Canal Boat Essentials – What to pack for your 2017 waterway holiday
Anglo Welsh’s customised fleet of 160 modern narrowboats are designed and built to exacting standards so that canal boat lovers who book their holidays with us can enjoy memorable journeys around the UK’s waterways in the greatest comfort.
Whether it’s a 2-4 berth moored in Bradford-on-Avon, Bunbury or Bath, or a 9-12 berth cruising the Shropshire Union Canal, Pennine Circuit or Kennet and Avon, every Anglo Welsh boat offers spacious layouts, comfy beds, stylish livery and all the mod cons. The only thing you need to bring on board are your ‘canal legs’ and a few basic essentials.
So what are those vital basic items you should pack before boarding your narrowboat at one of Anglo Welsh’s 11 bases spread across England and Wales?
“On the one hand, it’s practical things like a First Aid kit, torch and waterproof clothing,” says Matt Anderson, manager at Anglo Welsh’s base at Trevor in Llangollen, North Wales. “On the other, there are those personal things that will ensure you get maximum pleasure from your canal holiday – you’ll want your favourite biscuits with your morning cuppa and your dog won’t forgive you if you leave his favourite blanket at home!”
“Every Anglo Welsh narrowboat has a fully equipped kitchen and bathroom, TVs and DVD players,” continues Matt, “but every holidaymaker will have their own ‘must have’ accessories, whether that means fold-up chairs and a flask for towpath picnics, or films and games to keep the kids amused in the evenings.”
“Most people like to record the amazing sights along the canals, too, and we’ve got some unforgettable views close to our base here in Trevor, not least the World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct which carries the Llangollen Canal 126 feet above the River Dee. Imagine looking down from that spectacular height and suddenly realising you’ve forgotten to pack your camera and binoculars!”
Needless to say, what goes for Pontcysyllte Aqueduct applies equally to the canal-side panorama at hot spots on other Anglo Welsh circuits like Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon, the Foxton Locks in Leicestershire or the bustling waterfront in Birmingham. As any good boy scout will tell you: ‘Be prepared’!
Narrowboat essentials – What to pack to get the most out of your Anglo Welsh canal holiday
Soft bags instead of suitcases (easier to store away)
Torch
Waterproof clothing
Mobile Phones/tablets/chargers
DVDs, games and books for the kids
Canal guide with info on moorings, locks, tunnels and canal side pubs
Sunglasses and sun creams
Gloves – to work the locks
Camera
Binoculars
First Aid Kit
For pets – bedding, leads, towels, life jackets and food
A diary to document your holiday
Tea/Coffee and Milk
Choosing the right boat for you. Click here to look inside our narrowboats and discover what facilities and appliances you will find on board.
To book one of Anglo Welsh’s superbly equipped canal boats, please contact our friendly Booking Team on 0117 304 1122.
Staycation, Staycation, Staycation. Why canal boat holidays offer a leisurely alternative to stressful foreign travel
Anglo Welsh has long believed there is ‘no place like home’ when it comes to relaxing holidays, and the evidence is that growing numbers of UK holidaymakers are now choosing to spend their vacations on the home front rather than travel abroad – a case of Staycation, Staycation, Staycation!
There may be a fleeting sense of excitement in stocking up on sunscreen, boarding a plane and updating your Facebook status to reveal a glamorous location, but a more leisurely staycation has the potential to offer more lasting pleasures.
England and Wales are full of truly unique places to visit, from gorgeous countryside and historic castles to traditional pubs and funky theme parks – and if one of the prime reasons for foregoing overseas travel is to avoid summer crowds, a narrowboat holiday on a peaceful canal is the perfect antidote.
Here are a few more reasons why Anglo Welsh believe a staycation on the water is the smart choice this summer.
Stunning scenery. Whether it is the picturesque canals themselves or spectacular views like the one from the World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct next to Anglo Welsh’s base at Trevor in North Wales, nothing beats the sheer range of views you get from a narrowboat.
History and Culture. There’s no need to travel to far-flung destinations in order to see historic landmarks. The World Heritage City of Bath, Shakespeare’s Stratford, the dreaming spires of Oxford, Warwick Castle and medieval Chester are all conveniently located on Anglo Welsh canal rings and circuits.
Summer refreshments. The waterways of England and Wales are lined with welcoming pubs, from the traditional to the trendy. Pilsner, Pimms or pink lemonade; whatever your favourite tipple there’s nothing quite like a refreshing drink on a leafy canal-side terrace after a day cruising along one of the UK’s historic canal routes.
Family friendly. Rare is the young child who takes long queues, stifling temperatures and unfamiliar food in their stride. By contrast, most youngsters relish a narrowboat adventure practically on their doorstep. Freedom and frolics on the canals, green spaces galore, their favourite snacks served on deck, Alton Towers and Drayton Manor Park theme parks close to moorings – what’s not to like?!
Floating hotel rooms. Not only do Anglo Welsh’s 160 narrowboats boast all the mod cons, but you can also choose a different mooring every night – most of them free. And with eleven conveniently located bases across England and Wales there will almost certainly be a starting point close to your home.
Wonderful Wildlife. Water voles, kingfishers, otters – the UK’s canals are home to an amazing range of birds and animals, many of them protected species. And unlike more exotic locations, there are no sharks or crocodiles to worry about!
Value for money. As well as the best quality, Anglo Welsh provides the best value. Why pay for an expensive foreign holiday when you can enjoy a fabulous staycation for a fraction of the price? Our modern fleet offers an affordable range of holidays for all tastes, from two-berths for romantic weekends to twelve-berths for large families and longer holidays.
Summer 2017 Bargains. Every day we have a selection of 20 last minute offers available for you to hire one of our modern narrowboats – call our friendly booking team on 0117 304 1122.
Anglo Welsh’s guide to the year’s top canal festivals
Canal Boat Festival Holidays Recommended by Anglo Welsh
Literary giant Dr Samuel Johnson famously said that “when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life”. Here at Anglo Welsh we reckon you could say the same thing about canals! Every year there is an action-packed calendar of festivals and boat shows on the waterways near our 11 bases in England and Wales, and 2017 is no exception.
Dr Johnson’s hometown of Lichfield lies just a few miles by waterway from the historic Shropshire Union Canal, a firm favourite among holidaymakers departing from Anglo Welsh’s Great Haywood and Bunbury bases. Taking place just cruising distance from both bases is the 18th annual Audlem Festival of Transport (30th July), where a record number of vintage canal boats are expected at the Audlem Wharf next to Audlem Mill and the Shroppie Fly. For all-round transport buffs, there will also be a parade of 300+ vintage cars, vans, trucks and buses.
TheSkipton Waterway Festival(29th April – 1st May) on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal near Anglo Welsh’s Silsden base will see narrowboats lined up along the Skipton Basin and surrounding towpaths. The North Yorkshire event also features specialist attractions like the ‘Birds of Prey’ show and the ‘Bark-ing mad wood turners’, plus a host of children’s rides. The Silsden to Skipton stretch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal runs through a beautiful part of Yorkshire and offers gorgeous views of the South Pennine countryside and old stone-built villages.
The Crick Boat Show(27th – 29th May) in Northamptonshire is Britain’s biggest inland waterways festival. Visitors can take a free trip out onto the water to experience the Grand Union Canal on a vintage canal boat, and for nostalgic narrowboaters there will be a unique show of historic boats dating back as far as 1909. The Crick event is organised by Waterways World, a must-read monthly magazine that explores the UK’s waterway systems, tests the latest boats, and looks into the history and heritage of our canals.
There will certainly be plenty of canal history and heritage on offer at the Foxton Locks Festival(17th – 18th June) near Market Harborough on Anglo Welsh’s East Midlands Circuit. Waterway enthusiasts will tell you the highlight is witnessing boats getting up or down the hill through the famous Foxton locks and the amazing inclined plane, but that’s not the only thing on offer. Leicestershire’s much-loved festival boasts a fantastic range of historic boats to enjoy as well as craft marquees, a music festival and the ever-popular Fun Dog Show.
Another early summer highlight comes in the shape of the Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally and Canal Festival (24th – 25th June) near Daventry in Northamptonshire. Over 80 historic boats will gather at the picturesque marina located on three Anglo Welsh circuits – the Warwickshire Ring, South of England Circuit and East Midlands Circuit. There they will take part in parades with expert commentary; other attractions include a real ale beer tent, boat exhibitors, waterways artists, live music, and Morris dancing.
Travelling across to Shakespeare country on Anglo Welsh’s popular Avon Ring, the Stratford-upon-Avon River Festival(1st – 2nd July) is now in its eighth year and goes from strength to strength. It’s a quintessentially English summer festival featuring a display of spectacular narrowboats, world-class live music, fun activities in the Family Zone, an artisan craft market, a delicious selection of global food stalls, and an awesome Saturday firework display.
For canal goers who enjoy spectacular festivals and thrilling boat shows, 2017 will clearly be another busy year on the UK’s waterways. To paraphrase Dr Johnson; if a man, woman or child is tired of canal festivals and Anglo Welsh narrowboats, they are tired of life!
Click here to see the full range of Anglo Welsh canal circuits on the Shropshire Union Canal, Grand Union Canal, East Midlands Circuit, the Avon Ring and more.
Anglo Welsh’s friendly staff at our 11 bases in England and Wales will be delighted to recommend the best local boating events. To book a narrowboat holiday in 2017 call our booking team on 0117 304 1122.
