Narrow/Canal Boat holiday recommendation needed

[TwoToTango]

Thinking of trying a canal boat holiday this year but thought it best to try a short break - 3 or 4 nights first.
I have googled and there are quite a few firms offering these sorts of holidays but can anyone recommend a genuine one (I don't know if they have to be members of ABTA etc) as I don't want to lose my money!
Also could anyone recommend a good route for a short break (thinking of Wales) and any other info would be appreciated such as are locks hard to do
Thanks

I've never done one, but the Llangollen canal must be one of the most spectacular! And there is also the steam railway at Llangollen.

www.canaljunction.com/canal/llangollen.htm

Thanks Ferguson

We did the south Oxford canal - Banbury to Oxford I think, was quiet and pretty! Stratford to Evesham was bigger but Stratford was v fun. The kennet and avon would also be worth a try if your in the south? Devizes to Bath. Just be aware that a short break usually wants you to return to where you started so you need to factor in going and coming back! Good luck and enjoy!!

We did from Whitchurch(?) on Shropshire Union along the Dee to Chester. Can also get onto the Llangollen from there.

Kate Boats in Warwick and Stockton are great - my DH works for them so I'm biased but they'll look after you. Their boats have been used by both John Sargent and Timothy West and Prunella Scales in their recent TV programmes.

Nice canals round here, meandering through the Warwickshire countryside. Stratford is within striking distance as are other interesting places.

Hope you find a great holiday.

I'd recommend Kate's boats too. Had a fantastic week on one a few years ago.
Locks aren't particularly difficult but the boatyard will show you how to do one and other boaters are generally friendly and helpful.
I've helped many boaters over the years and been helped with heavy lock gates.

always used abc boats. The Kennet and Avon is very rural. We try not to pass through big cities as the center can be nice but the peripheral often isn't!

Thanks for all the replies - will look into them

We did the llangollen canal.on our honeymoon on a short break...Mon to Fri. It was lovely. Can not recall the company we used though..

How about a break on the Thames? Manned locks, so much easier.

If you feel really intrepid, you could hire a day boat and camp on the islands. It would come out much cheaper too.

That park in Stratford that has the canal boats sailing through it looks just fab. You can climb ashore straight into the RSC.

Yes it took us 3.5 days from Rugby to Banbury and then we had to chug away like mad to get back in time.

Top speed you are allowed to go is only 4 mph.

You need a week OP

Just come back and seen the new replies. Agree with a week Dowser - been looking into it and didn't realise how long it would take to get anywhere!

Been looking at booking websites - its expensive in the summer and a lot of boats are already booked up.

Any more advice/suggestions would be appreciated. Ideally want somewhere with shops/pubs/places to visit we can get off at.

If we have a one way hire do we have to make our own arrangements to get back to the starting point where we would have left our car (sorry if thats a silly question)