Mail on Sunday, 9 July 2023
‘My narrow escape (at 4mph)’
Caroline Hendrie reviewed her Drifters canal boat holiday on the Oxford Canal
Tag Archive for: canal boat holiday
Woman & Home, 1 July 2023
‘Messing about on the River’
Chris Morley describes a leisurely trip on the Kennet & Avon Canal
Worcester Now, 4 April 2023
‘Free canal boat sessions’ at ‘Tardebigge and Alvechurch’
10 top tips for canal boat holiday beginners
You don’t need to be an expert to hire a canal boat, and each year around one fifth of narrowboat hirers are new to the waterways.
With Britain’s 3,000-mile network of inland waterways in great shape, there’s never been a better time to try a narrow boat holiday.
To help you get the most out of your first canal boat holiday, we’ve listed 10 top tips for beginners:
1. Watch a boaters guide
Boat steering tuition is provided as part of our holiday hire. But to get ahead of the game, take a look at the Canal & River Trust’s Boaters Handbook Video for some sound advice https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXn47JYXs44
2. Plan your route
The Canal & River Trust has interactive maps online to help you plan your narrowboat journey. You can work out where to moor each night and canalside pubs to enjoy along the way. It’s best not to be too ambitious so you can stay relaxed https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/boating/planning-your-boat-trip
3. Keep to the right
Unlike cars on our roads, canal boats travel on the right side of our canals and rivers, so when you meet another boat, keep to the right.
4. Watch out for the cill
When in a lock, make sure the boat is kept forward of the cill (step) inside the lock. And check all paddles and gates are shut after you’ve used a lock, unless you see another boat approaching.
5. Sharing is caring
If possible, always share a lock with other boats to save water. An extra boat in a broad lock can save the equivalent of 1,000 bathtubs of water. And it means you can share the lock operating work too.
6. Embrace the slower pace
There’s a 4mph speed limit on the canals, but you’re going too fast if you’re creating too much wash. This disturbs wildlife, moored boats and anglers and it erodes the banks. So keep it slow and enjoy a more relaxed pace of life.
7. Practice good mooring etiquette
When mooring up at busy spots, make sure you don’t leave a big gap. And never moor opposite winding holes, on bends, near to bridges, on lock landings (unless waiting to lock through) or at water points (unless filling up).
8. Opt for a pet friendly stern
If you are bringing your dog, or you simply want a bit of extra outside space, opt for a cruiser stern narrowboat rather than a semi-traditional stern.
9. Be greener
Remember to pack your re-useable shopping bags, plastic bottles and coffee cups to help limit the amount of plastic used on your holiday afloat. And support the Canal & River Trust’s #PlasticsChallenge by picking up at least one piece of plastic litter each day.
10. Bring some on board entertainment
For cosy nights in, bring along some cards and board games, as well some DVD’s. TV reception isn’t always available on the canals and WiFi strength can vary too.
Top 8 canal boat holidays for wellbeing this summer
It’s well known that spending time in green space connecting with nature is good for our mental health and wellbeing. Recent research by the Canal & River Trust confirms the combination of green and blue space with wildlife experienced by visitors to the inland waterways gives an extra wellbeing boost*.
Britain’s 3,000-mile network of inland waterways flow through some of our most beautiful and unspoilt countryside, including National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs).
Here’s a guide to Drifters’ Top 8 wellbeing destinations for narrowboat holidays in Summer 2023:
1. Navigate the Peak Forest Canal to Whaley Bridge
On a week’s holiday from our narrowboat hire base at Stoke on Trent, you can travel along the Trent & Mersey and Macclesfield canals to connect to the Peak Forest Canal and Whaley Bridge. The Peak Forest Canal is said to be one of Britain’s most scenic waterways, running through beautiful countryside on the edge of the Peak District National Park. The journey to Whaley Bridge travels 39 miles, passes through the Harecastle Tunnel and 13 locks, and takes around 20 cruising hours.
2. Explore the Staffordshire countryside & Cannock Chase
On a short break from Kings Orchard on the Coventry Canal in Staffordshire, you can cruise to the beautiful waters at Tixall Wide and back, passing through the Cannock Chase AONB along the way. The journey there and back travels 32 miles, passes through 10 locks (five each way) and takes around 16 hours.
3. Drift through the prehistoric Vale of Pewsey to Hungerford
On a week away from our base on the Kennet & Avon Canal at Devizes, you can cruise to the historic town of Hungerford, passing through the Vale of Pewsey, in the North Wessex Downs AONB. The journey there and back takes around 40 hours, travelling 54 miles through 106 locks.
4. Glide around the Breacon Beacons
The beautiful Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal runs through the Brecon Beacons National Park. Stretching 35 miles from Brecon to Cwmbran, this peaceful waterway offers canal boat holiday-makers incredible mountain views. On a week’s break from our base at Goytre Wharf, near Abergavenny, you can cruise to Brecon and back. The journey takes you through Georgian Crickhowell, with its fascinating 13th century castle. And Talybont-on-Usk, with wonderful walks to the waterfalls at Blaen y Glyn. Brecon is home to a cathedral, theatre, cinema, castle ruins and stunning Georgian architecture. And you can enjoy some of the best views of the Brecon Beacons from Pen y Fan, the highest point in Southern Britain at 886 metres.
5. Cruise to the Aylesbury Vale
On a week’s break from Gayton Marina you can travel south to the Aylesbury Arm and into the Vale of Aylesbury, part of the Chilterns AONB. The journey to Aylesbury passes through a series of canalside towns and villages, including Stoke Bruerne with its Canal Museum. And Marsworth next to Tring Reservoirs, a nature reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The route travels 44 miles, passes through 41 locks and takes around 22 hours.
6. Float through the Dee Valley in North Wales
On a short break from Chirk on the Llangollen Canal, you can float through the Dee Valley AONB to the pretty Eisteddfod town of Llangollen. You’ll pass over the UNESCO World Heritage Status Pontcysyllte Aqueduct along the way. And you’ll cruise across the Chirk Aqueduct and through Whitehouses Tunnel. The journey to Llangollen and back takes around eight hours, travelling 14 miles, with no locks.
7. Take a Thames boating holiday to the edge of the Cotswolds
On a four-night mid-week break from Oxford, you can travel west along the River Thames to the pretty market town of Lechlade, in an AONG on the edge of the Cotswolds. The route passes through 22 miles of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire countryside. You’ll pass close-by to Kelmscott Manor, once the Cotswold retreat of William Morris. It takes around 17 hours to cruise there and back, passing through seven locks each way.
8. Travel through the Yorkshire Dales to Skipton
On a short break from Barnoldswick, you can head north-east along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal to historic Skipton. The journey travels 13 miles through the Yorkshire Dales, passing through 15 locks in around 10 hours. This breath-taking route winds along the contours of the side of Airedale, with extensive views of the Yorkshire Dales. You see sheep, farmhouses, barns, stone walls and the occasional village or town. Once in Skipton, you can moor up to visit shops and restaurants. And explore the 900-year old Skipton Castle, one of the most complete and best preserved medieval castles in England.
*The Canal & River Trust’s research was carried out by King’s College London, Nomad Projects and J&L Gibbons using Urban Mind, a smartphone based app to collect thousands of real time audits about participants’ location and mental wellbeing. Proof that time by water helps boost your mood | Canal & River Trust (canalrivertrust.org.uk)
Life is good on the Grand Union Canal
Ashley Gibbins and Ann Mealor of the International Travel Writers Alliance recently enjoyed a Drifters narrowboat holiday press trip on the Grand Union Canal.
They set off on a four-night mid-week break from Braunston in Northamptonshire, aboard a Union Canal Carriers boat.
After their tuition and boat handover, Tim from the Braunston boat yard took them through the first two locks for a trial run.
They moored up for their first night close the poplur Admiral Nelson pub. And met some other narrowboaters, who the following day helped them through the next set of locks.
On their canal boat holiday short break, they also travelled through the mile-long Braunston Tunnel, and enjoyed waking up to “loud” and “thrilling” birdsong.
Describing their first trip on a narrowboat as a “truly memorable and really enjoyable”, Ashley’s AllWays Traveller article lists some advice for first timers.
To read the full review, go to https://www.allwaystraveller.com/continents/europe/life-is-good-on-the-grand-union-canal
Cruising across ‘The Stream in the Sky’
Setting off from our Whitchurch canal boat hire base in Shropshire, Gareth Butterfield recently enjoyed a mid-week break with Drifters on the Llangollen Canal.
Accompanied by his wife and their two dogs, they cruised through the Shrophshire countryside and into Wales.
The highlight of their trip was crossing the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, 126ft high above the River Dee.
They also enjoyed visiting the historic town of Ellesmere, which Gareth describes as “a charming town with a wonderful mix of shops”.
Another highlight Gareth describes was the wildlife they saw along the canal, as it took them through the Marches Mosses, the third largest area of lowland-raised peat bog in the UK.
You can read Gareth’s full review at WalesOnline: https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/reviews/drifters-llangollen-canal-holiday-review-26898188
Top 7 summer canal boat holidays in 2023
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 13th 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.
Leicester Mercury, 8 February 2023
‘Tunnel Vision’ Nigel Thompson of the Daily Star navigates his way around British canals including the Standedge Tunnel in West Yorkshire
95% of holiday-makers say canal boat holidays are value for money
According to research carried out by the Canal & River Trust, the charity that works to protect and preserve the nation’s historic canals, 86 per cent of people who took a hire boat holiday would definitely recommend it to others, while an impressive 95 per cent felt their holiday was value for money.
Once people have discovered the delights of spending time on the water, they are very likely to come back, with 80 per cent of respondents to the Trust’s ‘Hire Boat Customer Survey 2022’ being return visitors.
Matthew Symonds, national boating manager at Canal & River Trust, says:
“Our unique British canals are enjoying a second golden age. Still navigated by boats just as they were hundreds of years ago, these days people recognise that spending time on the water is a tonic for mind and body.
“Boating holidays are a way people can step back in time and connect with our nation’s living heritage, and it’s fantastic to see that people find them so rewarding.
“At a time where we’re becoming more aware of our impact on the world, exploring the varied landscapes of Britain aboard a narrowboat is a holiday that is great for our wonderful historic canals and better for the environment than jetting overseas.”
Drifters’ 2023 hire prices start at £590 for a short break (three or four nights), £815 for a week on a boat for up to four people.
To check availability go to www.drifters.co.uk or call 0344 984 0322.
For more information about the work of the Canal & River Trust, including how you can volunteer or donate visit canalrivertrust.org.uk.