CANAL BOAT HOLIDAYS- ADVICE PLEASE

[Merle]

We are would like to hire a boat for a week over the summer holidays. Our children are 7 & 10. Can anyone recommend an interesting area in which to float, together with any tips for novices.

I would go for a canal with quite a few locks. As a child the locks were the fun bit. Somewhere like the grand union /rugby would work well.

we used to do the leeds liverpool as kids (ok so going back the odd year or two) but lots of locks, good scenery, can stop eg at skipton and see castle/market, lots of canalside pubs.

Thanks bronze & Loshad- will look into your suggestions. Like the idea of keeping the boys busy with locks.

skiptons fun with the staircase

Tardebigge locks will keep them amused - about 30 odd in a row. Fabulous to see. It's on the Avon ring so you can probably pick up a suitable boat from Anglo Welsh Waterways.

I'd suggest Skipton too. Many a happy holiday with the Kbears there for us too. I won't get to adventurous with lots and lots of locks though, they are exhausting and only fun for the kids for the first 5!!

If doing a ring. Make sue you have the boat for the right amount of time

You will have a fab time! We loved it. Sorry but I can't recommend any particular canals, but just to say what fun we had. All the fresh air and the feeling of freedom and getting away from cars was great.

Don't worry if you bump the boat quite a bit at the beginning, it's par for the course and everyone does. We found that very stressful at first then realised that the boats are pretty sturdy and that's why they give you a big stick to push yourself off the side when you get stuck etc.

Black Prince Holidays have boats on the Cheshire ring.

I grew up beside the Leeds-Liverpool canal and it was grim. You would have to stick very close to Skipton