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Best spring days out canal boating

Best spring days out boating on the canals in England and Wales

If you’re looking for a great day out this spring, why not hire a canal boat for the day

You can enjoy cruising through the countryside, seeing the spring blossom on the trees and hedges, spring lambs playing in the fields, ducklings on the water, and bluebells in canalside woodlands.

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

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

Here’s a guide to our top six day boat hire destinations on the canals in England and Wales this spring:

1. Float across The Stream in the Sky

On a day afloat from Trevor on the Llangollen Canal, you can cruise across to the World Heritage Status Pontcysyllte Aqueduct to Chirk and back.  As you cross, you’ll be 38 metres high above the Dee Valley with amazing views of the spring countryside. 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 Wilmcote

From Wootton Wawen you can cruise south along the Stratford Canal to the village of Wilmcote and back.  The journey will take you across the Edstone Aqueduct, the longest aqueduct in England, with views across the Warwickshire countryside.  From moorings at the top of the Wilmcote flight, it’s a short walk into the village to the Mary Arden Inn.  The journey to Wilmcote and back takes five hours.

3. Cruise through the Staffordshire countryside to Rugeley

From Great Haywood, near Stafford, you can cruise along the Trent & Mersey Canal to the historic market town of Rugeley and back.  You’ll pass through 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.  The journey to Rugeley and back takes six hours.

4. 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 refreshments at the canalside 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

To find out more and to book one of our day boats here.

Or call us on 0117 304 1122.

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

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Try canal boating at one of our open days

Try canal boating for free at an Anglo Welsh open day

Try canal boating for free at one of our open day events

On Sunday 27 April 2025, we’re offering people the chance to try canal boating for free at six of our canal boat hire bases in England and Wales.

The taster sessions will include free short trips on skippered narrowboats, and the opportunity to look round our holiday-hire boats.

Our open day events will be on from 11am to 4pm at the following locations:

Bradford on Avon, Kennet & Avon Canal, Wiltshire

Bradford on Avon Marina, Trowbridge Road, Wiltshire BA15 1UD

Bunbury, Shropshire Union Canal, Cheshire

Bunbury Lock, Bunbury, Tarporley, Cheshire, CW6 9QB

Great Haywood, Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal, Staffordshire

Mill Lane, Great Haywood, Staffordshire ST18 0RJ

Trevor, Llangollen Canal, North Wales

Canal Wharf, Trevor, Llangollen, Wrexham LL20 7TT

Whixall, Llangollen Canal, Shropshire

Whixall Marina, Alders Lane, Whixall SY13 2QS

Wootton Wawen, Stratford Canal, Warwickshire

Canal Wharf, Wootton Wawen, Henley in Arden, Warwickshire B95 6BZ

Event information

Our open days on Sunday 27 April 2025 run from 11am to 4pm.

Our events are family and pet-friendly.

Trips are subject to availability and operate on a first come, first served basis. It’s not possible to book in advance.

Parking is free.

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Best romantic canal boat holiday destinations to visit this Valentine’s Day

Best romantic canal boat holiday destinations to visit this Valentine's Day

Travelling by narrowboat is romantic. That’s a fact. The views, the traditions and the pace of life are perfect for couples wanting to spend some quality time together, so why not treat your partner to a romantic mini-break on a ‘love boat’ this Valentine’s Day?

Anglo Welsh offers winter cruising from six narrowboat hire bases in England and Wales. All our boats are beautifully equipped with comfy beds, contemporary kitchens, modern bathrooms and central heating, so you’ll both be snuggly and warm on board.

With the freedom to roam the waterways from your cruising love-nest you can access some of Britain’s most-loved towns and villages, without having to encounter a single traffic jam. Take romantic strolls along frosty towpaths, indulge in candlelit dinners for two in waterside dining destinations and cosy up by roaring log fires in traditional country pubs.

We also offer day hire from six of our canal boat hire bases, giving you the option of just taking a day out on the waterways.  Full tuition is included, so you can get the hang of steering the boat, working the locks and mooring up.  All our day boats are equipped with the facilities you need for a day afloat – cutlery, crockery, a kettle, cooker, fridge and toilet.

To help you decide where to go, with a mix of day and mini-break hire, we’ve chosen our top five romantic destinations for Valentine’s Day.  Whether you’re looking to propose, shop for a ring or simply enjoy being together in some of the most beautiful places in the UK, we have some great ideas for a romantic canal boat boat getaway.

Discover Romantic Canal Boat Holiday Destinations for Valentines Day

1. Propose by a waterfall in the Welsh Mountains

From our canal barge hire base at Trevor on the Llangollen Canal in North Wales, it takes just two hours to reach the pretty Eistedfordd town of Llangollen, nestled in the Berwyn Mountains. There’s a great choice of romantic settings to propose, including the famous Horseshoe Falls. Llangollen also offers lovers regular markets packed with local produce to saunter through hand-in-hand. And a number of romantic waterside dining venues, including the popular Corn Mill.

2. Experience panoramic views from Nantwich Aqueduct

From Bunbury on the Shropshire Union Canal near Tarporley, you can cruise south for six sedate miles to the historic town of Nantwich. There you can glide across the town’s impressive Grade II* listed aqueduct to enjoy panoramic views across the town.  With no locks along the way, the journey to Nantwich takes around two hours.  There are moorings next to the aqueduct and a choice of places to eat, including The Waterside Café.

3. Read Shakespeare’s sonnets in Stratford-upon-Avon

On a short break from Wootton Wawen on the Stratford Canal in Warwickshire, you can cruise through the Warwickshire countryside to Shakespeare’s Stratford. Once there, you can moor up in Bancroft Basin to a great choice of dining venues. You can book a Tower Tour at the Swan Theatre to enjoy panoramic views of this famous historic town. And visit Shakespeare’s birthplace to find out more about The Bard, his romantic plays and his love poems. The journey from Wootton Wawen to Stratford-upon-Avon takes around 5.5 hours and passes through 17 locks.

4. Enjoy a rural retreat in Staffordshire

From our narrowboat rental base at Great Haywood on the Trent & Mersey Canal in Staffordshire, you can cruise quietly through the Staffordshire countryside to the historic market town of Rugeley. The journey travels four miles, passes through two locks and takes around two hours.  Along the way, the route passes the National Trust’s impressive Shugborough Estate and the beautiful Cannock Chase Forest. You’ll also pass the Wolseley Arms canalside pub and the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust’s Wolseley Centre.

5. Cruise through the Shropshire Lake District

On a short break from Whixall on the Prees Branch of the Llangollen Canal in Shropshire, you can head west along the Llangollen Canal to Ellesmere, in the heart of the Shropshire Lake District. The journey to Ellesmere takes around two-and-a-half hours, cruising through eight miles of stunning Shropshire countryside. You’ll pass close to Lyneal Moss and Colemere Country Park along the way. Once at Ellesmere, you can moor up and explore the famous Mere with its romantic historic castle, woodland paths and fascinating wildlife.

6. Navigate to UNESCO World Heritage Bath

On a short break from Bradford on Avon, you can cruise to moorings at Sydney Gardens, a short walk from Bath City Centre. Bath has so many romantic destinations to choose from, including the Georgian Pump Rooms and Bath Abbey, where you can take a Bath Abbey Tower Tour. The journey from Bradford on Avon to Sydney Gardens takes around four hours and passes through just one lock.

Our 2025 winter short breaks (three or four nights) start at £715*, and £970* for a week.  Or you could choose to just hire a boat for the day from one of our six boat yards offering day hire, with prices from just £99.

*Fuel is extra with the charge based on use, circa £10-15 per day.  A £70 fuel deposit for short breaks is taken at the time of booking, £110 for a week.

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Top 5 Easter Canal Boat Breaks

Best Easter canal boat holiday destinations in England and Wales

Best Easter canal boat holiday destinations in 2025

This Easter, narrowboat holidays offer the chance to explore the Great British countryside as it bursts into life with new leaves, daffodils, bluebells, spring lambs and nesting birds.

Set sail aboard your own floating holiday home to enjoy a fantastic family adventure, stopping off along the way to visit exciting waterside visitor attractions.

Here are our top 5 Easter holiday destinations to visit afloat in 2025:

1. Enjoy animal talks at Chester Zoo

You can reach Chester on a short break from Bunbury on the Shropshire Union Canal in Cheshire, and experience a visit to the award-winning Chester Zoo. Home to over 37,000 animals across 128 acres, every day at the zoo expert keepers and zoo rangers share fascinating facts about the animals they care for through their animal talks. From keeping elephants healthy and the hunting techniques of a Komodo dragon, to how penguins fly through the water and snow leopards live in cold temperatures. The journey from Bunbury to Chester takes around seven hours, passing through nine locks along the way.

2. Glide across ‘The Stream in the Sky’

Just five minutes from our base on the Llangollen Canal at Trevor in North Wales, you’ll encounter the incredible Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, also known as ‘The Stream in the Sky’. Its cast iron trough filled with water is supported on iron-arched ribs and carried 38 metres high above the Dee Valley on 19 hollow pillars. In 2009 the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list, putting it on a par with the pyramids and Taj Mahal. On a short break from Trevor, you can cross the aqueduct and then continue east to reach the historic market town of Ellesmere in the heart of the Shropshire Lake District. The journey from Trevor to Ellesmere takes around seven hours and passes through two locks.

3. Enjoy a daily show at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds

From our base at Silsden on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, on a week’s holiday you can travel to Leeds and back. There you can moor up in Leeds Dock and visit the Royal Armouries Museum, home of the national collection of arms and armour. Every day at the museum there are daily shows where the museum’s expert live interpretation team brings to life what it felt like to take part in legendary battles. From the Celtic Warrior Boudicca riding into battle against the mighty legions of Rome, to first-hand accounts from soldiers about the Battle of the Somme, the shows span from ancient times to the world wars. The journey from Silsden to Leeds takes around 11 hours and passes through 15 locks.

4. See new-born lambs at the Shugborough Estate

From our base at Great Haywood, on the Trent & Mersey Canal near Stafford, the National Trust’s beautiful Shugborough Estate is a short journey away. Here you can explore the historic mansion house and servants’ quarters, as well as visit the working farm to see lambs being born, witness bulbs blooming in the walled garden and wildlife emerging in the parkland. The journey from Great Haywood to moorings close to Shugborough takes around 20 minutes.

5. See a show at Bath’s Egg Theatre

On a short break from Bradford on Avon on the Kennet & Avon Canal in Wiltshire, you can cruise to Sydney Gardens close to Bath City Centre. There you can moor up and walk into the city to visit the famous Egg Theatre. There Return to the Forbidden Planet is being performed by the Theatre Royal Bath Theatre School 17-19 April. The journey from Bradford on Avon to Sydney Gardens in Bath takes around four hours and passes through just one lock.

Book your holiday online here or call us on 0117 463 3419.

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Top 6 cosy pubs to cruise to this winter

Top 5 cosy pubs to cruise to on a canal boat holiday this winter

We’re offering winter cruising from seven of our canal boat hire bases

Winter canal boat hire provides the opportunity to cruise gently through the quiet winter countryside and stop off at canalside pubs along the way.

You’ll be snug and warm on board as all our boats have central heating and hot water, and some also have multi-fuel stoves.

We offer narrowboat hire over Christmas and New Year from six of our bases.  So you can celebrate the festive season afloat with family and friends.  Or simply escape from it all with your nearest and dearest, aboard your very own floating holiday cottage.

Here’s a Guide to Our Top 6 Cosy Canal Boat Holiday Pubs to Cruise to This Winter

**Please note that winter maintenance on the canals may affect some routes for part of the winter, so do just check with us when you make your booking:

1. Cruise to the Dusty Miller at Wrenbury Mill, Cheshire

From Bunbury on the Shropshire Union Canal, it takes around seven hours to reach Wrenbury Mill.  The route travels through 10 miles of the Cheshire countryside, and passes through 11 locks.  You’ll start off on the Shropshire Union Canal, transferring onto the Llangollen Canal at Hurleston Junction.  At Wrenbury Mill you can moor up and enjoy a meal at the Dusty Miller.  They serve traditional pub food, including chicken in a basket and pie of the day. The pub is dog friendly and they have a guide to local walks on their website.

2. Head to the Swan Inn at Fradley Junction, Staffordshire

From Great Haywood it takes around five hours to reach Fradley Junction.  The journey travels along the Trent & Mersey Canal for 12 miles, passing through five locks.  At Fradley, you can moor up next to the historic Swan Inn, serving ‘home cooked honest meals’.  They also have a doggy menu.

3. Visit the Fleur De Lys at Lowsonford, Warwickshire

From Wootton Wawen on the Stratford Canal, it takes around three hours to cruise to the pretty canalside village of Lowsonford.  There you can moor up to visit the Fleur De Lys, a 17th century country pub famous for its pies. Eleven different types of pie are served, accompanied by seasonal vegetables, chunky chips and gravy.  There are gluten free and vegan options, as well as veggie, meat and fish pies.

4. Dine out at the Corn Mill in Llangollen, Denbighshire

From Trevor on the Llangollen Canal, it takes around two-and-a-half hours to reach the pretty town of Llangollen, nestled in the Berwyn Mountains.  Once there, you can moor up in Llangollen Basin and take a short walk to the popular Corn Mill pub.  Housed in a 14th century watermill on the banks of the River Dee, there’s a great choice of dishes on offer.  From pumpkin tortellini and a sweet potato curry, to a crispy buttermilk chicken burger and rump steak, all are calorie counted.

5. Visit the Black Bear at Whitchurch, Shropshire

Setting out from Whixall, it takes around two-and-a-half hours to reach the historic market town of Whitchurch.  You’ll travel through the Shropshire countryside along the Llangollen Canal. Once at Whitchurch, you can moor up to explore the town and visit the award-winning Black Bear pub on the High Street, housed in a medieval building.

6. Dine at the Cross Guns at Avoncliff, Wiltshire

You can reach the Cross Guns pub next to Avoncliff Aqueduct on a short break from our bases at Bradford on Avon and Bath.  One of Wiltshire’s best known pubs, the Cross Guns dates back to the 17th century. It’s large inglenook fireplace is the same style as those found at Hampton Court.

To check availability and book click here or call us on 0117 463 3419. 

*Winter maintenance will affect some of the routes some of the time

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Experience Christmas on the canals

Best canal boat holidays at Christmas

Spend Christmas or New Year on the canals with Anglo Welsh

This winter, we’re offering winter cruising* over Christmas and New Year from six of our narrowboat hire bases.

The canals are quieter during the winter months and people tend to make shorter journeys.  Winter canal boat hire is about enjoying being close to the water and nature. And visiting canalside pubs and attractions.

From a cosy narrowboat for two to a family canal boat for eight, all our boats have central heating, hot water, WiFi, TV and DVD players, so it’s always nice and warm on board.  Some of our boats also come with multi-fuel stoves for some extra special winter warmth. And there’s plenty of storage room on board, so you can bring lots of warm and wet weather clothing.

Here’s our guide to our top 6 narrowboat holidays for Christmas 2024

1.    Float to through the Warwickshire countryside to Stratford-upon-Avon

From our narrowboat rental base on the Stratford Canal at Wootton Wawen in Warwickshire, it’s a six-hour cruise to Shakespeare’s Stratford.  The journey takes you through the Warwickshire countryside, passing through 17 locks along the way. Once in Stratford-upon-Avon, you can moor up in Bancroft Basin, just a short walk from the town’s excellent choice of theatres, restaurants, markets and museums.

2.    Experience Christmas in the World Heritage City of Bath

On a short break from our canal boat hire base on the Kennet & Avon Canal at Bradford on Avon, you can reach moorings at Sydney Gardens on the edge of Bath in around four cruising hours.  The route takes you through the Bath Valley and across the magnificent Avoncliff and Dundas aqueducts.  There’s just one lock to pass through. From moorings close to Sydney Wharf, it’s a 15 minute walk into Bath City Centre with glittering lights and festive events, including panto at the Theatre Royal.

3.    Cruise through the Staffordshire countryside to Fradley

Heading south from our base at Great Haywood on the Trent & Mersey Canal, you can reach Fradley Junction in around five hours.  The journey passes through five locks and 12 peaceful miles of Staffordshire countryside, including the Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  Places to enjoy along the way include The Wolseley Centre run by the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, the Wolseley Arms pub and the village of Handsacre with its ‘The Old Peculiar’ pub.  Once at Fradley, refreshments are available at the Canalside Café or The Swan Inn, and there are walking trails at the Fradley Pool Nature Reserve.

4.    Travel through the Shropshire Lake District to Ellesmere

From our base at Whixall on the Prees Branch of the Llangollen Canal in Shropshire, it takes around four hours to reach the historic market town of Ellesmere in the heart of the Shropshire Lake District.  Along the way, the route passes Whixall Moss Nature Reserve, Lyneal Moss and Colemere Country Park.  Once at Ellesmere, there’s a choice of independent shops and restaurants, as well as formal gardens, woods and castle grounds to explore at the Mere.

5.   Visit the ancient city of Chester afloat

From Bunbury on the Shropshire Union Canal near Tarporley, it’s a seven-hour cruise through the Cheshire countryside to Chester.  Once there, you can visit the City’s famous 700-year old two-tired shopping galleries – the Rows.  And you can also take time to explore this ancient city’s Roman Walls, Amphitheatre, riverside gardens and sparkling city centre Christmas lights.

6.    Cruise to the Eisteddfod town of Llangollen

Departing from our base at Trevor on the Llangollen Canal in North Wales, it takes around two hours to cruise to Llangollen.  There you can moor up in Llangollen Basin and enjoy visiting this beautiful town nestled in the Berwyn Mountains.  Things to visit include the Llangollen Steam Railway, Plas Newydd house and gardens and the Horseshoe Falls.  There’s a great choice of independent shops and places to eat, including the popular Corn Mill with stunning river and mountain views.

*NB Winter maintenance work can affect some routes at certain times.  We’ll advise you at the time of booking.

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A brief history of the canals

A brief history of the canals in England and Wales

A canal boat holiday takes you back in time.

You’ll be journeying through history when you float along our inland waterways constructed in a bygone era of horse-drawn transport.

The vast majority of the canals in England and Wales were built at the dawn of industrialisation. They provided the most efficient way of transporting the raw materials and goods going in and out the new factories.

This makes a narrowboat holiday a history lover’s dream come true! You can admire the antique engineering and the many sights, towns and cities along the routes which have all played notable roles in creating the modern Britain we know today.

To get you started, here’s a brief history of the canals of England and Wales.

Early history

While the UK was the first country to develop a nationwide canal network, the Chinese claim the title of being the earlier pioneers of inland waterways. They constructed the Grand Canal of China in the 10th century. Most early canals were extensions of natural rivers.

The first canal in England was built by the Romans who dug the Fossdyke connecting Lincoln to the River Trent around AD50. And the nearby Car Dyke which ran southwards towards Cambridge.

Other early waterways of the medieval and post medieval period were constructed during to extend or link river routes. These include the Exeter Canal, built in 1566 and featuring the first pond locks in Britain.

But the golden age of canal building began as the Industrial Revolution took hold during the second half of the 18th century, with the construction of the Bridgewater Canal.

The golden age of canal building

Completed in 1776 under the watchful eye of engineer James Brindley, the Bridgewater Canal connects Runcorn, Manchester and Leigh. It was created to carry coal from the Duke of Bridgewater’s mines at Worsley into the industrial heart of Manchester, where demand for coal to power the mills was soaring.

The Bridgewater Canal sparked a flurry of canal building over the next 50 years. During an age of horse drawn transport and antiquated mud tracks for roads, the canals provided a highly efficient way to transport large quantities of goods. One horse could pull a canal boat carrying around 30 tonnes of cargo – more than ten times the amount that could be transport via a one horse cart.

The efficiency of the Bridgewater Canal meant the price of coal in Manchester dropped by nearly two thirds within a year of its opening. The waterway repaid its construction costs within a few years, proving the viability of canals.

Other industrialists began to follow suit and James Brindley suddenly found himself constantly in demand. He is largely responsible for the ‘Grand Cross’, the 2,000 miles of canals linking the four great rivers of England – the Severn, Mersey, Humber and Thames.

There were two key canal building periods: from 1759 to the early 1770s; and from 1789 to around 1800 when trains began to dominate.

The famous potter Josiah Wedgewood commissioned canals to transport his goods from the Staffordshire factories to Manchester and Birmingham. He was instrumental in the building of the Trent & Mersey Canal, completed in 1777.

The Oxford Canal was completed in 1790, linking the coal mines and factories of the Midlands with London via the Thames. While the Ellesmere Canal completed in 1805 and later incorporated into the Chester, Montgomery, Shropshire Union and Llangollen canals, helped link the Mersey and the Severn.

Thomas Telford took over from Brindley as the leading canal engineer of the late 18th century designing incredible landmarks including the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct which soars over the River Dee.

The epicenter of canal building was in the industrial West Midlands and North West. Birmingham and the Black Country boasted an intricate network of 160 miles of canals, known as the Birmingham Canal Navigations, most of which survive today.

Funding for the canals was raised largely through private investors keen to reap the promised high returns. But by the end of the 18th century the flurry of canal building was over. Virtually all Britain’s canals were completed by 1815 when attention began to turn to the development of steam powered railway locomotives.

Decline on the canal network

In the early 19th century the canals continued to be the preferred method for transporting bulky heavy goods, while the new railway lines focused on passengers and lighter cargo. But as the century progressed, the railways were developed into a national network, out competing the canals in both cargo volumes and speed. This forced tolls down, so that the canal companies went into terminal decline.

The emergence of the motorcar in the early 20th century and development of an improved reliable road system was another blow to the commercial appeal of the canals.

As most of the canals fell out of commercial use and the companies that had maintained them shut down or were bought out. The waterways themselves were left to wreck and ruin.

Reinvention of the inland waterways for leisure

In 1947 under the post-World War II Labour government, Britain’s canal and railway systems were nationalised. In the decades that followed, the canals were gradually restored and reopened, primarily for leisure purposes. Restoration projects have been largely undertaken by enthusiastic volunteer groups and local canal societies and trusts.

The canals are now managed by the charity the Canal & River Trust, the successor to British Waterways, actively supporting many of the ongoing restoration projects. The Inland Waterways Association is a charity which also promotes the ongoing protection and conservation of the canals.

Commercial traffic is still permitted on a few key canal routes, but the vast majority of waterways are now enjoyed by pleasure craft such as our own Anglo Welsh narrowboats.

There are said to be more boats using the British canals today than during the Industrial Revolution!

Key sights of historic interest and engineering on the canals

Here are a few of the key sights representing historic feats of engineering during the golden age of canal building and well worth a visit during a canal boat holiday today:

The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, completed in 1805, Llangollen Canal

Nearest Anglo Welsh narrowboat hire base: Trevor

The Anderton Boat Lift, completed 1875, Trent & Mersey Canal and River Weaver

Nearest Anglo Welsh narrowboat hire base: Bunbury

The Barton Swing Aqueduct, built 1893, Bridgewater Canal

Nearest Anglo Welsh narrowboat hire base: Bunbury or Silsden

Chirk Aqueduct, completed 1801, Llangollen Canal

Nearest Anglo Welsh narrowboat hire base: Trevor

Foxton Inclined Plane, opened 1900 and dismantled 1928, Grand Union Canal

Nearest Anglo Welsh narrowboat hire base: Wootton Wawen

Dudley Tunnel, completed 1791, Dudley Canal

Nearest Anglo Welsh narrowboat hire base: Great Haywood

Blisworth Tunnel, completed 1805, Grand Union Canal

Nearest Anglo Welsh narrowboat hire base: Wootton Wawen

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Top 5 places to celebrate Halloween on a canal boat holiday

Luxury narrowboat hire Constellation Class

Canal boat holidays offer the chance to enjoy a family staycation afloat this October Half Term

You can spend time together exploring the waterways and visit waterside destinations hosting spooky Halloween events.

Your floating holiday cottage will be equipped with the key comforts of home, including central heating and hot water, so it’s always nice and cosy on board.

All our boats also have fully equipped kitchens, so you can enjoy a self-catering holiday afloat.

To celebrate the October Half Term holiday, we’ve put together a guide to our top 5 narrowboat holiday destinations hosting Halloween events*:

1. Take The ‘Sinister Side of Shakespeare Walking Tour’ in Stratford-upon-Avon

From Wootton Wawen, it takes around six hours to reach moorings in the centre of Shakespeare’s Stratford.  You can book online to experience ‘The Sinister Side of Shakespeare’s Stratford Walking Tour’ where you’ll learn about the town’s infamous witches, and discover the real-life tragedies that inspired Shakespeare.  The journey to Stratford and back takes around 12 hours and passes through 34 locks (17 each way).

2. Enjoy Halloween activities at Chirk Castle

From Trevor on the Llangollen Canal in North Wales, you can reach Chirk Bank in around one-and-a-half hours.  From there it takes around 30 minutes to walk up to the National Trust’s Chirk Castle, hosting special Halloween activities, including the Medieval Monster Activity Sheet, 26-31 October.  The journey from Trevor to Chirk and back takes around three hours, and passes over the UNESCO World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct along the way.

3. Follow the Halloween Trail at Chester Zoo

On a short break from Bunbury on the Shropshire Union Canal, you can reach Chester, home of the award-winning Chester Zoo.  Home to over 27,000 animals, this October half term Chester Zoo is hosting a Super Natural Trail Challenge across its 128 acres of zoological gardens.  The journey from Bunbury to Chester and back takes around 14 hours and passes through 18 locks (nine each way).

4. See ‘The Lost Boys’ at the Shugborough Estate

Our base on the Trent & Mersey Canal at Great Haywood is less than an hour’s cruise away from the National Trust’s Shugborough Estate.  At 6pm on Tuesday 29 October, the Estate is hosting an outdoor screening of the vampire classic ‘The Lost Boys’, starring Kiefer Sutherland.

5. Visit Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein in Bath

On a short break from Monkton Combe, Bradford on Avon and Bath, you can reach moorings in or close to Bath City Centre. There you can visit Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein featuring live actors, games and special effects.

*NB Most of the events listed need to be booked in advance via the venue’s website

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