If you have never had a holiday afloat before, it can all seem a little confusing, so to help you plan your first ever trip we have detailed below some very enjoyable cruises.
Short Break from Alvechurch (Worcestershire)
Short break from Anderton (Cheshire)
Short break from Falkirk (Scotland)
Short break from Gailey (Staffordshire)
Short Break from Gayton (Northamptonshire)
Short break from Goytre (South Wales)
Short break from Hilperton (Wessex)
Short Break from Rugby (Warwickshire)
Short break from Whitchurch (Shropshire)
Short break from Worcester (Worcestershire)
Short Break from Wrenbury Mill (Cheshire/Shropshire)
Short Break from Alvechurch
To the top of Lapworth locks & return
9 hours cruising - no locks
DAY 1
Cruise towards Birmingham through the 2726 yard Wast Hill Tunnel shortly after leaving the marina. Although entering a built up area as you exit the tunnel, you soon turn right at Kingswood Junction onto the Stratford Canal .
You soon find yourself in the leafy suburbs of Solihull & Shirley. The Drawbridge Pub at Shirley is a perfect spot for your first nights mooring.
(Total cruising time 2½ hours)
DAY 2
A very easy second day involves just 2 hours cruising but plenty of opportunity for relaxing walks and wildlife. Cruise past Earlswood Reservoir - primarily a feeder for the canal but also a nature reserve and home to a sailing club.
At Hockley Heath you will find shops and pubs and you should reach Lapworth Top Lock in time for a picnic lunch. You should at this time of day have a good choice of moorings to stay here for the night.
A pleasant walk down the Lapworth Flight gives you the opportunity to experience the operation of locks without to much physical exertion yourself! At Bridge 31 you can take the path to Packwood House - a National Trust property with café. When you return to the canal, continue 'down-stream' to the Boot Inn for dinner.
(Total cruising time 2 hours)
DAY 3
Retrace your steps as far as The Crown at Withybed Green, about 20 minutes cruise from Alvechurch Boat Centres. Moor for dinner and the night.
(Total cruising time 4½ hours)
DAY 4
Return to Alvechurch and vacate by 10am
Short break from Anderton
Nantwich & return
18 hours cruising, 16 locks
Day 1
You start off heading south east on a quiet stretch of canal passing through rich farmland interspersed with woods. Passing through 'Big Lock' marks your entry to the town of Middlewich , a medium sized Cheshire town with plenty of eateries and amenities.
(Total cruising time 4 hours)
Day 2
After 4 locks in quick succession, the next three are evenly spaced amid your views of hills and forest. Head south towards Nantwich through the busy Barbridge Junction where you can stop over for a lunch break at either the Barbridge Inn ( Chester Road ) a busy, brewery chain pub with real ale and canalside garden or the Jolly Tar (Barbridge Junction) with real ale and home-made food.
After lunch carry on to Nantwich - a lovely medieval town with distinctive black and white architecture - for a short stop of about 2 hours maximum* (including your brisk ¼ hour walk from the canal).
On a 3 day trip you will have to turn around and return to Church Minshull for the night. You can moor up near Bridge 14 and enjoy a short walk to the village for an evening at the Badger Inn.
(Total cruising time 5 hours)
( * Nantwich is better experienced on a 4 day trip although still worth a quick look around on the shorter break.)
Day 3
Retrace your steps back towards Anderton marina, perhaps stopping off for the night at Marston where you can visit the Salt Barge pub at Bridge 193.
Alternatively, moor near to the marina and enjoy a meal at the Moorings Restaurant, at the marina itself (advance booking recommended).
Day 4
Set off for your 40 minute return journey (from the Salt Barge) to Anderton Marina in time to vacate by 10am.
Make you make time on your last morning to walk across to the marvelousAnderton Boat Lift and hopefully see it in action.
Short break from Falkirk
Falkirk Wheel & Linlithgow
13½ hours cruising - 14 locks - Twice via the wheel - 2 bridges
Day 1
Start your break from our base at the foot of the Falkirk Wheel and travel west along the Forth & Clyde Canal , under Bonnybridge lift bridge and up four locks through Lock 20 where you can moor overnight. You might wish to visit the award-winning Glenskirlie House restaurant (7 minutes walk).
(Total cruising time 2 hours)
DAY 2
Continue westwards and spend an hour in the peace and tranquility of the summit pound before turning, and heading back to Lock 20. Travel back to Falkirk and turn into the lock for the experience of a lifetime - the Falkirk Wheel - the only rotating boatlift in the world. Once you have been lifted 115 feet you will pass through the Roughcastle Tunnel under the Antoine Wall, two new locks and a mile of new canal. This is the point where a flight of 11 locks used to join the Union Canal to the Forth & Clyde.
Continuing eastwards, you will pass through the old 696 yard Falkirk Tunnel with its stalactites, across the Avon Aqueduct (85 feet high) and open countryside with views across the Firth of Forth.
Head for mooring up overnight at Linlithgow.
(Total cruising time 7 hours)
DAY 3
Visit Linlithgow Palace, browse round this historic town and after a leisurely lunch on board or in a local eatery, retrace your steps to the top of the Falkirk Wheel. Pass down The Wheel and travel west to Lock 16 where you might want to have an evening meal in the Union Inn or sample take-away fish and chips at the Union Chippie. Take the boat the 15 minute journey back to the Falkirk Marina for your last overnight mooring.
(Cruising time 4½ hours)
DAY 4
Vacate the boat by 10am and perhaps buy a memento of your trip in the Falkirk Wheel Visitor Centre.
Short break from Gailey
Norbury Junction & return
18 hours cruising, 4 locks
DAY 1
A gentle lock-free 2 hours takes you to the village of Coven for your overnight mooring near the popular Fox & Anchor.
(Total cruising time 2 hours)
DAY 2
You will cruise down the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal before turning sharply right at Autherley junction. There is a lock immediately as you turn into the Shropshire Union canal but you do not encounter another for 8 miles at the village of Wheaton Aston .
Glorious countryside and pretty villages feature along this route and you are likely to be tempted to stop and explore at any number of points. Wheaton Aston has a good range of shops plus the Hartley Arms and the Coach & Horses.
Cuttings and embankments take the canal lock free to Norbury junction, where you should turn to cruise back to Gnosall for the night. However, you may decide an an easier day and stop before that.
(Total cruising time 8 hours)
DAY 3
A popular idea is to aim to visit the delightful village of Brewood for lunch, an hour before passing back through Autherley Junction.
Carry on past your first nights mooring at Coven to spend your last night at Hatherton Junction.
(Total cruising time 7 hours)
DAY 4
With just a 40 minute cruise to return your boat and vacate by 9.30am you should enjoy an unhurried final morning on board.
Short Break from Gayton
Braunston & return
16 hours cruising - 26 locks
Day 1
Head west from Gayton on the Grand Union Canal towards Bugbrooke to moor overnight. The canal tends to skirt villages rather then pass though them but at Bugbrooke it is only a short walk to a choice of 3 village pubs.
• Wharf Inn by bridge 36 - real ale, bar meals and a la carte menu
• Baker's Arms, High Street - real ale, skittles, pool and darts
• Five Bells, Church Lane.
(Total cruising time 1 hour 15 minutes)
DAY 2
As you carry along through the countryside you soon reach Weedon, which is worth a mid-morning stop, particularly with its selection of antique shops. A natural arterial route, for a while on this stretch of canal you are accompanied by the Roman A5 ( Watling Street ) the railway and the M1 motorway. After cruising for 3½ hours, you will have earned lunch by the time you get to Norton junction, having just encountered your first 7 locks as you climb away from the other transport routes.
You will cruise along the summit of this canal and through the Braunston tunnel (2042 yards) before descending the 6 locks into Braunston itself. As a hub of waterways heritage Braunston has plenty of narrowboat activity and you will be able to find a spot to tie up here for the night amongst the long rows of moored craft.
(Total cruising time 6½ hours)
DAY 3
Retracing your steps there will be much you have seen on the way to explore on the return and you should find another good evening mooring at Weedon (if you don't mind an early start on your last day) or Bugbrooke.
DAY 4
Return to Gayton marina and vacate by 10am
Short break from Goytre
Talybont & return
3/4 nights, lock free (if you choose), 2 locks (turn at Llangynidr) or 10 locks (Talybont)
'Goytre' means a 'place in the woods' and if you arrive early you can enjoy the surroundings and relax into a holiday mood before even collecting your boat. There are woodland walks, a play area, cafe and picnic area.
DAY 1
2½ hours cruising on your first afternoon will take you to the village of Llanfoist and your evening mooring.
If you want to eat out a brisk walk (for the more energetic) or a taxi ride will take you to Abergavenny, where you may also wish to stock up the following morning with a supermarket just 20 minutes walk from the canal.
(Total cruising time 2½ hours)
DAY 2
The scenery is fantastic, the hillsides on your left with pasture and arable land falling away to the right. The area is a walkers' paradise so you may be keen to spend as much time exploring away from the canal as on the boat. The towpath is well-maintained, with paths and country lanes leading to the hills - though sometimes the hills rise almost vertically from the canalside!
Llangattock Wharf is a good place to stop for lunch, perhaps walking across the medieval 13-arch stone bridge over the River Usk to the town of Crickhowell .
(Cruising time 2 hours)
Your first lock is at Llangynidr. If you have decided on a 'lock free' itinerary you will turn below the lock and on a 3-night break you will turn here anyway, but you may wish to go through the lock and turn above it - just for the experience!
(Cruising time 2½ hours)
EXTRA DAY for a 4-night break
5 locks in total, in the most perfect setting take you on towards Talybont and, as you travel farther north towards Brecon, the wild beauty of the moors and the ruggedness of the Beacons themselves are this area's crowning glory. Return to Llangynidr or Llangattock for your evening mooring.
(Total cruising time 5 hours)
DAY 3
The easy cruising, plentiful villages and good moorings will make your return trip easy to plan as you will probably have spotted suitable evening moorings and places in need of 'further exploration' on the way north.
(Total cruising time 6 hours)
DAY 4
Return to the marina to vacate by 10am.
(Cruising time 1 hour)
Short break from Hilperton
Bath & return
3/4 nights, 2 locks (east of Bath ), 14 locks (west of Bath ).
Depending how adventurous you are feeling, you can choose to pass through just one lock (in each direction) on this cruise or try a few more at Bath .
DAY 1
Just an hour from Hilperton you reach the medieval town of Bradford on Avon . Here you will come across your first lock. With good moorings below the lock (and a choice of canalside hostelries) you can walk up to the lock and watch a few boats go through to gain confidence before you go through yourself. Being a wide beam canal, the locks take two narrowboats, so you can share the experience, and effort, with another boat.
Avoncliff Aqueduct makes a perfect stopping point for your first night. The Cross Guns Inn serves good food - with an entrance onto the towpath, next to the moorings.
(Total cruising time 1½ hours)
DAY 2
Cruising into Bath is like gliding into Regency Britain. 2 hours of easy cruising and splendid architecture takes you to the top lock in Bath . Mooring here puts you in line with the rooftops of the city and an enjoyable walk away from the city centre.
(Cruising time 2 hours)
A few locks onwards and moorings are available very close to the city centre, near to the spectacular Pulteney Weir and Bridge. Bath has much to explore and plenty of good places to eat.
(Cruising time 2 hours, if passing through all 6 Bath locks)
DAY 3
You can have a leisurely start from Bath and still enjoy an afternoon in Bradford on Avon (sometimes described as a little version of Bath ) where you will moor for the night before the short cruise back to Hilperton on your last morning.
(Total cruising time 5 hours, if starting from the bottom of the Bath locks)
DAY 4
Return to the marina to vacate by 10am
Short Break from Rugby
Birdingbury Wharf & return
18 hours cruising, 12 locks
Lots of pubs, ancient countryside and peace & quiet
DAY 1
Head south to pass through Hilmorton locks (a flight of 3) before mooring for the night.
Choose between the aptly named Lock Stop Bistro or The Old Royal Oak for your evening meal.
(Total cruising time 2½ hours)
DAY 2
1½ hours of lock free cruising takes you down to Braunston junction where you will turn right, still lock free all the way to Napton Junction. Carry on past the junction for lunch at Napton Bottom Lock.
(Cruising time 4 hours)
Turn after lunch and head back to Napton junction where you turn left and pass down through Calcutt Locks (another flight of 3) and on to Birdingbury Wharf. Moor here for your overnight stop near The Boat Inn.
(Cruising time 3 hours)
DAY 3
You will need an early start as you retrace your steps. Head back through Calcutt locks and left at Napton Junction. Braunston village has a choice of pubs for lunch:
• The Mill House (canalside)
• The Old Plough - in the village high street
• The Wheatsheaf - in the village
(Cruising time 4½ hours)
After lunch and, turning left at Braunston Junction, take the North Oxford Canal all the way back to, and past, Rugby Wharf . Go through the Newbold Tunnel, turn and come back through again. Moor for the night at The Boat Inn.
(Cruising time 4 hours)
DAY 4
Enjoy the 1 hour cruise to return the boat by 9.30am.
Short break from Whitchurch
Chirk & return
17 hours cruising, 4 locks
DAY 1
Your first afternoon involves a gentle cruise through the Shropshire countryside, passing under a few lift bridges.
Spend your first night at Bridge 43, where you will find the Waggoners' Inn just down the lane.
(
Total cruising time 1½ hours)
DAY 2
As you set off you will pass a shop, The Barn, selling cakes and quiches. The canal winds its peaceful way past an English Nature reserve to your lunch stop at Ellesmere. You will also find a good range of shops.
(Cruising time 3 hours)
In the afternoon you continue past the entrance to the Montgomery Canal to Chirk, passing thorough the 2 locks at New Marton.
Turn at Chirk but take the opportunity to walk down to the aqueduct if you have time. Head back through the locks to Hindford where you will spend the night - it is well worth visiting the Jack Mytton which serves excellent food.
(Cruising time 6 hours)
DAY 3
Ellesmere is again an ideal lunch stop and many choose to cruise past the hire base and down to the Grindley Brook Locks.
Turn just before the locks and head back to Whitchurch, a good place to spend the night in its own right. Stroll into Whitchurch and sample any one (or more) of a dozen fine pubs and restaurants.
(Total cruising time 6½ hours)
DAY 4
If you spent your last evening at Whitchurch you will have a completely unhurried morning to vacate the boat by 9.30am.
Short break from Worcester
Stoke Prior & return
3 nights, 38 locks
An energetic weekend with the option of an adventurous first afternoon.
DAY 1
If you are able to depart promptly and have the advantage of long evenings (May to September) you can cruise all the way to the delightful village of Tibberton with a choice of either The Bridge Inn or Speed the Plough.
The 12 locks will certainly give you an appetite! If you plan to eat on board you can moor virtually wherever you like without the pressure of completing all the locks in your first evening.
(Total cruising time 4 hours (all the way to Tibberton)
DAY 2
(If you decided not to press on to Tibberton on your first evening you can readily make up the time this morning as a relatively leisurely day is planned.)
2 hours of easy cruising takes you past the entrance to the Droitwich Canal (currently under restoration) then you encounter the 6 locks of the Astwood flight then turn a mile later at Stoke Prior.
(Cruising time 3½ hours)
Stop for lunch at either the Navigation or the Boat & Railway before heading down to Hanbury Wharf with the Eagle & Sun for your overnight mooring.
(Cruising time 2 hours)
DAY 3
If you decide to press on for the morning you should be back at Worcester for a late lunch (or stop for a picnic on the way).
(Total cruising time 5 hours)
38 locks over the weekend may merely have whetted your appetite so you might enjoy an excursion onto the River Severn for the afternoon, through the last 4 locks. Make sure you check the closing time on the River lock to return to the canal.
DAY 4
A popular option is to moor back in Lowesmoor Wharf as it is extremely convenient for the city centre and saves an early start on your last morning to vacate the boat by 9.30am.
Short Break from Wrenbury Mill
Audlem & return
15 hours cruising - 22 locks
DAY 1
Head off north on the Llangollen Canal , cruising through beautiful countryside and with 5 evenly spaced locks before the Hurleston Locks - a flight of 4 locks.
(Total cruising 3 hours)
DAY 2
Head south on the Shropshire Union Canal over the aqueduct through to Nantwich. There is plenty of mooring here and this is an ideal place to explore a very pretty English village.
Try Oddfellows, McCormacks, The Vine Inn or Bistro Mon Ami for lunch.
(Cruising 1½ hours)
After lunch, head towards Audlem (passing through 2 more locks) where the moorings are plentiful. As you reach the flight of locks you will pass Audlem Wharf , one of the prettiest parts of the Shropshire Union. You must turn around at Audley Wharf - do not go through the locks.
(Cruising 3 hours)
Choice of 3 pubs:
• The Bridge - Shropshire Street , Bridge 78; friendly traditional pub; busy restaurant with extensive menu; Folk music every Friday
• The Shroppie Fly - The Wharf: converted warehouse serves ale from a bar built like a narrowboat; extensive range of interesting food; canalside seating; pool, darts, dominoes, table football
• Lord Combermere - The Square: home-made food (not Sunday); pub games
Alternatively, if you prefer just tea and a snack , try the Old Priest House (Beaman's Shop) open to 6pm - traditional old sweet shop, its walls lined with wooden shelves and a myriad selection of sweetie jars with home-made preserves and ice cream. The coffee shop sells tea, coffee, snacks and toasties.
DAY 3
Retrace your steps, finally mooring up within an hour or so from Wrenbury Mill Marina
DAY 4
Return to Wrenbury in time to vacate by 10am