Popular rural retreats canal vacations
Cruising slowly through some of Britain’s most beautiful countryside and visiting popular historic sites is a great way to see the country. Travelling at just 4 miles per hour, you have time to take in the scenery and the wildlife. You can stop off to savour a British pint at traditional pubs and afternoon tea at local cafes.
The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Chirk Castle
The awesome Pontcysyllte Aqueduct in North Wales is part of an 11-mile section of Llangollen Canal designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.
On a short break from Blackwater Meadow Marina, at Ellesmere in the heart of the Shropshire Lake District, you can cruise the whole World Heritage section. Your journey will include passing through Chirk, with its medieval Castle upon the hill, magnificent Chirk Aqueduct with a railway viaduct alongside and the Bridge Inn pub. You’ll go through Chirk Tunnel, then Whitehouses Tunnel before reaching the Poncysyllte Aqueduct. This incredible structure carries the canal 38 metres high above the River Dee on 19 massive stone pillars. Just after the aqueduct, you can moor up to visit the Pontcysyllte Chapel Tea Room. Then continue to the beautiful town of Llangollen, nestled in the Berwyn Mountains. There you can moor up in Llangollen Basin and visit some of the town’s historic sites, including the Horseshoe Falls, Plas Newydd House, Dinas Bran Castle ruins and the Llangollen Steam Railway.
The journey from Blackwater Meadow to Llangollen and back travels 37 miles, passes through 4 locks (2 each way) and takes around 16 hours.
- Ellesmere is a 1hour 4min (53 miles) drive/taxi ride from Manchester Airport.
- Or a 2hour 53min train ride or 1hour (51 miles) drive/taxi ride from Liverpool Airport.
We also offer canal vacations on the Llangollen Canal at Trevor, Chirk, Whitchurch and Whixall.
The Ashby Canal and Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre
This lock-free route takes you through the Warwickshire and Leicestershire countryside along the beautiful Ashby Canal. It’s perfect for a 4-night break.
Starting at Springwood Haven Marina on the Coventry Canal near Nuneaton, you soon transfer onto the Ashby Canal at Marston Junction. Sleepy villages to explore along the way include Stoke Golding where there are three traditional pubs to choose from. In the village of Dadlington you’ll find the popular Dog & Hedgehog pub. At Sutton Cheney Wharf, you can moor up to visit the Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre & Country Park and Hercules Revived pub. Cruising on through the Leicestershire countryside, you’ll pass close by to the Pottery & Glass Studios and the Battlefield Railway Line at Shenton. Just past Bosworth Wharf, you can moor up to walk into Market Bosworth, where you’ll find a choice of shops and places to eat, including the Batter of Bosworth for fish & chips and the Black Horse for fine dining. Next you’ll pass the village of Congerstone with its 16th century St Mary’s Church and Horse & Jockey pub. When you reach Shackerstone, you can explore the historic village with its Rising Sun pub. At Snarestone you’ll go through the 250-yard-long Snarestone Tunnel. In the village you’ll find the Globe pub and the Alpaca Park Farm and Lodge Farm Ice Cream Shop.
The journey by boat from Springwood Haven Marina to Snarestone and back travels 52 miles and takes around 21 hours.
- Springwood Haven Marina is a 2-hour (104 miles) drive from London Heathrow Airport.
You can also reach the Ashby Canal on longer holidays from Braunston, Napton, Stockton and Weedon.
The Yorkshire Dales and Skipton Castle
On a short break from Silsden on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in West Yorkshire, you can cruise to the Yorkshire Dales and back. Your journey will begin cruising through the stunning scenery of Airedale and the village of Kildwick with its White Lion pub. When you reach the ancient market town of Skipton, you can moor up to visit Skipton Castle, one of the best-preserved medieval castles in England. Three miles later at the village of Gargrave there are plenty of pubs and take a walk into the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
The journey by boat from Silsden to Gargrave and back travels 23 miles, passes through 6 locks (3 each way) and takes around 13 hours.
- Silsden is just 25 minutes (16 miles) from Leeds Bradford Airport.
The Brecon Beacons National Park and Crickhowell Castle
The scenic Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal takes you through the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog) National Park in South Wales. Your vacation begins following the winding contours of this canal through wooded scenery. You’ll soon pass the tiny village of Llanellen to the east, and to the west there are spectacular views of the hills. At Llanfoist you can moor up and walk 2 miles into Abergavenny, famous for the quality of its restaurants and the local produce served. Abergavenny also has plenty of shops, a museum, a castle and bike hire.
From Llanfoist, you can also follow the line of the old tramway into the Black Mountains. Llangattock is a good place to moor to explore the Brecon Beacons and there’s a choice of pubs, including the Horseshoe Inn and the Vine Tree. From Llangattock, you can also walk to the little market town of Crickhowell, home of Crickhowell Castle. Cruising on, when you reach Llangynidr where you can moor up to visit the Coach & Horses pub. Or take a 20-minute walk to The Red Lion. You’ll then cruise on through the beautiful Usk Valley, passing through 5 locks and then the 375-yard long Ashford Tunnel. At Talybont-on-Usk you will find a village store, the Star Inn and walking trails up into the mountains.
The journey by boat from Goytre to Talybont-on-Usk and back cruises 39 miles, passes through 10 locks (5 each way) and takes around 18 hours.
- Goytre Wharf is a 1-hour (44 miles) drive from Bristol Airport.
The Calder Valley and Hebden Bridge
On a short break from Sowerby Bridge in West Yorkshire, you can cruise along the Rochdale Canal and through the scenic Calder Valley to Hebden Bridge. The journey will take you through the historic village of Luddenden Foot, home of the Lord Nelson pub and Mytholmroyd, birthplace of Ted Hughes. When you reach Hebden Bridge, you can moor in the centre of town, where there’s a good choice of traditional pubs, restaurants, cafes and independent shops. There are some fantastic walks from Hebden, including up to Heptonstall and along Hardcastle Crags.
The journey by boat from Sowerby Bridge to Hebden Bridge and back travels 14 miles, passes through 20 locks (10 each way) and takes around 11 hours.
- Sowerby Bridge is a 40-minute (18 miles) car journey from Leeds Bradford Airport.
The Shugborough Estate and Cannock Chase Forest
On a short break from Great Haywood in Staffordshire, you can cruise along the Trent & Mersey Canal and through the Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Soon after you begin your journey, you can moor up to visit the National Trust’s Shugborough Estate, once the home of Lord Lichfield. You can explore the Georgian mansion, sweeping parkland, ancient woodland and gardens peppered with monuments. Continue cruising through the Staffordshire countryside. At Wolseley Bridge you’ll pass the Wolseley Arms canalside pub and the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust’s Wolseley Centre. When you arrive at the outskirts of the historic town of Rugeley you can moor up to explore the Cannock Chase Forest. When you reach Fradley Junction you’ll find a cafe, the canalside Swan Pub and Fradley Pool Nature Reserve.
The journey by boat from Great Haywood to Fradley and back travels 25 miles, passing through 10 locks (5 each way) and takes around 12 hours.
- Great Haywood is a 45-minute (33 miles) car journey from Birmingham Airport.
The Shropshire Union Canal and Market Drayton
On a 4-night break from Brewood in Staffordshire, you can cruise the scenic Shropshire Union Canal to Market Drayton and back. Along the way you’ll pass through a number of villages with traditional pubs, including the Hartley Arms at Wheaton Ashton, the Boat Inn at Gnosall and the Wharf at Shebdon. You’ll go through Cowley Tunnel and a series of atmospheric canal cuttings, full of wildlife and vegetation. When you reach Market Drayton you can explore this historic market town, famous for its gingerbread men and Buttercross.
The boat journey from Brewood to Market Drayton and back travels 42 miles, passes through 12 locks (6 each way) and takes around 19 hours.
- Brewood is a 36-minute (32 miles) drive from Birmingham Airport.
You can also reach Market Drayton on longer vacations from Autherley and Gailey.
