Best August bank holiday boating breaks

The August bank holiday weekend is a great time to take to the water for a boating break

Our best August bank holiday boating breaks take you through some of Britain’s best-loved countryside.  And into the heart of some our most famous waterside towns and cities.

Canal boat holidays are great for families, bringing everyone together for an adventure afloat.  From steering the boat and working the locks, to planning the route and watching out for wildlife, there’s plenty to get involved in.

Pets are welcome aboard all our boats, so all the family can enjoy a relaxing staycation together.  And there’s everything you need on board for a self-catering holiday afloat if you want to keep your costs down.

There are hundreds of waterside destinations in England and Wales to choose from.

To celebrate the upcoming August bank holiday, we’ve put together a guide to our top 6 August bank holiday weekend boating breaks:

1. Cruise along the Llangollen Canal and into the Shropshire Lake District

On a weekend away from Trevor in North Wales, you can cruise to Ellesmere and back, journeying into the heart of the Shropshire Lake District.  The journey takes you across the UNESCO World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, 38 metres high above the Dee valley. At Ellesmere, you can moor up to explore this historic market town and its ancient mere, with woodland walks and places to eat.  The journey to Ellesmere takes around 7 hours, crosses 2 aqueducts, and passes through 2 locks and 2 tunnels.

2. Navigate the Stratford Canal to Stratford-upon-Avon

From Wootton Wawen it takes around 6 hours to cruise along the Stratford Canal to Shakespeare’s Stratford and back.  The route takes you through the Warwickshire countryside to reach overnight moorings in Bancroft Basin in the heart of Stratford upon Avon.  Once there, you can walk to top attractions, including the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Shakespeare’s Birthplace.  There are 17 locks to pass through along the way, and you’ll cross the impressive Edstone Aqueduct, the longest aqueduct in England.

3. Travel along the Trent & Mersey Canal to Fradley

From Great Haywood you can head south along the Trent & Mersey Canal to Fradley Junction and back.  The journey takes around 5 hours, travelling 12 miles through the Staffordshire countryside.  There are just five locks to pass through, and you’ll pass canalside pubs at Wolseley and Rugeley.  At Fradley, you can enjoy refreshments at the Canalside Café or The Swan Inn. And you can take a wildlife-spotting walk along the woodland trail and boardwalk at Fradley Pool Nature Reserve.

4. Cruise through the Cheshire countryside to Middlewich

On a weekend away, from Bunbury you can navigate to the ancient town of Middlewich and back.  Your journey begins on the Shropshire Union Canal and transfers onto the Middlewich Branch at Barbridge Junction. You’ll cruise on through beautiful Cheshire countryside and the village of Church Minshull, home of the Badger Inn. Once at Middlewich you can moor up to explore this ancient town famous for its salt making.  The journey to Middlewich takes around 6 hours and passes through 4 locks.

5. Float along the Kennet & Avon Canal to Bradford on Avon

From our base at Sydney Wharf near Bath, it takes around 3.5 hours to reach the lovely market town of Bradford on Avon. There’s just one lock to pass through and stunning Bath stone aqueducts to glide across at Dundas and Avoncliff.  You’ll pass a series of canalside pubs along the way, including The George at Bathampton.  Once in Bradford on Avon, you can moor up to visit Historic England’s medieval Tithe Barn.  And there’s a great choice of places to eat, including the riverside Timbrell’s Yard.

6. Glide along the Llangollen Canal to Ellesmere

On a 4-night mid-week break from Whixall Marina in Shropshire, you can cruise through the countryside to Ellesmere and back.  The journey there and back takes around 7 hours.  Along the way, you’ll cruise past Fenn’s, Whixall and Bettisfield Mosses is a designated National Nature Reserve and Colemere Country Park. At Ellesmere, you can moor up to explore this historic market town and its famous Mere, with woodland walks, castle, gardens and Boathouse cafe.

Click here to book a holiday, or call our friendly booking team on 0117 304 1122.