holidays

September 30, 2024/in News/by Debbie Ludford

There are dozens of great family destinations to choose from this October Half Term

We’ve published a guide to our best October Half Term narrowboat holidays.

Narrowboats are like floating holiday cottages, with everything you need on board for a self-catering adventure afloat. All our boats are equipped with essential home comforts, including central heating, hot water, TV, showers, flushing toilets, and most now have WiFi too.

Prices this October Half Term start at £706 for a short break (three or four nights) on a boat for four people, £952 for a week. Here’s a guide to our top six destinations this October Half Term:

1. Travel along the peaceful Ashby Canal to Shakerstone

On a week’s holiday from Braunston on the Grand Union Canal in Northamptonshire, you can explore the beautiful Ashby Canal. With no locks, and miles of countryside to enjoy, this peaceful canal stretches for 22 miles. It passes the pretty town of Market Bosworth, close to the site of the Battle of Bosworth Field and the Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre. The journey to Shakerstone and back, travels 95 miles, passes through eight locks (four each way) and takes around 37 hours.

2. Drift through the Calder Valley to the old mill town of Hebden Bridge

One of our best October half term narrowboat holidays takes you Hebden Bridge. You can reach this old mill town on a weekend break from Sowerby Bridge in West Yorkshire. You’ll travel through the Calder Valley along the leafy Calder & Hebble Navigation. Climbing through woods, fields and small stone towns, the journey to Hebden Bridge, covers seven miles, passes through 10 locks and takes around 5.5 hours. Once at Hebden, you can moor in the centre of town to enjoy a good choice of places to eat, as well as walks up to Heptonstall or Hardcastle Crags.

3. Glide through the Usk Valley to Brecon and back

On a week’s break from Goytre on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal you can navigate through the wooded Usk Valley to Brecon, in the heart of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Along the way, you can stop off at Llanfoist to take the old tramway into the Black Mountains. You can visit the 13th century castle at Crickhowell and walk to the Blaen y Glyn waterfalls at Talybont-on-Usk. The total journey there and back travels 51 miles, passing through 12 locks (six each way) and takes around 25 hours.

4. Cruise along the Kennet & Avon Canal to Georgian Bath

On a four-night mid-week break from the bottom of the Caen Hill flight of locks at Devizes, you can cruise to Bath and back. The journey takes around 10 hours, travelling across two magnificent aqueducts and passing through 10 locks. There’s a choice of canalside pubs, to stop-off at along the way, including the Barge Inn at Seend and the Cross Guns at Avoncliff. Once in Bath, you can moor up at Sydney Gardens, a short walk away from the centre of this World Heritage city.

5. Glide across the UNESCO World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

On a short break from Trevor in North Wales, you can reach the historic Shropshire town of Ellesmere, in the heart of the Shropshire Lake District. The route takes you along the Llangollen Canal and across the UNESCO World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, 38 metres high above the Dee Valley. In Ellesmere, you can moor up and spend time exploring the Mere with its Victorian gardens, woodland paths and historic castle. The journey to Ellesmere and back takes around 14 hours and passes through four locks (two each way).

6. Navigate to Market Drayton, home of the gingerbread man

On a week’s break from Gailey you can travel along the Staffordshire & Worcestershire and Shropshire Union canals to the historic market town of Market Drayton and back. The route passes through the historic village of Brewood with its choice of pubs and through a series of deep wooded cuttings. At Market Drayton there’s a Wednesday market and a great choice of places to eat and drink, many offering the town’s famous gingerbread. The journey to Market Drayton and back cruises 68 miles, passes through 14 locks and takes around 30 hours.

Best canal boat holiday cruising rings

March 25, 2024/in News/by Drifters

Canal boat holiday cruising rings offer journeys along several different waterways, taking in a huge variety of urban and rural landscapes.

Some canal boat holiday rings are seriously challenging with steep flights of locks and long dark tunnels to negotiate.

Here’s a guide to our top 9 canal boat holiday rings and circuits:

1. The Droitwich Ring (21 miles, 33 locks, 16 hours)

Starting from Worcester or Stoke Prior, this canal boat holiday ring is the only one that can be completed on a short break. It re-opened in 2011 following the £13million restoration of the Droitwich Canals. This reconnected the River Severn and the Worcester & Birmingham Canal at Worcester. Highlights include: the historic Spa town of Droitwich; the Hanbury flight of locks; and Worcester cathedral.

2. The Outer Pennine Ring (192 miles, 248 locks, 130 hours)

Not for the faint-hearted nor inexperienced, this epic three-week journey can be undertaken from Sowerby Bridge or Silsden. It crosses the Pennines twice and includes Britain’s longest canal tunnel. It takes in the Calder & Hebble Navigation, the Huddersfield Narrow, Ashton, Rochdale, Bridgewater, Leeds & Liverpool canals. And the Aire & Calder Navigation with electric locks. Highlights include: dramatic Pennine views; Tuel Lane Deep Lock; and Manchester City Centre. Also the three-and-a-quarter-mile long Standedge Tunnel which cuts through the Pennies to link Marsden and Diggle; Bingley Five Rise locks; Skipton with its medieval castle; Leeds City Centre and waterside Royal Armouries Museum.

3. The Stourport Ring (74 miles, 118 locks, 44 hours)

Starting from Autherley, Stoke Prior, Gailey or Alvechurch, this offers an exhilarating and hugely popular week. The route takes in the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal, the Worcester & Birmingham Canal Navigation, the upper section of the River Severn, Birmingham & Fazeley Canal, Birmingham Canal Main Line and the Birmingham Canal Old Main Line. The Stourport Ring visits three cities: Wolverhampton; Birmingham; and the ancient City of Worcester. Highlights include: Wolverhampton 21 locks; Brindleyplace and Gas Street Basin in Birmingham; open countryside on the River Severn; Stourport Basins; Bratch Locks at Wombourne; the pretty village of Kinver with National Trust rock houses; the Black Country Living Museum; and Cadbury World.

4. The Cheshire Ring (97 miles, 92 locks, 55 hours)

Starting from Bunbury, Wrenbury, Whitchurch, Anderton or Acton Bridge, this superb canal boat holiday ring goes through the heart of Manchester and the Peak District via the Ashton, Macclesfield, Peak Forest, Rochdale, Trent & Mersey and Bridgewater canals. Highlights include: Anderton Boat Lift (also known as ‘The Cathedral of the Canals’); Preston Brook Tunnel; Dunham Massey Hall; Castlefield Basin; Manchester’s China Town; the Rochdale 9 locks; Buxworth Basin, Whaley Bridge and the glorious Top Lock at Marple on the Peak Forest Canal; the Cheshire Plain; and heavily locked ‘Heartbreak Hill’.

5. The Warwickshire Ring (101 miles, 94 locks, 48 hours)

Starting from Napton, Stockton, Springwood Haven, Kings Orchard or Braunston the Warwickshire Ring is easily navigated in 10 days or two weeks. It takes in the Grand Union, Oxford, Coventry and Birmingham & Fazeley canals. Highlights include: the flight of 11 locks into Atherstone; Hillmorton locks (three pairs); the Knowle Flight of five locks; the canal village of Braunston; Napton Junction; Newbold and Shrewley tunnels; the awesome Hatton Flight of 21 locks; Warwick Castle; Leamington Spa; and Birmingham’s Gas Street Basin.

6. Avon Ring (108 miles, 130 locks, 58 hours)

Starting from Napton, Autherley, Stoke Prior or Wootton Wawen, this canal boat holiday ring has 130 locks. Most people do this trip in 10 days or two weeks. The Avon Ring navigates sections of the Stratford Canal, River Avon, River Severn and Worcester & Birmingham Canal. Highlights include: Stratford-Upon-Avon and its famous Swan Theatre; the Lapworth flight of 25 locks; the Wilmcote flight of 11 locks; the River Avon and its panoramic views across the Cotswolds; historic Evesham and Tewskesbury; Worcester and its magnificent cathedral; the tidal River Severn double river-lock at Diglis, the 30 locks at Tardebigge; and the 2,495-metre long Wast Hills Tunnel.

7. The Four Counties Ring (110 miles, 94 locks, 55 hours)

Departing from Autherley, Acton Bridge, Brewood, Great Haywood, Stoke-on-Trent, Whitchurch, Wrenbury, Nantwich or Gailey, this canal boat holiday ring is best done on a 10-day or two-week holiday. The four counties are Staffordshire, the West Midlands, Cheshire and Shropshire. The route includes the Trent & Mersey, Staffs & Worcs and Shropshire Union canals. Predominantly rural, this ring’s highlights include: the 2,670-metre long Harecastle Tunnel; deep cuttings on the Shropshire Union; Market Drayton home of gingerbread; Wedgewood Pottery Visitor Centre; views of the rolling Cheshire Plains; the Roman town of Middlewich; Waterworld at Etruria; Shugborough Hall; the waters at Tixall Wide; and the flight of 15 locks at Audlem.

8. The Black Country Ring (125 miles, 79 locks, 60 hours)

From Autherley, Great Haywood, Kings Orchard or Gailey this exhilarating canal boat holiday ring is achievable in a week. The Ring takes in the Birmingham & Fazeley, Birmingham Main Line, Coventry, Staffordshire & Worcestershire and Trent & Mersey canals. Highlights include: Birmingham’s Gas Street Basin; 21 locks at Wolverhampton; the Black Country Living Museum; Dudley Zoo & Castle; Drayton Manor Park at Fazeley; the Staffs & Worcs Roundhouses; the waters at Tixhall Wide; Fradley Pool Nature Reserve at Fradley Junction; 11 locks at Ashton; and 13 at Farmer’s Bridge.

9. The Leicester/East Midlands Ring (157 miles, 102 locks, 75 hours)

Departing from Napton, Braunston, Kings Orchard, Springwood Haven or Gayton this epic canal boat holiday ring is achievable in two weeks. The route cruises a mixture of non-tidal, broad and narrow canals, including the Birmingham & Fazeley, Coventry, Oxford, Trent & Mersey canals, the Grand Union Leicester Line and the rivers Soar and Trent. Highlights include: Saddlington Tunnel; the Foxton Staircase of Locks; the pretty canal village of Stoke Bruerne with its Canal Museum; Blisworth Tunnel; Braunston canal village; Hillmorton Locks; 11 locks at Atherstone; Coventry and views of its magnificent cathedral; and the 18th century canal village of Shardlow.

Travel over the Dundas Aqueduct on your narrowboat holiday

Top 7 summer canal boat holidays in 2023

March 29, 2023/in News/by Debbie Ludford

Travelling through the countryside at just four-miles-an-hour, canal boat holidays are the fastest way to slow down this summer.

Drifters offers 550 narrowboats for hire from 45 bases across England, Scotland and Wales. Our summer holiday prices for a short break (three or four nights) on a boat for four people start at £835, and at £1,145 for a week.

We’ve published a guide to our Top 7 Summer Canal Boat Holidays for 2023:

1. Yorkshire: Toddle to Todmorden for some stunning Pennine scenery

On a short break from Sowerby Bridge, you can travel along the Rochdale Canal to Todmorden. This historic town offers visitors fine Victorian architecture, plenty of pubs and restaurants, and a busy market. Along the way, you’ll pass through the village of Mytholmroyd, the birthplace of Ted Hughes. And the old mill town of Hebden Bridge, where the BBC’s popular ‘Happy Valley’ drama is set. The journey to Todmorden and back travels 20 miles, passes through 34 locks (17 each way) and takes around 16 hours.

2. South Wales: Glide through the Usk Valley to Brecon and back

On a week’s holiday from Goytre Wharf near Abergavenny, you can navigate through the Usk Valley on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal. You can reach the pretty market town of Brecon, in the heart of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Brecon offers theatre, cinema, cafes and restaurants and access to the National Park, with walking routes, cycle hire and pony trekking. Along the way, you can stop off at Llanfoist to take the old tramway into the Black Mountains. You could visit the 13^th century caste at Crickhowell or walk to the Blaen y Glyn waterfalls at Talybont-on-Usk. The journey there and back travels 51 miles, passing through 12 locks (six each way) and takes around 25 hours.

3. Scotland: Travel through the Scottish Lowlands to Edinburgh

On a four-night mid-week break from Falkirk, you can cruise along the Union Canal to Edinburgh Quay. The journey starts with a trip through the world’s first rotating boat lift, the Falkirk Wheel. You’ll then pass through two tunnels and soon after across the magnificent Avon Aqueduct. Then it’s on through the lovely lowland villages of Linlithgow, Broxburn and Ratho. The journey to Edinburgh Quay and back travels 64 miles, passes through four locks (two each way) and takes around 22 hours.

4. Wiltshire: Visit Georgian Bath afloat

On a short break from Devizes you can navigate along the Kennet & Avon Canal to Georgian Bath. Along the way, the route passes a series of canalside pubs and the historic market town of Bradford on Avon. You’ll also travel across the beautiful Bath stone Avoncliff and Dundas aqueducts. There are moorings at Sydney Wharf, a 15-minute walk from Bath City centre. The journey to Bath and back travels 39 miles, passes through 20 locks (10 each way) and takes around 19 cruising hours.

5. North Wales: Glide across the awesome Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

Passing through stunning North Wales landscapes, the Llangollen Canal is one of the most popular waterways on the network. On a short break from Chirk, you can travel to the pretty Eisteddfod town of Llangollen and back. The route cruises the 11 miles of the Llangollen Canal UNESCO World Heritage Site, including the awesome Chirk and Pontcysyllte aqueducts. The journey from Chirk to Llangollen Basin and back travels 14 miles and takes around four hours.

6. Northamptonshire: Travel along the peaceful Ashby Canal to Shakerstone

On a week’s holiday from Braunston base on the Grand Union Canal in Northamptonshire, you can explore the beautiful Ashby Canal. There no locks along this peaceful 22-mile waterway. Just mile-upon-mile of countryside to enjoy, as well as the pretty town of Market Bosworth and the site of the Battle of Bosworth Field. The journey to Shakerstone and back, travels 95 miles, passes through eight locks (four each way) and takes around 37 hours.

7. Shropshire: Cruise through the Shropshire countryside to Market Drayton

On a four night mid-week break from Brewood on the Shropshire Union Canal, you can reach the historic market town of Market Drayton. The route passes through a series of villages with canalside pubs, including the Junction Inn at Norbury and the Royal Oak at Gnosnall. And through tunnels of trees in a series of deep canal cuttings. The total journey Market Drayton and back travels 42 miles, passes through 12 locks and takes around 19 hours.

Drifters holiday canal boat passing the RSC Theatre at Stratford-upon-Avon

Celebrate the King’s Coronation with some bank holiday boating

February 16, 2023/in News/by Debbie Ludford

The King’s Coronation bank holiday weekend (6-8 May) offers the perfect excuse to plan a boating break on Britain’s beautiful inland waterways.

Our 250-year old network of navigable canals and rivers is steeped in history, with locks, bridges, tunnels, marinas, junctions and pubs named after various Kings across the centuries.

To celebrate the forthcoming Coronation of King Charles III, we’ve listed our Top 6 bank holiday boating breaks with a Royal connection:

1. Cruise from King’s Orchard Marina to Great Haywood

On a weekend’s break from our’ base at Kings Orchard in Staffordshire, canal boat holiday-makers can cruise to the pretty canal village of Great Haywood and back. The journey begins on the Coventry Canal, transferring onto the Trent & Mersey Canal at Fradley Junction, close to Fradley Pool Nature Reserve. From there, you’ll travel on through the Staffordshire countryside through the village of Rugeley. Then past Cannock Chase Area of Oustanding Natural Beauty and the National Trust’s impressive Shugborough Estate, before reaching Great Haywood. The journey to Great Haywood travels 15 miles, passes through four locks and takes around seven cruising hours.

2. Navigate to the King’s Lock Inn at Middlewich

On a weekend break from our base at Anderton Marina, you can navigate to the King’s Lock Inn at Middlewich. The journey travels nine miles along the Trent & Mersey Canal, passes through four locks and takes around five hours. Next to Middlewich Junction, the Kings Lock pub serves craft ales, offers fresh food and hosts regular live music events.

3. Pass through King’s Norton Junction & Tunnel to Lapworth

On a weekend’s break from Tardebigge on the Worcestershire & Birmingham Canal, you can reach King’s Norton Junction and Tunnel. The journey takes around four hours and travels nine miles, through a series of tunnels and the remains of the Forest of Arden. At King’s Norton Junction you’ll transfer onto the North Stratford Canal and then pass through Brandwood Tunnel, also known as King’s Norton Tunnel. There are moorings further along the Stratford Canal, perfect for exploring the village of Lapworth and local attractions.

4. Navigate to Bosworth Field where King Richard III lost his crown

On a week’s holiday from Braunston, you can cruise to moorings at Sutton Cheney, close to the Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre. Here, the Battle of Bosworth Field, where King Richard III lost his crown to Henry Tudor in 1485, is explained with exhibitions and guided walks. The journey to Sutton Cheney travels 37 miles, passes through four locks and takes around 16 cruising hours.

5. Travel to King John’s Bridge on the River Avon

On a week’s holiday from Wootton Wawen you can reach King John’s Bridge on the River Avon near Tewkesbury. The journey, which travels 49 miles, passing through 34 locks, takes you along the Stratford Canal to Shakespeare’s Stratford. At Stratford-upon-Avon, you’ll transfer onto the River Avon and cruise on to King John’s Bridge via the historic market town of Evesham.

6. Cruise to the King’s Head pub at Napton

From our canal boat hire base at Stockton, it takes just one-and-a-half hours to cruise to Napton Junction. From there it’s a short walk from the popular King’s Head pub. This country pub in the picturesque village of Napton-on-the-Hill, serves food all cooked fresh and from scratch, using locally sourced ingredients. On a weekend’s break from Stockton, you can continue on to the pretty canalside village of Hillmorton. The journey from Stockton travels 15 miles, passes through six locks and takes just over six hours.

Top 9 Canal Boat Holidays for 2022

January 10, 2022/in News, Uncategorized/by Debbie Ludford

From rural retreats to vibrant city centres, narrowboat holiday-makers can explore Britain’s beautiful 3,000-mile network of inland waterways. And there’s a choice of hundreds of waterside destinations and historic canalside pubs to visit along the way.

Drifters offers over 550 boats for hire from 45 locations across England, Scotland and Wales. 2022 hire prices start at £550 for a short break (three or four nights) on a boat for four, £760 for a week. Tuition is included in all Drifters holiday packages.

Here are Drifters’ Top 9 canal boat holidays for 2022:

1. Cruise to historic Shardlow

In Spring 2022, Drifters will open a new narrowboat hire base at Springwood Haven Marina on the Coventry Canal in Nuneaton. On a week’s break from Springwood Haven, you can travel to the historic inland port of Shardlow and back. The journey passes through Atherstone, across the Tame Aqueduct, through Fradley Junction, Alrewas, Branston and Burton-on-Trent, home of the National Brewery Centre. At Shardlow there are over 50 listed buildings, including the Salt Warehouse, housing Shardlow Heritage Centre. The journey there and back passes through 58 locks and takes around 49 cruising hours.

2. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage City of Bath

On a short break from our base at Devizes in Wiltshire, you can travel along the Kennet & Avon Canal to Sydney Wharf, on the edge of Bath. The journey travels 19 miles, passing through eight locks and takes around nine hours. Along the way, the route passes through the village of Seend with its canalside Barge Inn. And the historic town of Bradford on Avon, with a choice of independent shops and restaurants. The route also takes boaters over the beautiful Avoncliff and Dundas Bath stone aqueducts. Once at Sydney Wharf, boaters can moor up and take a 15-minute walk into Bath City Centre.

3. Navigate to Manchester and back

On a week’s break from our canal boat hire base at Acton Bridge, you can cruise to Manchester and back. The journey allows you to enjoy time in the countryside as well as well as the City. The route, which travels a total of 68 miles of waterway (34 each way) passes through just one lock. Places to stop off at include Stockton Heath, with a choice of shops and eateries, and the historic village of Lymm. On arrival in Manchester, there are places to moor at Castlefield Basin, within easy reach of City Centre attractions. To visit the Trafford Centre, boaters can return via Worsley on the Bridgewater Canal.

4. Visit Warwick Castle afloat

From our boat yard at Stockton, on the Grand Union Canal in Warwickshire, you can cruise to Warwick and back. The journey there and back takes around 14 hours, and passes through 40 locks (20 each way). Overnight moorings are available close to Warwick Castle on the banks of the River Avon.

5. Potter through the Shropshire countryside to Market Drayton

From oure base at Brewood on the Shropshire Union Canal, it takes around 10 hours to reach the historic market town of Market Drayton. Along the way, you’ll pass through just six locks and a series of villages with canalside pubs. These include the Junction Inn at Norbury and the Royal Oak at Gnosnall.

6. Cruise along the Shropshire Union Canal to Norbury

From our base at Autherley, on a short break you can cruise along the Shropshire Union Canal to Autherley and back. This rural route, which is perfect for beginners, takes boaters through 15 miles of peaceful countryside. It passes through just two locks and a series of pretty villages with canalside pubs. These include the Bridge Inn at Brewood and the Hartley Arms at Wheaton Ashton.

7. Spot wildlife on the Ashby Canal

On a week’s holiday from our Braunston base, you can cruise to the pretty village of Snarestone and back. You will travel a total of 47 miles, passing through just eight locks (four each way) in around 32 hours. This largely rural route goes up the North Oxford Canal to Rugby and on to Hawkesbury Junction to join the Coventry Canal. Five miles later, the route transfers onto the lock-free Ashbury Canal, which winds gently through countryside for 22 miles. From Carlton Bridge to Snarestone, the canal is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This recognises the diversity of the waterway’s plant, insect and animal life, including nine species of dragonfly, and rare native white-clawed crayfish.

8. Float across ‘The Stream in the Sky’

Our base at Trevor on the beautiful Llangollen Canal in North Wales, is next to the awesome UNESCO World Heritage Status Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. From there, you can reach historic Ellesmere in the heart of the Shropshire Lake District on a short break. Standing 38 metres high above the Dee Valley, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct carries the canal in a cast iron trough, supported by 19 enormous hollow pillars. With not even a hand rail on the south side of the aqueduct to obscure the stunning views of the valley below, you feel like you are floating above the earth!

9. Cruise to Todmorden for stunning Pennine scenery

On a short break from our Sowerby Bridge base in West Yorkshire, you can travel to Todmorden and back along the Rochdale Canal. The journey, which travels a total of 20 miles, passes through 34 locks and takes around 16 hours. The historic town of Todmorden offers visitors fine Victorian architecture, plenty of pubs and restaurants, and a busy market. Along the way, you’ll pass through the beautiful Calder Valley village of Mytholmroyd, the birthplace of Ted Hughes. And the old mill town of Hebden Bridge, with a variety of shops, cafes, restaurants and pubs and a series of scenic waymarked walks.

Swans along side Drifters holiday hire boat

Top 10 places to spot wildlife on a canal boat holiday

December 14, 2021/in News/by Debbie Ludford

One of the things that make our canals and rivers so special, is the wildlife that lives in and beside them.

You can spot anything from ducks, moorhens and dragonflies, to kingfishers, otters and water voles. Even in the heart of our towns and cities, you can get close to nature on a canal or river.

Many areas of the Canal & River Trust’s canals and rivers in England and Wales have been designated as important nature sites, including 63 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and over 1,000 wildlife conservation sites.

To celebrate, we’ve listed our Top 10 places to spot wildlife on a 2022 narrow boat holiday:

Bittell Reservoir, Worcestershire

Built to supply water for the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, Bittell Reservoir at Barnt Green is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and home to over 200 species of water bird. Boaters can reach the Bittell Arm in just 40 minutes from Drifters’ narrowboat boat hire base at Alvechurch, and in two hours from Tardebigge.

Llangattock, Powys

The Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal follows the line of the Usk Valley through the Brecon Beacons National Park, and is home to an abundance of wildlife. For example, along the length passing through the village of Llangattock, there are kingfishers, butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies to look out for, as well as bats at dusk. Boaters can reach Llangattock Wharf in around four-and-a-half hours from our’ canal boat rental base at Goytre.

Fradley Pool Nature Reserve, Staffordshire

At Fradley Junction, where the Coventry Canal meets the Trent & Mersey Canal, Fradley Pool Nature Reserve is home to a variety of wildlife, including ducks, swans and bats. There are sculpture trails, places to picnic, and a choice of places to eat and drink. It takes around one-and-a-half hours to reach Fradley from Drifters’ base at Kings Orchard Marina, or six hours (passing through five locks) from Great Haywood.

Sutton Cheney, Leicestershire

This tranquil SSSI stretch of the Ashby Canal offers the chance to spot freshwater mussels, rare native white-clawed crayfish, water shrew, dragonflies, damselflies, and a variety of water birds. Boaters can reach Sutton Cheney visitor moorings in around six hours from Drifters’ base at Kings Orchard Marina, and in around 16 hours (passing through four locks) from Braunston.

Caen Hill, Wiltshire

The Caen Hill flight of locks at Devizes, is not only one of the Seven Wonders of the Waterways, it’s also an important place for wildlife. The Jubilee Woodland is providing more habitat for woodland birds, and the side ponds provide habitat for fish, water birds, water voles, otters and the rare chaser dragonfly. Drifters’ Devizes canal boat hire base is at the bottom of the Caen Hill Flight, and our base at Hilperton is four-and-a-half hours away, with seven locks to pass through.

Gronwyn Wharf, Montgomery Canal

The Montgomery Canal runs for 38 miles between England and Wales, and is one of the most important canals in country for nature. Much of it is designated a SSSI, and the Welsh section is of international significance with a Special Area of Conservation designation for its aquatic plants. Otters and water voles have been spotted there, and several nature reserves border the canal. Boaters can cruise to Gronwyn Wharf from a number of Drifters bases, including Blackwater Meadow (six hours, eight locks away) and Whixall (10 hours, eight locks away).

Consall Forge, Staffordshire

The 17-mile long Caldon Canal runs from Etruria in Stoke-on-Trent to the edge of the Peak District at Froghall Wharf. Travelling alongside the River Churnet through woodlands and moorlands, boaters can look out for kingfishers, herons, jays and woodpeckers, as well as otters which have recently returned to the area. From Drifters’ canal boat hire base at Stoke on Trent, boaters can reach Consall Forge, next to Consall Nature Park in around nine hours, passing through 16 locks.

Marple Locks, Derbyshire

The flight of 16 locks at Marple on the Peak Forest Canal are one of the steepest in Britain, and from there boaters can enjoy magnificent views of the Peak District. Surrounded by beautiful countryside, including stretches of ancient woodland, there are many types of woodland bird to look out for, as well as bats. From Drifters’ base at Stoke on Trent it takes around 16 hours, passing through 13 locks, to reach Marple Junction. And from Bunbury it takes around 29 hours, passing through 48 locks.

Ellesmere, Shropshire

The Mere at Ellesmere is packed with wildlife, including kingfishers, yellow hammers, tree sparrows, lapwing, sand martins, ringed plovers, curlews, greenshanks and herons. There are woodland walks, places to eat, drink and picnic, a sculpture trail and adventure playground. Drifters’ narrow boat hire base at Blackwater Meadow Marina is on the edge of Ellesmere, and Chirk is just four hours and two locks away.

Bingley, West Yorkshire

The fields either side of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal at Bingley, close to the Bingley Five Rise Lock Staircase, are full of wild flowers. There are walking trails and places to eat, drink and picnic. From Drifters’ base at Barnoldswick on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, it takes around 14 hours to reach Bingley, passing through 15 locks.

Top 5 places to watch the sunset on a narrowboat holiday

April 20, 2021/in News/by Debbie Ludford

From rural retreats to vibrant city centres, narrowboat holiday-makers can use their boat as a floating holiday home.

You can explore Britain’s beautiful 3,000-mile network of inland waterways, with the choice of hundreds of waterside destinations to visit along the way.

It’s free to moor almost anywhere on the network, so you can plan your journey around your chosen mooring sites. These can include canalside pubs, beauty spots and places to relax and enjoy a sundowner on deck.

To help you plan your next narrowboat holiday adventure, we’ve listed the top five places to watch the sunset afloat:

1. Tixall Wide in Staffordshire

From our canal boat holiday hire base at Great Haywood on the Trent & Mersey Canal in Staffordshire, it takes just half an hour to cruise to Tixall Wide. This beautiful lake on the Staffordshire & Worcester Canal was created at the time of the construction of the canal. It was designed to mitigate objections of the residents of Tixall Hall, who didn’t want the new canal to spoil their view. Today it’s a peaceful haven for wildlife and the perfect place to watch the sun go down.

2. Lock 37 on the Rochdale Canal in Lancashire

From our narrowboat yard at Sowerby Bridge is at the junction of the Calder & Hebble Navigation and the Rochdale Canal. From there, it takes around 13 hours (travelling 13 miles and passing through 35 locks) to reach West Summit Lock 37 on the Rochdale Canal. This takes you high up in the Pennines. Here you can moor up before the lock to watch the sun go down. And then take a short walk to the village of Summit and The Summit Inn.

3. Calcutt Locks in Warwickshire

From our narrowboat hire base at Stockton Top Marina on the Grand Union Canal in Warwickshire, it takes just half an hour to reach the bottom of Calcutt Locks. This is a great place to view the sunset over Stockton. From there, on a short break you can continue on to the pretty canal village of Braunston with a choice of pubs. On a week away, you can continue on up the North Oxford Canal and on to the Ashby Canal. From there, you can enjoy 23 miles of lock free cruising through the countryside.

4. Chirk Aqueduct in North Wales

From our narrowboat hire base at Chirk on the Llangollen Canal, it takes half an hour to reach Chirk Aqueduct. This carries boaters 21 metres high across the River Ceiriog and the English/Welsh border. There are moorings on the north side, perfect for looking out across the valley beyond. On a short break from Chirk, you can continue on to cross the World Heritage Status Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. It stands 38 metres high across the Dee Valley. Then you can cruise on to the Eisteddfod town of Llangollen, on the edge of the Berwyn Mountains.

5. Castleford Flood Lock in West Yorkshire

From Sowerby Bridge, it takes around 15 hours to reach Castleford Flood Lock No.9 on the Aire & Calder Navigation. The journey travels 29 miles and passes through 31 locks. Along the way, you’ll travel along the Calder & Hebble Navigation through Elland, Brighouse, Mirfield and Wakefield. Then you cane transferg onto the Wakefield section of the Aire & Calder Navigation. Then cruise on to Castleford, the birthplace of the sculptor Henry Moore.

Explore the Yorkshire Canals on a Drifters Holiday hire boat

Drifters prepares for a record narrowboat holiday season

March 30, 2021/in News/by Debbie Ludford

Following confirmation that domestic holidays can resume on 12 April for single households, Drifters operators are preparing for a record number of canal boat holidays to be taken in Britain.

Drifters’ director Nigel Stevens explains:

“With the current focus on domestic holidays, narrowboat holidays have never been more popular, and many people are planning their first holiday on the canals this year.

“Drifters offers 550 boats from 45 locations across England, Wales and Scotland. The peak spring and summer months are already booking up well. But we still have availability, especially for single households from 12 April. And two households or the ‘rule of six’ from 17 May.

“You don’t need a licence to steer a canal boat, and tuition is included in all our holiday packages. Around 350,000 people enjoy narrowboating each year, and we are looking forward to welcoming more people to the waterways this year.

“Our narrowboats are equipped with everything you need on board for a self-catering holiday afloat. There are over 3,000 miles of inland waterways to explore, with hundreds of waterside destinations. From pubs and cafes, to museums and nature reserves, there’s always something special to plan at stop at.”

To celebrate, here are Drifters’ top six 2021 narrowboat holiday destinations:

Drift through the Calder Valley

On a short break from Drifters’ canal boat rental base at Sowerby Bridge in West Yorkshire, boaters can travel along the leafy Rochdale Canal to the old mill town of Hebden Bridge. The route travels through the leafy Calder Valley. It climbs through woods, fields and small stone towns. The journey to Hebden Bridge covers seven miles, 10 locks and takes around five and a half hours. Once at Hebden, you can moor in the centre of town to enjoy a good choice of places to eat. There are also stunning walks up to Heptonstall or Hardcastle Crags.

Travel round the Birmingham Ring

Drifters is opening a new narrowboat hire base at Kings Orchard Marina on the Coventry Canal in Staffordshire. On a week’s break from Kings Orchard, canal boat holiday-makers can complete the Birmingham Ring. This takes boaters on a waterway odyssey with a mixture of urban and rural landscapes. These range from Gas Street Basin in the heart of Birmingham to Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Staffordshire.

Float across ‘The Stream in the Sky’

On a short break from Drifters’ base at Trevor on the beautiful Llangollen Canal in North Wales, boaters can travel across the UNESCO World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. Then on to Ellesmere in the heart of the Shropshire Lake District. On a week’s break, boaters can continue on to the historic market town of Whitchurch.

Cruise to the ancient City of Chester

Drifters has a canal boat hire base on the Shropshire Union Canal at Bunbury near Tarporley in Cheshire. On a short break from there, canal boat holiday-makers can head north to the historic City of Chester. This 12-mile journey through the rolling Cheshire countryside takes seven hours, passing through 18 locks.

Travel round the Droitwich Ring

From Drifters’ base at Worcester, canal boat holiday-makers can cruise round the Droitwich mini-ring. The route takes canal boat holiday-makers on a 20-mile circuit of the Worcestershire countryside, passing through the historic spa town of Droitwich and the cathedral city of Worcester. There are 33 locks and it takes around 16 hours, so it’s perfect for a short break.

Watch out for wildlife on the Ashby Canal

On a week’s holiday from Drifters canal boat hire base at Braunston, boaters can cruise to the pretty village of Snarestone and back. The route travels 47 miles, passing through eight locks (four there and four back) in around 32 hours. It takes boaters up the North Oxford Canal to Rugby, and on to Hawkesbury Junction to join the Coventry Canal. Five miles later, the journey transfers onto the peaceful lock-free Ashbury Canal, which winds gently through countryside for 22 miles. From Carlton Bridge to Snarestone, the canal is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This recognises the diversity of its plant, insect and animal life. Wildlife on the Ashby includes nine species of dragonfly, the water shrew, water vole and rare native white-clawed crayfish.

Top 10 canal boat holidays for 2019

December 10, 2018/in boating, boating holidays, canal boat holidays, canal holidays Scotland, Kennet and Avon Canal, Llangollen Canal, narrowboat hire, narrowboat holidays, Short breaks, Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal, Union Canal Scotland, yorkshire canals/by Drifters

From rural retreats to vibrant city centres, narrowboat holiday-makers can use their boat as a floating holiday home to explore hundreds of waterside destinations and enjoy taking refreshment at historic canalside pubs.

Here are Drifters’ Top 10 canal boat holidays for 2019:

1. Go star gazing on the Mon & Brec – isolated from the main canal network, the beautiful Monmouth & Brecon Canal runs through the Brecon Beacons National Park, said to have some of some of the highest quality dark skies, perfect for star gazing. Stretching 35 miles from Brecon to Cwmbran, this peaceful waterway, with very few locks, offers canal boat holiday-makers incredible mountain. On a short break (three or four nights) from Drifters’ base at Goytre Wharf, near Abergavenny, you can cruise lock-free to Talybont-on-Usk and back, with excellent walking trails and eateries, the Canalside Café and the Star Inn.

2. Travel to Leicester and the new King Richard III Visitor Centre – from our canal boat hire base at Union Wharf on the Leicester Line of the Grand Union Canal in Market Harborough, on a week’s narrowboat holiday you can travel to Leicester and back. The 13-hour cruise through the Leicestershire countryside, travels 23 miles, encountering 24 locks, and passing through a series of villages with friendly rural pubs to enjoy, including The Three Horseshoes at Wistow, and the canalside Navigation Inn at Kilby. Once in Leicester, moorings at Castle Gardens are the perfect base for exploring local attractions, including the new award-winning King Richard III Visitor Centre which chronicles the last Plantagenet King’s life and remarkable story of the discovery of his remains.

3. Drift through the prehistoric Vale of Pewsey to Hungerford – from our canal boat hire base on the Kennet & Avon Canal at Devizes, it takes around 20 hours, travelling 27 miles through 53 locks to reach the historic town of Hungerford, perfect for a week afloat. Along the way, boaters travel up the spectacular flight of 16 locks in a row at Caen Hill and cruise through the beautiful Vale of Pewsey, passing close to prehistoric Avebury and along the edge of the ancient Savernake Forest. Once at Hungerford, narrowboat holiday-makers can enjoy dining at a choice of pubs and browsing in dozens of antique shops.

4. Watch out for wildlife on the Ashby Canal – on a week’s holiday from Drifters canal boat hire base at Braunston, you can travel to the pretty village of Snarestone and back, travelling a total of 47 miles, passing through eight locks and taking around 32 hours. This largely rural route takes canal boat holiday-makers up the North Oxford Canal to Rugby and on to Hawkesbury Junction to join the Coventry Canal. Five miles later, the route transfers onto the peaceful lock-free Ashbury Canal, which winds gently through countryside for 22 miles. From Carlton Bridge to Snarestone, the canal is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), recognising the diversity of its plant, insect and animal life, including nine species of dragonfly, the water shrew, water vole and rare native white-clawed crayfish.

5. Float across ‘The Stream in the Sky’ to Llangollen and back – from Drifters’ base at Chirk on the beautiful Llangollen Canal in North Wales, the awesome World Heritage Status Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and the stunning hill surrounded town of Llangollen, can be reached on a short break. Standing at over 125ft high above the Dee Valley, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is 1,000ft long, supporting a cast iron trough holding the canal across iron arched ribs and 19 enormous hollow pillars. With not even a hand rail on the south side of the aqueduct to obscure the stunning views of the valley below, canal boaters literally feel like they are floating above the earth.

6. Cruise the Birmingham mini-ring – with more canals than Venice, travelling by boat is the best way to tour Britain’s vibrant second City. On a week’s holiday from Drifters’ Tardebigge boat yard on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal near Bromsgrove, canal boat holiday-makers can travel the Birmingham Mini-Ring, cruising for 27 hours and passing through 49 locks. The route begins by passing through the remains of the Forest of Arden, with quiet villages and historic waterside pubs to enjoy along the way, and then heads right into the heart of Birmingham. Here boaters can moor up and explore some of the City’s top attractions, including the Thinktank Science Museum and Mailbox Shopping Centre. Travelling out of Birmingham on a different canal, the route connects with the Grand Union Canal and the journey becomes gradually more rural again as it loops back round through Lapworth and along part of the Stratford Canal.

7. Travel one-way across the Pennines – starting from Drifters’ narrowboat hire base at Sowerby Bridge or Ashton-under-Lyne, this week-long epic journey takes around 40 cruising hours, travelling 33 miles and passing through 97 locks. If beginning at Sowerby Bridge, the route first travels down the Calder & Hebble Navigation past Brighouse, then after a short river section the journey switches onto the Huddersfield Broad, taking boaters into Huddersfield City Centre. After that the canal goes up the Colne Valley into the hills and on to the villages of Slaithwaite, then Marsden, before reaching the summit over 644 feet above sea level and the entrance to the Standedge Tunnel. The passage of boats through the incredible three-and-a-quarter mile long tunnel is guided by Canal & River Trust staff and volunteers. After the tunnel, the canal descends quickly through the Diggle Flight and into the Saddleworth villages, before reaching the centre of Stalybridge, and finally Ashton.

8. Navigate the Droitwich Ring – setting off from Drifters’ narrowboat hire base at Worcester on the beautiful River Severn, canal boat holiday makers can navigate the Droitwich Ring, the only waterway cruising ring in Europe which can be completed on a short break (three or four nights). The restoration of the Droitwich Canals was completed in 2011, reconnecting them to the Worcester & Birmingham Canal and the River Severn, and creating a 21-mile loop with 33 locks along the way, that can be completed in just less than 15 hours.

9. Potter through the Scottish lowlands to Linlithgow – from Drifters’ canal boat hire base at the Falkirk Wheel boat lift, it’s a peaceful five-hour cruise along the Union Canal to the historic town of Linlithgow – perfect for a short break. The route begins by passing over the 35-metre high Falkirk Wheel – the world’s first rotating boat lift and then passes through two tunnels and two aqueducts, and on through miles of peaceful countryside before reaching Linlithgow. Once there, narrowboat holiday-makers can visit the beautifully preserved remains of Linlithgow Palace on the shores of Linlithgow Loch, the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots, and sample some of the town’s excellent eateries.

10. Glide through the Peak District to Cheddleton and back – on a short break from Drifters’ Peak District narrowboat hire base at Etruria in Stoke on Trent, you can travel into the Peak District along the beautiful Caldon Canal, reaching Cheddleton Flint Mill in around eight hours, passing through 12 locks and travelling just over 11 miles. As the Caldon Canal leaves Stoke, it begins to pass through gently rolling hills and wooded areas, past old mills and then alongside the stunning River Churnet. At Denford, the Hollybush Inn is popular with boaters and at Consall Forge, the secluded Black Lion pub serves good food and real ales.