Cool canals Guides & Waterways Directory

Holiday Hireboats

Untie the ropes, push off from the banks, and let yourself unwind from the world cruising the idyllic inland waterways in a narrowboat.

Narrowboating is a great way to enjoy the outdoors. Canals are a 4mph stress-free zone, so it doesn't matter if you've never steered a narrowboat before - learning how to is all part of the fun... Fresh air, wildlife, peace & quiet, and the compulsory slow pace mixed with the exciting challenge of crewing a narrowboat makes this a satisfying and uplifting experience.

On your holiday, travel the waterways the traditional way with a narrowboat as your floating backpack. Sleep in style with water reflecting through your cabin porthole then, after a hearty breakfast, spend part of your day walking and the rest drifting peacefully along in your narrowboat until dusk and time to moor up again. Or why not round off an energetic hiking holiday with a relaxing weekend cruise?

Whether you are going alone, with the family and dog (Well-behaved pets are welcomed by most hireboat operators), or in a group, you can hire a narrowboat from centres across Britain, so you can choose a canal that suits you best. It's a good idea to bear in mind how many locks you want to encounter on your journey - some of the more heavily-locked canals are fascinating but can be exhausting.