Summer days out boating on the canals

Hire a canal boat for a great day out this summer

We offer canal boat day boat hire from six of our bases, from just £99 per day for up to 10 people.

You can cruise gently through the countryside with family and friends, spotting wildlife along the way.

Tuition is included and our day boats are equipped with the all things you need for a day afloat, including a kettle, cooker, fridge and toilet.

Here’s a guide to our top six day boat hire destinations this summer:

1. Glide across ‘The Stream in the Sky’

On a day afloat from Trevor on the Llangollen Canal, you can cruise across to the UNESCO World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct to Chirk and back.  As you cross, you’ll be 38 metres high above the Dee Valley with fantastic views! You can stop to enjoy a drink or a meal at the Bridge Inn at Chirk Bank or the Poacher’s Pocket at Gledrid.  The journey to Chirk and back takes five hours.

2. Potter through the Warwickshire countryside to Lowsonford

From Wootton Wawen you can cruise north along the Stratford Canal to the village of Lowsonford and back.  There you can moor up and visit the canalside Fleur de Lys pub, famous for its pies. The journey to Lowsonford and back takes 7 hours and there are four locks to go through each way.

3. Cruise through the Staffordshire countryside to Rugeley

From Great Haywood, near Stafford, you can cruise to the historic market town of Rugeley and back.  You’ll pass the National Trust’s Shugborough Estate. And the Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Along the way, you can stop for a drink or a meal at the Wolseley Arms at Wolseley Bridge. Or book at table at The Colliers pub canalside in Rugeley. The journey to Rugeley and back takes six hours and there are two locks to go through each way.

4. Navigate through the Cheshire countryside to Nantwich

On a day out from Bunbury on the Shropshire Union Canal near Tarporley, you can cruise to Nantwich and back.  The lock-free journey takes you past the canalside Barbridge Inn. And across the impressive Nantwich Aqueduct, with panoramic views across the town.  The journey to Nantwich and back takes around six hours.

5. Travel slowly through the Shropshire countryside to historic Whitchurch

From Whixall on the Prees Branch of the Llangollen Canal, you can reach the historic market town of Whitchurch.  You’ll pass the Hadley Farm Café along the way and there’s a good choice of places to eat in Whitchurch, including the Black Bear pub.  The journey to Whitchurch and back takes around five hours, and there are six lift bridges each way.

6. Boat through the Bath Valley to Brassknocker Basin

From Bradford on Avon, on the Kennet & Avon Canal in Wiltshire, you can cruise through the Bath Valley to Brassknocker Basin and back. Along the way you’ll pass over the magnificent Bath stone aqueducts at Avoncliff and Dundas.  You can stop for lunch at the canalside No.10 Cafe next to Avoncliff Aqueduct, or the Angelfish Restaurant at Brassknocker Basin.  The journey there and back travels nine miles and takes around four hours.  There’s just one lock to pass through each way.

You can book your summer day out boating online here or call us on 0117 304 1122.

To find out more about visiting the canal network, go to https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/