Tag Archive for: Visit Wiltshire

Kim Jones of Kick Back Times at the Caen Hill flight of locks on the Kennet & Avon Canal at Devizes

A dog-friendly holiday on the Kennet & Avon Canal

Travel writer Kim Jones reviews her dog-friendly boating holiday on the Kennet & Avon Canal

Kim Jones of Kick Back Times has reviewed her Drifters holiday with her partner and her dog Hugo.

They set off from Bradford on Avon Marina on the Kennet & Avon Canal in Wiltshire.

In her article, Kim describes the facilities on board their cosy narrowboat for two ‘Bella’:  

It had a full heating system, and even a wood burner. The bedroom cabin featured a ‘four poster’ bed and a fair amount of wardrobe space. In the living area there was a small settee and tv, and the kitchen was really well equipped – with a four burner hob, oven, microwave, kettle and plenty of saucepans and cooking utensils. There was also a toilet and shower.

Cruising east towards Devizes, they enjoyed the slow pace of life, towpath walks and stopping off at dog-friendly pubs along the way. Kim says the experience allows you to:

Open yourself up to the charm of a slower lifestyle and enjoy the journey, chugging along through silent waters and beautiful unspoilt countryside. You’ll be followed by swans in search of a meal, spot flashes of electric blue as kingfishers dash through the sunlight. And take in the beautiful autumn hues of the trees lining the canal and the green countryside beyond.”

On their second day afloat, they moored up close to the bottom of the famous Caen Hill flight of locks at Devizes. They enjoyed a walk up to the cafe at the top and enjoyed beautiful views of the surrounding countryside.

It was their first narrowboat holiday, so Kim describes the experience of getting used to steering the boat and mooring up. And she provides some helpful tips for newcomers, including bringing food for your first night on board so you can be flexible where you moor up on your first night.

You can read Kim’s article here.

Electric day boat hire on the Kennet & Avon Canal in Wiltshire

New electric day boat for hire at Hilperton

We’ve launched a new electric day boat at Hilperton on the Kennet & Avon Canal in Wiltshire.

The 36ft ‘Great Day’ narrowboat accommodates up to ten people and 2024 day hire prices start at £99.

The boat has a toilet, indoor and outdoor seating and a kitchen area with induction hob, sink and microwave.  So on a day out boating on the Kennet & Avon Canal, you can pack a picnic afloat, or stop off at a canalside pub for lunch along the way.

Popular day boat destinations on the Kennet & Avon Canal from Hilperton include:

  • Cruising to Avoncliff and back, enjoying spectacular views of the River Avon Valley and the Cotswold Hills, and cruising across the impressive Bath stone Avoncliff Aqueduct. The route passes a number of canalside pubs, including the Barge Inn at Bradford on Avon and the Cross Guns at Avoncliff; and
  • Boating through the Wiltshire countryside to Seend Cleve and back, passing through the village of Semington and the historic entrance to the Wilts & Berks Canal.

Drifters also offers electric day boat hire at:

  • Springwood Haven on the Coventry Canal near Nuneaton in Warwickshire;
  • Kings Orchard Marina in the Coventry Canal near Lichfield in Staffordshire; and
  • New Mills Marina on the Peak Forest Canal in Derbyshire.

Drifters offers day boat hire from 20 locations across England and Wales.

For more information about Drifters day boat hire go to https://www.drifters.co.uk/day-boats/

Why canal boat holidays are pet-friendly

As well as dogs, we’ve accommodated many other kinds of pets aboard our canal boats, including rabbits, iguanas, cats, hamsters, caged birds, goldfish and tortoises.

Top 5 reasons why canal boat holidays are great for pets

  1. Narrowboats are like floating holiday cottages, with space for pets too;
  2. Canal boat holidays are especially great for dogs, with plenty of towpath walks and dog-friendly canalside pubs;
  3. Many of our canal boat hire operators allow your first pet to travel free;
  4. No extra vaccinations or pet passports are needed; and
  5. Narrowboats with open cruiser-sterns at the back offer extra room ‘on deck’ for pets to enjoy the ever-changing view.

Our top 3 dog-friendly canal boat holiday destinations in 2023:

1. Navigate to Wrenbury & the South Cheshire Way

From Bunbury on the Shropshire Union Canal in Cheshire it takes around six hours, passing through 11 locks, to reach Wrenbury Mill.  The journey takes you through the Cheshire countryside along 10 miles of canals.  The historic village of Wrenbury, on the South Cheshire Way, offers lots of countryside walks.  And there’s a choice of dog-friendly pubs to visit, including the canalside Dusty Miller.

2. Cruise to Cannock Chase for miles of walking trails

On a short break Great Haywood in Staffordshire, you can cruise along the Trent & Mersey Canal to Cannock Chase Forest.  Once a Royal Forest, Cannock Chase is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with over 6,800 hectares of landscapes and miles of walking trails to explore.  There are a number of visitor centres for Cannock Chase, including the Forestry England one close to the canal at Rugeley.  From Great Haywood, it takes around two-and-a-half hours to cruise to Rugeley.

3. Boat along the Kennet & Avon Canal to Savernake Forest

There are over 4,500 acres of woodlands to explore at Savernake Forest – doggy heaven.  From Devizes, it takes around 11 hours, passing through 30 locks, to reach the village of Wootton Rivers.  This is a great starting point for a variety of walks around the Forest and a great destination for a week-long holiday on the canals.

 

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.