Schools Out for Summer! Save 20% on Canal Boat Holidays
Question. What do most kids want from their summer holidays? Answer. Fun and games, fresh air and adventure, ice cream and “lashings of ginger beer”. As for mum and dad, how about all of the above plus tremendous value for money? Agreed? Then happily Anglo Welsh has the perfect solution for the 2016 school holidays.
This summer we areoffering canal getaways for all the family at 20% less than the brochure price*. That means savings of up to £435 for this year’s school holidays. And with 160 modern narrowboats (2-4 Berth, 5-8 Berth and9-12 Berth)at 11 prime locations across the inland waterways of England and Wales, Anglo Welsh has a convenient starting point for families large and small, wherever they are.
Ever since British Waterways became the Canal & River Trust in 2012, they’ve multiplied their efforts to improve public access to the UK’s canal system and get families interested in exploring the waterways, either by boat or by simply visiting for a day.
For younger kids, cruising on board a 57-foot narrowboat along winding canals surrounded by nature is a real thrill. Think about how excited they get riding a double-decker bus and multiply by ten! Your wide-eyed adventurers will love navigating on the water, devouring picnics on deck, feeding the ducks, and giving dad steering instructions. And when the kids (or the dog) need a walk, the pit stops aren’t half bad either! Forests, parks, gardens, historic towns, stately homes, children’s activity trails: the entertainment takes care of itself, much of it at no extra cost.
As for older children with enquiring minds, what better way to explore the world of water than on a canal boat passing through ingenious locks and across soaring aqueducts? To see a Victorian lock raising and lowering troughs of water big enough to hold two narrowboats is to get a practical lesson in science, history and engineering direct from the industrial age. And given that everyAnglo Welsh boat has a wi-fi connection**, your teenage professors can even do their follow-up research in the evening (in between staying in touch with their friends on Snapchat, Instagram and WhatsApp).
But be warned, your kids might get hooked on narrowboats for life. “Anglo Welsh has offered family holidays for over 40 years,” says Sandra Bonomini, herself part of Anglo Welsh’s booking team for more than 25 years, “and many of the children who first came here with their parents now come back every summer with their own offspring. Holiday memories really bind families together, and the magic of canal boat holidays seems to cast an everlasting spell.”
To save 20% on your School Holiday booking, please call our friendly Booking Team on 0117 304 1122.
*At least one person under the age of 16 must be on board. Terms and conditions apply. **All Anglo Welsh boats have WIFI except boats cruising from Silsden and Sally Narrowboats. 1GB of data per week break, subject to connection and signal.
Put a smile on your dad’s face with a canal boat surprise for Father’s Day
Let’s be honest: it’s really hard shopping for Father’s Day. Especially if your dad is a ‘Been there, done that, got the t-shirt’ kind of guy and your budget doesn’t quite stretch to a week in Las Vegas. Luckily, Anglo Welsh has the perfect solution to those annual gift dilemmas for Father’s Day, celebrated this year on Sunday June 19th
Anglo Welsh has been doing narrowboat holidays for 40 years now, so as you can imagine, we’ve handled all kinds of Father’s Day bookings in our time. Some were memorable one-offs; others have gone on to become annual rituals. We take bookings for high-spirited cruises involving all the family across the Father’s Day weekend, but we also offer week-long holidays or peaceful midweek breaks for dad (and his better half!) to be taken later in the season.
One thing’s guaranteed, wherever your father lives and whatever his tastes in holidays and leisure, Anglo Welsh has got a trip right up his street (or canal). Our 11 starting bases stretch from Silsden on the Pennine Route all the way down to Bradford on Avon in the picturesque Cotswolds. We offer routes for experienced cruisers and circuits for complete beginners, and with a fleet of 160 narrowboats there’s something for large families (9-12 berth) and small families or couples (2-4 berth) alike.
If your dad is a nature lover our routes take in stunning countryside, sinuous waterways and abundant wildlife. If he’s more of a culture vulture, Anglo Welsh has got moorings in Bath, Oxford and Stratford upon Avon. And if a slap-up meal in a quaint canal-side pub is your family’s idea of heaven, you will really be spoilt for choice. We’ve even got discounts on flotilla bookings if your dad’s role model is Steve Martin, the father of 12 children in ‘Cheaper by the Dozen’!
So to end where we started, we’re pretty sure your dad doesn’t really need more socks, tool kits or BBQ-scented cologne. By contrast, a narrowboat trip is the perfect Father’s Day gift because it gets him out of the shed, on to glorious waterways, and last but not least, mum has a fabulous time too.
To make a booking or to talk about what kind of canal holiday is your perfect Father’s Day gift, please call our friendly Booking Office on 0117 304 1122.
‘Messing about in boats’ – there’s really nothing better!
“Believe me my young friend, there is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.” So says Ratty to Mole in Kenneth Grahame’s classic novel ‘The Wind in the Willows’. To which the 150,000 people who take a canal holiday in the UK every year can only respond: “And so say all of us!”
Everyone who hires a narrowboat will have their own passions when it comes to messing about on the water, but with Ratty otherwise engaged, here are a few reasons why the Anglo Welsh team believe waterway holidays are an incomparable experience.
Relaxation. No traffic jams, no customs, no connecting flights, no noisy neighbours. Above all, no stress. Is there any better way to unwind on holiday than to meander along a canal surrounded by England’s green and pleasant land (not forgetting some wonderful Welsh landscapes)?
All the mod cons. The days when canal jaunts meant sleepless nights in uncomfortable cabins are long gone. Anglo Welsh’s fleet of 160 modern narrowboats offer all the creature comforts: fully-equipped kitchens, gas central heating, high spec showers, TVs, bedding, towels, even free wi-fi*.
Kids love canals. A family adventure on a narrowboat is an experience your children, or grandchildren, will cherish for the rest of their lives. Younger kids love pottering about on boats; even teenagers have been known to surrender their mobiles and muck in at the locks. And eating together as a family means leisurely meals on board, not fast food at McDonald’s (though ‘big kids’ often prefer traditional pub lunches in canal-side pubs!).
Doggy heaven. Dogs like canal holidays even more than us humans. Fresh air, new smells, plenty of countryside stops for bracing walks, maybe even the odd swim. Up to two well-behaved dogs are welcome on all of Anglo Welsh boats. Just keep Fido away from the swans!
It’s better than the zoo. Britain’s canals boast a staggering range of habitats and wildlife. Swans, mallard ducks, moorhens, coots, herons, kingfishers; water voles (like the slightly confused ‘Ratty’), otters, frogs; dragonflies, butterflies. No tigers, but no cages either.
No experience, no problem. One of Anglo Welsh’s experienced instructors will show you how to start the engine, fill up with water, steer, slow down, moor up and navigate locks. You’ll be amazed how straightforward it all is.
Location, Location, Location. Anglo Welsh has 11 bases in prime locations across the inland waterways of England and Wales. Our routes pass through rural idylls galore and historical towns and cities like Bath, Oxford, Birmingham and Stratford-upon-Avon.
Something for every budget. Long holidays, 3-day weekends, midweek getaways; 2-4-berths, 5-8 berths, 9-12 berths; there is a narrowboat experience for every type of holidaymaker and for every budget, including money-saving offers for under 12s and over 60s bookings for next season (until the end of Jan 2017), and flotilla discounts, loyalty discounts and armed forces discounts all year round.
And finally, to pinch another quote from ‘The Wind in the Willows’: “Here today, up and off to somewhere else tomorrow! Travel, interest, excitement! The whole world before you, and a horizon that’s always changing!”
*Wi-fi is free up to 1GB per week and subject to the signal.
To make a booking or to get friendly advice on canal holidays, please call our Booking Office on 0117 304 1122.
Many canal devotees love to enthuse about vintage narrowboats, and understandably so, but here at Anglo Welsh few things get our pulses racing more than a spanking new hire boat, especially when it’s suited and booted to our very own specifications.
In recent years, we’ve grown accustomed to narrowboat connoisseurs waxing lyrical about our Bond Class boats. But to paraphrase a 007 movie trailer, ‘Bond is back, and it’s better than ever’. In fact, it even has a new name! Ladies and gentleman, we proudly present the Anglo Welsh Constellation Class – six brand-new narrowboats that are all set to make a big splash in 2016 and beyond.
As the latest evolution of our customised fleet, the Constellation Class combines the proven layout of the Bond Class with upgraded facilities and striking new livery. And we’ve tried to spread the joy around! The 12-berth ‘Andromeda’ is based at our Bradford on Avon base, the 12-berth ‘Delphinus’ at Oxford, the 6-berth ‘Cassiopeia’ at Bunbury, and the 4-berth trio ‘Aquarius’, ‘Aquila’ and ‘Carina’ at Trevor, Wootton Wawen and Bunbury respectively.
“The Bond Class has been an incredibly popular hire over the years,” says Wootton Wawen base manager Alistair King, but we’ve really pushed the boat out … excuse the pun … with the Constellation. Built by one of Britain’s oldest established boat builders using Anglo Welsh’s own bespoke specs, they’re among the finest narrowboats you’ll see anywhere on the UK’s waterways.”
“Below deck, light ash interiors and reflective white ceilings create a really spacious feel, and as an added bonus, the Constellation Class is highly adaptable, with double beds easily converting into singles and vice-versa. ‘Aquila’ enjoyed its maiden voyage in March and we’ve already received great feedback. The only thing we can’t agree on is the pronunciation, though for now we’re going for ‘Aquila’ rhyming with ‘Tequila’!”
As well as being built to order, the Constellation Class was also ‘christened’ by the Anglo Welsh team. So why Constellation? “Despite the fact our narrowboat fleet already includes a boat called ‘Enterprise’ the name has nothing to do with ‘Star Trek,” confesses Alistair with a smile. In fact, stargazers will have already spotted that Aquarius, Aquila, Carina, Cassiopeia, Andromeda and Delphinus are all named after constellations. “Apparently Aquarius even means water-carrier in Latin,” adds Alistair, “though I prefer to think of it as an amphibious people carrier!”
To which we can only add, the Constellation Class is undoubtedly the new ‘star turn’ on the UK’s waterways and we’re confident that these magnificent boats will carry people on some memorable canal journeys!
To book one of the new Constellation Class narrowboats, please contact our dedicated Booking Team on 0117 304 1122.
Andrew and Kirsten King reviewed their recent holiday from our Wootton Wawen base for www.armyandyou.co.uk
It was quite a test to get the hang of manoeuvring our 62ft-long boat, called Marlow, but by the second day we had it down. You get a run through at the beginning and an instructional DVD, which helped clear up a few things that we were a little unsure about.
We started in Wotton Wawen and made our way to Stratford upon Avon, spending the night in the Stratford Basin which was a great spot to tour the heart of “Shakespeare Country”.
The boat is fairly modern compared to what we expected for this “old timey” experience. There are good heaters throughout and on a four-berth boat you can request two double beds or a double and two singles. Having two toilets was handy and in the kitchen we had all the utensils you need, a foldable table and chairs, some loungers and a TV – liveable and comfortable for a week’s stay.
Finley and Addison really enjoyed the whole experience. Locks can be a lot of work, especially when there are several in a row, but everyone was put to work when it came to operating them. The kids helped look out for particular lock or bridge numbers, pushed the lock gates open and shut and helped tie up the boat for the night.
They loved feeding the ducks along the canal at many points. Finley even had a go at steering. It’s worth considering bringing an extra pair of adult hands to share the workload if you have young children that need attention.
Part of the attraction is spending a bit of time off the boat. The highlights were tackling new challenges together and meeting new people, like the volunteers who help you through the locks and other friendly boat owners. One of the stops we made was to Mary Arden’s farm house (Shakespeare’s mother) where we learnt about what life was like when Shakespeare was alive.
We would definitely recommend this sort of holiday to Army families. It’s a history-rich and cultural experience that gets you up and about seeing some picturesque parts of the countryside.
Anglo Welsh offers all British Service personnel up to 15 per cent off. Our team of helpful canal holiday experts are available to take your booking! Please call us 0117 304 1122
National Geographic’s ‘Journey of a Lifetime’ narrowboat holiday on the Shropshire Union Canal
Is there any better way to discover the natural beauty of England and Wales than drifting along a picturesque canal on a narrowboat?
Well, if you’re one of those savvy customers who never books a holiday without first securing references from impeccable sources, how about acanal trip recommended by the world’s most prestigious travel magazine?
National Geographic’s ‘Journeys of a Lifetime’ presents a mouth-watering range of destinations, adventures and modes of transport, and taking centre stage alongside Trans-Siberian railways journeys, treks to Mount Kilimanjaro and horse-riding in the Andes isa long-time Anglo Welsh favourite. A narrowboat journey along the Shropshire Union Canal in the West Midlands is selected as one of the world’s ‘Top 1o canal trips’, rivalling prestigious names like Panama, Amsterdam and the Baltic Sea Canal in the waterway stakes.
As lovingly described by National Geographic, “The Shropshire Union Canal meanders through gently rolling landscape and hills, andacross valleys via deep cuttings and magnificent bridges. The canal is a monument to the early days of the industrial revolution; the brightly painted narrowboats also seem to come from another era. Boats go at walking speed so that their wakes don’t erode the banks.”
In reality, the plaudits from National Geographic’s travel experts merely confirm what Anglo Welsh insiders have known for years. As part of the ‘Four Counties Ring’, the Shropshire Union Canal – or as locals call it, the ‘Shroppie’ – is at the heart of the Inland Waterways’ most popular circuit, and to ease a narrowboat along its 66 miles (106 km) and through 47 locks is to embark on a non-stop voyage of discovery.
Anglo Welsh’s base at Bunbury in Cheshire is the perfect starting point for a cruise along a peaceful stretch of the Shropshire Union Canal before taking the Middlewich branch to the world famous Anderton Boat Lift. Further south, our base at Great Haywoodin Staffordshire provides easy access to all four ‘Rings’ and the opportunity to explore a region that is rich in history, from stately homes and gardens to picturesque villages and welcoming pubs.
Stretching across the border into Wales, the Llangollen and Montgomery canals are the modern names of branches of the Shropshire Union network. Hiring a narrowboat from Anglo Welsh’s Trevor base on the Llangollen canal, you can immediately navigate over the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, 126ft (38 metres) above the River Dee. The legendary ‘Stream in the Sky’ was granted World Heritage status in 2009 and if National Geographic ever decides to list the world’s top 10 aqueducts it’s a racing certainty to join the Shropshire Union Canal as a journey of a lifetime.
For more information on Anglo Welsh’s ‘Four Counties Ring’ circuit and the Shropshire Union Canal, please call our Booking Team on 0117 304 1122.
One of Anglo Welsh’s most valued and loyal customers has left the world of school trips after his 25th booking.
Headmaster, Peter Cook, of Wellow House School, Newark, and formerly Kimbolton School in Cambridge is hanging up his gown and mortar at the end of this year for a well earned retirement. Or, in Sir’s case his rugby shirt and shorts!
Peter has introduced children to the wonderful experience of narrowboating for 19 years, combining educational, fitness recreation and the fun activities that canal cruising has to offer.
An avid Rugby Union devotee, Peter still strikes an imposing figure on and off the pitch and the disciplines of the sport are reflected in the behaviour of the pupils in his charge.
In recognition of his quarter century of bookings Base Manager, Kevin Yarwood presented Mr Cook with a brass compass and sundial on his final visit to Great Haywood base. Kevin thanked him for his custom over the years and on behalf of Anglo Welsh wished him a long and happy retirement and hoped to welcome him back, in the future, with his family.
Commenting on his presentation, Peter said “I never expected anything like this but it is typical of the team at Great Haywood. Over the years I have had nothing but praise for the Booking Team, the base managers and staff for their consideration and helpfulness.”
‘Barging Round Britain’ with canal lover John Sergeant
Narrowboat enthusiasts andJohn Sergeantfansalike will soon be celebrating as the man who shimmied his way into the nation’s hearts on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ returns to our screens in April with anew series of ‘Barging Round Britain’. And as anyone who watched the first series will testify, Sergeant moves rather more gracefully on waterways than he ever did on the ballroom floor!
“Canal boating is a classic holiday,” says the former political correspondent, who traces the fascinating history of canals, meeting lock builders and families living on houseboats, and witnessing stunning architectural feats. “The British canal network is romantic and quite mysterious. You don’t know where these things are going and then you suddenly come across a tunnel that can go on for a mile – it’s pretty incredible.”
In his most spectacular journey in series one Sergeant cruised over the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, a thin bridge of water that carries the Llangollen Canal 126 feet over the River Dee in north-east Wales. “Going over the Aqueduct was a highlight. Amazing!” Sergeant recalls. Completed in 1805, this skinny passage is the longest and highest aqueduct in Britain, and took ten years to build. “It’s like a pencil,” he continues. “You look at it and you think, ‘This isn’t going to work,’ because there are no rails or anything. It’s magic.”
‘Barging Round Britain’isn’t Sergeant’s first go at being a helmsman, but the joys of dawn on a narrowboat are new territory. “I’m overnighting at least once on every trip,” he says, remembering a scene where he appears in his dressing gown on an empty canal. “There’s something amazing about waking up to complete silence. In one place there was nothing – nothing that way and nothing the other way. Just total peace and calm.”
“I’m very interested in history and there are moments when you get a real feel for the past on a narrowboat. It’s astonishing to have the canals still there and be able to use them. There’s no real equivalent. If all the steam trains were still working and you could go by steam all over Britain then that would be. But we can actually do that with canals. OK, they’re not horse-drawn, but the sensation and sights are exactly the same as when they were built. That is really something.”
Why not hire a narrowboat from Anglo Welsh’s base at Trevor on the Llangollen canal and follow John Sergeant’s “amazing journey” over the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct? Our team of friendly canal holiday experts are available to take your booking. Please call us on 0117 304 1122.
Series two of ‘Barging Round Britain’ is on ITV from April 22. The first series is now available on DVD and the accompanying book, ‘Barging Round Britain: Exploring the History of our Nation’s Canals and Waterways’ has recently been published in paperback.
We offer a range of different types of holidays such as City Breaks, Relaxation Cruises and Popular Destinations
So why choose Anglo Welsh?
Over 55 years providing unique canal boat holidays in England and Wales.
Modern and spacious narrowboat and wide beam barge hire – from 2 to 12 berths.
Wide choice of narrowboat hire locations and canal boat holiday destinations.
Canal boat holiday routes for novices & experienced boaters.
Flexible holiday booking, no hidden costs.
Family friendly and pet friendly holidays.
Great days out on the water.
Luxury canal boat hire and Thames boating holidays.
Anglo Welsh. So much more than narrowboats
...but don't just take our word for it
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