Best October Narrow Boat Holidays

Explore Britain’s beautiful countryside by canal boat this October and choose from dozens of destinations.

If you book by 15 September, you’ll save 30% on any 3, 4 or 7 night break departing in October 2025. T’s & C’s apply.

Everyone making the booking will also be entered into a special prize draw to win a free short break in 2026.

To celebrate, we’ve published a guide to our best short breaks (three or four nights) and week-long breaks in October.

Our best short break canal boat holidays in October

Cruise through the Bath Valley to Bath

On a weekend break from our canal boat hire base at Bradford on Avon, you can cruise along the Kennet & Avon Canal to the UNESCO World Heritage City of Bath and back. The route will take you through Bradford on Avon Lock and past English Heritage’s medieval Tithe Barn.  You’ll cruise across the magnificent Bath stone Avoncliff and Dundas Aqueducts and pass the entrance to the Somerset Coal Canal.  Boating on through the Bath Valley, you go through Claverton, home of the American Museum at Claverton Manor, and Bathampton, passing the iconic canalside George Inn.  You can moor up at Sydney Gardens and it’s a 15-minute walk into Bath city centre, with world class attractions to explore, including the Roman Baths.

The journey to Bath and back from Bradford on Avon travels 18 miles, passes through two locks (one each way) and takes around eight hours.

Navigate the Llangollen and Montgomery canals to Crickheath Basin

On a four-night break from Trevor, you can travel by boat to Crickheath on the Montgomery Canal and back. The journey begins on the Llangollen Canal, cruising the 11-mile section designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. You’ll cruise across the Pontcysyllte and Chirk aqueducts, and you’ll pass a series of canalside pubs, including the Bridge Inn at Chirk Bank. When you reach Frankton Junction, you’ll transfer onto the Montgomery Canal, recognised as a Special Area of Conservation. There are canalside pubs at Owestry and Maesbury Marsh. You can turn the boat around at Crickheath Basin.

The journey to Crickheath Basin and back from Trevor travels 37 miles, passes through 20 locks (10 each way) and takes around 20 hours.

Boat through the Shropshire countryside to Wrenbury

On a four night break from Whixall, you can cruise along the Llangollen Canal to Wrenbury and back. The journey takes you along the Prees Branch of the Llangollen Canal, transferring onto the mainline close to Whixall Moss nature reserve. There are two lift bridges on the Prees Branch and then another four to go through before you reach the historic market town of Whitchurch.  Soon after Whitchurch, you’ll go through Grindley Brook locks and you can moor up just before Marbury Lock to walk into the village of Marbury, home of the Swan Inn. When you reach Wrenbury, you can moor up to explore the village, where the centre is a conservation area. There are walks to explore and the canalside Dusty Miller pub to visit.

The journey to Whitchurch and back from Whixall Marina travels 26 miles, passes through 20 locks (10 each way) and takes around 18 hours.

Navigate the Shropshire Union Canal to Audlem

From our Bunbury base, you can cruise through the Cheshire countryside to Audlem and back. You’ll pass the popular canalside Barbridge Inn at Barbridge Junction. At Nantwich you’ll cruise across the Nantwich Aqueduct, enjoying views across the historic town. After going through the two locks at Hack Green, you can moor up to visit the Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker Museum. At the pretty village of Audlem, you’ll find the famous Shroppie Fly canalside pub next to Lock 13.

The journey to Audlem and back from Bunbury travels 23 miles, passes through four locks (two each way) and takes around nine hours.

Our best week-long narrowboat holidays in October

Navigate ‘The Shroppie’ to Market Drayton and Norbury

On a week’s break from Bunbury in Cheshire, you can cruise along the Shropshire Union Canal to Norbury and back.  The journey will take you through the Cheshire countryside and across the Nantwich Aqueduct, with views across the town.  At Hack Green locks, you can moor up to visit the Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker Museum, where kids can follow the Soviet Spy Mouse Trail. At Audlem, you can moor up to visit the canalside Shroppie Fly pub.  When you reach historic Market Drayton, you can visit one of the many places to eat and drink, and sample the town’s famous gingerbread men.  Continue cruising south, and after the five locks at Tyrley, you’ll cruise through the atmospheric Woodeaves Cutting, full of wildlife and vegetation. Next you’ll cross the Shebdon Aqueduct, before reaching Norbury Wharf and the canalside Junction Inn.

The journey from Bunbury to Norbury and back takes around 31 hours and passes through 58 locks (29 each way).

Travel up the famous Caen Hill flight and cruise through the Vale of Pewsey

On a week’s break from Bradford on Avon on the Kennet & Avon Canal in Wiltshire, you can cruise to Pewsey Wharf and back. The journey takes you up the famous 29 locks at Caen Hill, one of the Seven Wonders of the Waterways.  You can moor up for a break at the historic market town of Devizes to visit the Wiltshire Museum, where gold from Stonehenge is on display.  Next you’ll cruise through the beautiful Vale of Pewsey, part of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  At Pewsey Wharf, you can follow the Pewsey Vale Trail and visit the Pewsey Heritage Centre and the Waterfront Bar & Bistro.

It takes around 34 hours to cruise from Bradford on Avon to Pewsey and back, passing through 72 locks (36 each way).

Cruise through the Shropshire Lake District to Llangollen in the Welsh Mountains

On a week’s break from Whixall, on the Prees Branch of the Llangollen Canal in Shropshire, you can cruise to the historic town of Llangollen and back.  Along the way, you’ll travel through the Shropshire Lake District to Ellesmere, with its beautiful Mere, castle remains, cycle trails and woodland walks. You’ll cross the border into Wales at Chirk and begin cruising the 11 miles of the Llangollen Canal designated a World Heritage site, including tunnels, lift bridges and the awesome Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.  At the historic market town of Llangollen, nestled in the Berwyn Mountains, you can visit the famous Horseshoe Falls, the Llangollen Steam Railway and you can climb up to Castell Dinas Bran for amazing views.

The journey from Whixall to Llangollen and back takes around 24 hours and passes through four locks (two each way).