The Tardebigge flight of 30 locks is on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal near Bromsgrove
Tardebigge is famous for its flight of 30 locks, the longest in Britain. The locks are spread over two-and-a-quarter miles and enable boats to ascend or descend 67 metres.
It takes around four hours to travel through the Tardebigge flight, and no over-night mooring is allowed so boaters need to plan ahead. In the spring and summer, Canal & River Trust volunteer lock keepers are on hand to help boaters pass through the locks.
The historic village of Tardebigge is surrounded by a panorama of beautiful Worcestershire countryside and has a rich history dating back centuries. Its name is believed to have Anglo-Saxon origins, possibly meaning “lookout place on a hill”. Tardebigge church offers fantastic views of the Worcester & Birmingham Canal and the Tardebigge Locks from its place on the hillside.
At Tardebigge Top Lock a plaque commemorates the meeting here between Tom Rolt and Robert Aickman, who founded the Inland Waterways Association in 1946 with the aim of keeping Britain’s canals navigable.
You can reach Tardebigge Locks on a week’s holiday from Wootton Wawen.
Short breaks from Bradford on Avon
From Bradford on Avon there are a variety of short break holiday options on the Kennet & Avon Canal
From our new base at Bradford on Avon Marina, cruise east along the Kennet & Avon Canal through the Avon Valley, passing Hilperton Marina. The journey continues east through Semington and Seend, with its canalside Barge Inn. Soon after you’ll reach the base of the Caen Hill flight of 29 locks at Devizes, one of the ‘Seven Wonders of the Waterways’. You can turn your boat here at Foxhanger Wharf. From the canal it’s a short walk to the historic market town of Devizes, with places to visit including the Wadworth Brewery Visitor Centre, Bear Hotel and Peppermill Restaurant.
Sydney Wharf and back (20 miles, 2 locks, 8 hours)
Cruise west through the beautiful Bath Valley, crossing over the Avoncliff Aqueduct with the No.10 Tea Garden next to it (open Fridays to Sundays). Later you’ll cruise over Dundas Aqueduct and pass the entrance to the Somerset Coal Canal. Then you’ll pass Claverton Pumping Station and Claverton Manor, home of the American Museum in Britain. The journey continues on through Bathampton, passing the canalside George Inn. You’ll cruise through two short tunnels – Beckford Road and Cleveland House. Turn the boat at Sydney Wharf winding hole and moor up. From there it’s a 15 minute walk into Bath City Centre.
Bath City Centre and back (14 locks, 14 hours)
Cruise west through the beautiful Bath Valley, crossing over the Avoncliff Aqueduct with the No.10 Tea Garden next to it (open Fridays to Sundays). Later you’ll cruise over Dundas Aqueduct and pass the entrance to the Somerset Coal Canal. Then you’ll pass Claverton Pumping Station and Claverton Manor, home of the American Museum in Britain. The journey continues on through Bathampton, passing the canalside George Inn. You’ll cruise through two short tunnels – Beckford Road and Cleveland House. You’ll go down the flight of six locks at Bath (the Widcombe flight) and you can turn and moor close to Pulteney Bridge. From there, you can explore all this fabulous UNESCO World Heritage city has to offer, including the Roman Baths, Jane Austen Museum, Bath Abbey, Theatre Royal and Royal Crescent.
Mid-week/4-night breaks from Bradford on Avon
Saltford Lock and back (16 locks, 22 hours)
Please note, this route is only available to hirers with lots of boating experience.
Heading west from the marina along the Kennet & Avon Canal, cruise through the picturesque Bath Valley. You’ll cross over the beautiful Bath stone Avoncliff Aqueduct with the No.10 Tea Garden next to it (open Fridays to Sundays). Later you’ll cruise over Dundas Aqueduct and pass the entrance to the Somerset Coal Canal. Next you’ll pass Claverton Pumping Station and Claverton Manor, home of the American Museum in Britain. And then you’ll travel through Bathampton and past the canalside George Inn. You’ll cruise through two short tunnels – Beckford Road and Cleveland House. Next you’ll travel down the flight of six locks in Bath (the Widcombe flight) before joining the River Avon. At Saltford you can visit the Riverside Inn.
To check availability and book click here or call us on 0117 463 3419.
10-day/2-week breaks from Bradford on Avon
Explore the Kennet & Avon Canal in Wiltshire, Somerset and Berkshire from our canal boat hire base at Bradford on Avon
There’s a choice of 10-day and 2-week breaks
Great Bedwyn and back (100 locks, 46 hours)
The journey begins by cruising east through two short tunnels and Sydney Gardens. You’ll cruise through the villages of Bathampton, with its popular canalside George Inn and Claverton, home of the historic Claverton Pumping Station and American Museum in Britain at Claverton Manor. Next you’ll cross over the impressive Dundas and Avoncliff Bath stone aqueducts. Then you’ll pass through the historic town of Bradford-on-Avon and its canalside Barge Inn and Beehive pub. The journey continues east through Semington and Seend, with its canalside Barge Inn. Soon after you’ll reach the base of the Caen Hill flight of 29 locks at Devizes, one of the ‘Seven Wonders of the Waterways’. It takes around five hours to travel up the flight. You’ll then experience Next you’ll pass through a series of pretty canalside villages dotted through the North West Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, including All Cannings with its King’s Arms pub and Honeystreet, with its canalside Barge Inn. You’ll travel on through the beautiful Vale of Pewsey, passing Pewsey Wharf with The Waterfront Bar & Bistro, and close by to the village of Pewsey, with its Royal Oak pub. Next, it’s Wootton Rivers with its Royal Oak pub on the edge of the Savernake Forest. Then you’ll pass through The Bruce Tunnel, also known as Savernake Tunnel, marketing the highest point of the canal. Soon after you’ll reach Crofton with its historic Pumping Station and Beam engines. And flight of locks taking you back down the hill. Next it’s Great Bedwyn, with its Three Tuns pub and Great Bedwyn Wharf where you can turn your boat.
Hungerford and back (120 locks, 54 hours)
As above but cruise on through Little Bedwyn and soon after, Froxfield with its Pelican Inn close to the canal. And then you’ll reach Hungerford with many antique shops, pubs and restaurants to choose from. You can turn your boat at Hungerford Town Bridge.
Newbury and back (142 locks, 64 hours)
As above but cruising on to Newbury, where there’s a great choice of pubs, including the canalside Lock Stock & Barrel. You can visit the Newbury Museum and Newbury Racecourse. The impressive Highclere Castle, featured in the ITV drama Downton Abbey is a short taxi ride away.
Reading and back (186 locks, 90 hours total)
Continue on from Newbury through the beautiful West Berkshire countryside passing through the pretty village of Kintbury with its canalside Dundas Arms. On reaching Reading, you can turn at the winding hole near King’s Bridge Road and moor up to walk back along the canal to the canalside Oracle shopping centre. There’s a great choice of canalside places to eat, including Wagamamas. The Vue cinema is canalside too. Reading Museum is a short walk away, home to half a million objects, crossing archaeology, art, natural history, social history and world cultures, including Britain’s Bayeux Tapestry.
We’re now offering holidays from Bradford on Avon
We’ve bought Sally Narrowboats, so we’re now offering canal boat hire on the Kennet & Avon Canal at Bradford on Avon.
Our new narrowboat hire base is on the Kennet & Avon Canal at Bradford on Avon in Wiltshire.
The 87-mile long Kennet & Avon Canal is one of the most popular on the canal network. It links the Bristol Avon with the Thames at Reading, passing through spectacular landscapes and the World Heritage City of Bath.
The pretty market town of Bradford-on-Avon has many impressive historic structures and buildings, including its medieval Town Bridge over the River Avon and spectacular 14th century monastic stone barn. There’s something for everyone in this west Wiltshire town close to the Somerset border – historic pubs, weavers’ cottages, independent shops, restaurants and cafes, riverside walks, timber-framed buildings and market streets dating back to the Middle Ages.
Short break routes from Bradford on Avon
On a short break from Bradford on Avon you can head west to Bath and back, cruising across the impressive Bath stone aqueducts at Avoncliff and Dundas.
Or you can head east to Devizes at the base of the spectacular flight of 29 locks at Caen Hill, passing through the village of Seend and its popular canalside Barge Inn.
Week long destinations from Bradford on Avon
On a week’s holiday from Bradford on Avon you can travel up the Caen Hill Flight and continue on to Pewsey and then Great Bedwyn, passing through the beautiful Vale of Pewsey and the Savernake Forest.
Or you can cruise west to Bristol’s Floating Harbour to visit Brunel’s SS Great Britain, though this route is recommended for experienced boaters only as the Bristol Avon is tidal.
Longer holidays from Bradford on Avon
On a 10-day or two-week holiday from Bradford on Avon, you can continue heading east to Hungerford, Newbury and Reading.
Here’s more information about routes and destinations from Bradford on Avon
To book a holiday from Bradford on Avon, click on book your holiday on our homepage, or call us on 0117 304 1122.
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct boat trips
We offer daily boat trips across the Stream in the Sky in North Wales
Until 31 October 2024, our ‘Little Star’ trip boat will be operating daily skippered cruises across the UNESCO World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.
Little Star’s 45-minute return trips take passengers across the incredible 38-metre-high Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, to enjoy amazing views across the Dee Valley.
Our knowledgeable team provides commentary on board about the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and the Llangollen Canal. It’s a great way to learn more about the fascinating history of the site as you cruise gently along.
Refreshments are available to purchase on board, including hot and cold drinks.
‘Little Star’ Boat Trip Tickets
‘Little Star’ (‘Seren Fach’ in Welsh) offers space for up to 48 passengers. Adult tickets are priced at £10 each, children (aged under 16) are priced at £6.
Family tickets for two adults and two children are priced at £25 each. Tickets for groups of 10 or more are discounted by 10%.
From 29 March to 31 October 2024, trips depart daily at 11am, 12 noon, 1.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm from Canal Wharf, Trevor, Llangollen LL20 7TT.
Booking in advance is advised. For more information and to book go to www.anglowelsh.co.uk/little-star, or call our bookings team on 0117 304 1122.
Bespoke longer cruises are available for groups of 20 or more.
What to pack for your narrowboat holiday
Here’s a list of useful items to pack for your holiday on narrowboat in England and Wales
Our canal boats are like floating holiday cottages, so you’ll find many of the comforts of home waiting for you on board.
This includes a galley kitchen equipped with cutlery, crockery, cooking utensils, saucepans, a gas cooker with an oven and grill and a fridge with a small freezer compartment. Bed linen and towels are supplied and you’ll also find hand towels in the bathrooms and tea towels in the kitchen.
There’s a surprising amount of storage space on board for your belongings, but you should still pack sensibly. To help you prepare for your narrowboat holiday, we’ve put together a list of useful items to pack:
Extra towels – we provide bath and hand towels, but we do recommend bringing some extra, especially if you’re bringing pets along.
Re-usable items – to help to reduce the amount of plastic you acquire during your holiday, don’t forget to pack your re-useable shopping bags. Re-useable plastic bottles and coffee cups are also recommended to help minimise single-use waste.
DVDs & games – cards and board games are a great way to spend cosy nights afloat. You might also wish to pack some DVDs, as a consistent TV reception cannot be guaranteed on the canals.
A torch – country moorings can get very dark at night, which is fantastic for stargazing, but a torch is useful to help find your way back from the canalside pubs in the evenings!
Extra toilet roll – we supply some toilet roll in our loos, but do bring along extra. Please ensure that they are not quilted and please don’t use wipes.
Shampoo & body wash – the water you use to wash with will empty straight into the canal, which is why we recommend you pack eco-friendly, micro-bead free shampoos, conditioners, face and body washes.
Prepare for all weather types – if it’s wet, you’ll need a reliable waterproof jacket and a large golfing umbrella for the skipper. In sunnier weather, you’ll need a hat, sunglasses and sun cream. Gloves are recommended for working the locks and for steering when it’s cold.
Sensible footwear – trainers or rubber-soled shoes are the best choice for boating and lock working. It’s also a good idea to bring slippers or warm socks to wear on board in the evenings.
Binoculars – wildlife spotting is one of the most special things about a canal boat holiday, so pack some binoculars if you own them to enhance your experience.
A canal map – there are some great canal maps available to buy in advance from our Booking Team or in our boatyard shops, for example the Nicholson’s or Pearson’s guides. You can also plan your trip online using the mapping tools on the Canal & River Trust’s website. Be aware that mobile phone signals can be patchy along the canal network.
Drinks – the water on board is drinkable once boiled, but we recommend that you bring a large bottle for drinking water to top up at water points. If you want to enjoy a glass of wine, boxed wine is a great space saver.
Condiments – the galley kitchens on board our boats are fully equipped for home cooking. But don’t forget to pack some extra flavourings, such as salt & pepper, sauces, herbs and spices.
Phone chargers – our boats have 240 volt 3-pin sockets powered by the onboard batteries so you can charge your phones, tablets and cameras on board. But to avoid draining the batteries, we advise you to only do this when the engine is running as there is a limit to power available. Anything below 1,000 watts can be plugged in, for example blenders, cool boxes and hair straighteners, but nothing above 1,000 watts is permitted. So no kettles, irons, hairdryers or heaters.
Your pet’s bed – all our boats are pet friendly, and maximum of two pets are welcome on board provided you let us know at the time of booking. Remember to bring your pet’s blanket or basket with you as they are not permitted on the beds or chairs. Don’t forget to bring poo bags, too!
First aid kit – we recommend you pack a basic first aid kit, including antiseptic, plasters & bandages, in case of any cuts, scrapes or sprains.
Wootton Wawen
You can explore Shakespeare country from our narrowboat rental base at Wootton Wawen in Warwickshire
Head south along the Stratford Canal from Wootton Wawen and you’ll soon cross the 145-metre long Edstone Aqueduct, the longest aqueduct in England.
On a short break from Wootton Wawen you can continue south to Straford-upon-Avon. Or head north to Lapworth and Hatton Locks.
On a week-long break, you can cruise on to Warwick or complete the Birmingham Mini-Ring.
