Canal Boats in the UK

This link takes you to all prior discussions had here re canal boats and narrow boats

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We've had many recent inquiries about this, after the narrow boats video appeared around the country on public broadcast stations.

Hello Peg, My wife and I have done a week's trip on Narrow Boats a couple of times and will do it again. Most rental companies require at least three people as it takes that many to operate the locks and tend the boat through. The boats we have been on have two bedrooms and two bathes and room for two more on fold down beds. The locks are very easy to operate and are really part of the fun. When you pick up your boat you usually watch a video tape of how to operate the boat, locks, swinging bridges, and passing through tunnels. By the end of the first day you will be an expert. The boats have iron hulls and so are very strong. Our favorite starting point so far was Market Harburough (sp). We cruised the Mersy Canal but it followed a main highway much of the time and the noise from traffic was in the way. Anyway, canal boating is an enjoyable way to slow down and be off of the typical tourist path. Have a great time. What time of the year are you thinking about. We did the boating during the fall as the numbers on the canals are much less and the weather was perfect.

Hi Peg. Good advice from Charles. We too have done a couple of narrowboat holidays. You shouldn't have too much traffic in October. For your first time out a 3-4 day "short break" might be easier. A good site is www.ukboathire.com. I advise getting a Pearson's Guide (less than $20) for the particular route you will be travelling. It will give expected travel times and where all the locks, pubs etc are. Most canals are in the Midlands. We did Whitchurch Shropshire to Llangollen Wales return (7 days) which had 2 magnificent aquaducts to cross. There are only 2 locks (each way) and several villages on or near to the canal. On our return to Whitchurch we had enough time to go in the other direction as far as Wrenbury. There are additional locks on this leg. Personally we really enjoyed the locks once we got the hang of it which only took a short time. However there were 4 of us. We used Viking Afloat (yellow boats) which are now part of the Alvechurch group. Service was excellent as were the boats. We used the Medway/Medina class which had a bed and bathroom at each end which for 2 couples was perfect. It was 57 feet long which was manageable but about the longest I would want to handle. Hope this helps. Email me if you have any other questions......Gary

Hi Peg. Just remembered another site with a good article. www.slowtrav.com/uk/notes/jack-canals.htm

Gary

Kent, Charles, and Gary -

Thank you all very much for the information. It's very helpful. I'll post a note when we return from our trip to let you know how it went. We can't wait!

-Peg