Planning Your Canal Narrowboat Holiday
What is a Canal Narrowboat holiday all about? Just imagine. It’s another perfect day on the canal.The sun reflects off the water, and the blackbirds are singing it the trees. As I rise for my early morning cup of tea, I pull aside the curtain for a glance at the swans cruising past my narrowboat. Uh-oh! Dark clouds. Spitting rain disturbs the otherwise smooth water. A coolish breeze. Ah well, the narrowboat is toasty warm, breakfast is sizzling on the stove. A brisk walk into the little village where we are moored for the paper and chat to the locals. Then off to.....wherever we choose! Ah yes! Just another magic day on my canal narrowboat holiday! You see,canals,and narrowboats are fun.
But what are these canals? Where are they? Where do they go? Are there lots of them? Canals were built to carry trade. Roads were then just tracks of mud and rock. Rivers had been used as transportation for centuries, so the idea of creating waterways was born. The Canal De Midi, in France, built in the seventeenth century had been a success. So in England, industrialists decided to build canals to move raw and manufactured goods. Factories were being built that needed coal. Within a very brief period, traffic on England’s first canals surpassed expectations, and the canal system spread around the country. The canal system dominated transport of heavy goods well into the 1840’s. However as the railways developed their lines, the canal companies found it difficult to compete. Still, the system supported commercial trade of some kind right up to the 1960’s. Much of today’s canal system remains as it was a hundred years ago. Locks, warehouse, and are unchanged. Many of the stone bridges show the scars of the ropes used in the days of horse drawn boats.
Over recent times, the canals have re-awakened. Where once the great commercial fleets of Thomas Clayton, Samuel Barlow, and Shropshire Union Carrying Company were a regular sight, now we see Anglo Welsh, Black Prince, Alvechurch, and many other hire boat fleets carrying happy folk on canal narrowboat holidays.Yes, the canals survived, where much of the rail system didn’t More and more people are discovering the pleasure of the canals of England. So where can I go on the canals? Have a look at this Pearsons Guide map!
As you can see it’s really where you would like to go. Luckily for us who love canal narrowboat holidays, the canal mania years brought quite an extensive system of canals through the U.K. and Wales. And they are just waiting for YOU to discover them. How do you get afloat? If you live in the U.K., chances are there is a canal near you. Find it! Sit by it! Watch the boats go by. See which of the hire boats gliding by appeal to you. Find where they are based and go have a look at the range of boats. If it all looks appealing, try a day hire. Or, go for a short break. If you like it,you’re away! But beware! It is definitely addictive!
Whichever you choose, it’s all about slowing down, and seeing the world at 4mph. There is a large choice of narrow boat companies to hire from and a variety of boats to choose from. We have hired from both Black Prince, at Chirk on the Llangollen, and Anglo Welsh, from Trevor and Bunbury. All boats are well fitted out, comfortable, and very easy to handle. It's all designed for you to reax and enjoy your canal narrowboat holiday. So Where Would You Like To Go?
An ideal cruise for novice, or experienced, is a one week cruise on the spectacular llangollen canal. The trip shown above is a Black Prince cruise from their lovely Marina at Chirk.Two spectacular aqueducts,three tunnels, and stunning scenery. This trip is an easy one week cruise down to Whtchurch and back, traveling 60 miles and only 4 locks. Ideal for the beginner! You will first head to Llangollen, traveling over the Pontcycsylite Aqueduct. After a night there, its back down the canal, and across the equally speccy Chirk Aqueduct, (right beside the viaduct). Then visit the lovely Ellesmere and the Meres then Whitchurch, before heading back to Chirk. A lovely week’s cruise. (See the section on the Llangollen for a more detailed description of the Llangollen) Of course, if you have a little more time, you can get down to the Shropshire Union, and head up to Barbridge Junction, or swing down to the beautiful town of Nantwich.
From Anglo Welsh's base on the Thames, near Oxford, there is a fascinating combination of canal and river to cruise on. One can take a leisurely cruise downstream to beautiful Henley, Windsor, and Hampton Court. Or, head along the Upper Thames to the beautiful village of Lechlade. This is an ideal beginners cruise, with lovely villages, bridges, and ever changing countryside.
Or how about heading up through Banbury and Braunston, through the Braunston tunnel, to Stoke Bruerne. The Boat Museum is there, and it’s a very pleasant two week cruise. Or if you have done a coulpe of trips already, try planning your own journey.Nick's canal planner is a usefull tool that helps plan your journey. Simply fill in where you are starting your journey, where you wish to finish, and how long you want to cruise daily. Plan your Canal Narrowboat Holiday here! Contact any of the many hire fleets, who will give you plenty of information on the type of boat to suit your canal narrowboat holiday, and where you would like to sail to. Check out the Anglo Welsh bases and routes here Black Prince have five bases to choose from. Read about them here Some other Cruising companies to choose from are: Willow Wren based in Rugby, ideal for cruising the Oxford canal. Viking Afloat have 4 bases, including Whitchurch, (llangollen)and Rugby (Oxford) and Alvechurch one of the bigger companies, have 6 bases covering most of the popular canals. All these companies are experienced at csnal narrowboat holidays and have a modern comfortable fleet of narrowboats. There is sure to be one, just wating, for you! If you have any comments, ideas, experiences, or photo's, we would love to hear from you. What did YOU do on your canal narrowboat holiday? Drop us a line, just send your name and email address below! Back to Great Canal and River Holidays Home Page
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If you are like us, and live overseas, try looking on the net. All companies have great websites, and first class service.
The more adventurous may want to take a couple of weeks, and head down to London Town, moor in Little Venice, and do a couple of days sightseeing. And you still have time for a leisurely cruise back to Oxford.
