Short Canal Cruises
 

My spouse and I are thinking about taking a short canal cruise while in the UK this fall. The idea would be to take a restful break in the middle of a month-long vacation to catch our breaths and relax a bit. Last time in the UK, we stayed at Ellesmere Port near the "Boat Museum" and this gave us the idea. We would probably do a four day or so cruise. I've looked at a couple of websites, and it seems there are "self-drive" and "crewed" options. The self-drive would be more fun and less expensive but maybe not as relaxing. We'd probably do this around Manchester.

So, anyone with experience? Alternatively, any other ideas for a relaxing break between Scotland and London?

You cannot equate "restful break" and "narrow boat cruise"; they are diametrically opposed concepts. As opposed to the French canals, for instance, where one quietly glides from lock to lock, at which the gates operate automatically, or by a lock keeper, the U.K. canals are usually operated by a crank handle issued to the boat at the beginning of the journey. One is expected/required to leap ashore at each lock (usually raining) and crank those damned paddles by hand.

Really hard work!

Thanks nukesafe. Back to the drawing board. Maybe we can find a small hotel along a canal boat path so we can take walks, sit and watch the boats, etc.

You could check how much participation is required for the crewed option. I am not sure if they are offered around Manchester.
Certainly on the Thames, Norfolk Broads and Caledonian Canal.
Self drive on the Broads might be worth considering.

nuke is being a bit rotten :-) , it doesn't always rain and the winding is not very hard and similar to what you have to do on the canal du midi.

But I'd not do it near Manchester, heti's list is better

You are probably right, Bilbo. I must confess I am a bit jaded about things British, having been afflicted of an English wife for too many years. Most of my memories of living there and doing outdoor things involved rain and chill, so perhaps I was a bit unfair.

I do recall taking a pleasant cruise one afternoon on the Thames when the sun made an appearance, so perhaps our OP should not be discouraged by my negativity and try some of the options suggested by Hetismij2.

Thanks everyone. We did take a boat (not a narrow canal boat) from Hampton Court Palace to London some years back and that was really a lot of fun. A very warm, sunny day, lots of Brits on the outing with us.

I also saw a service that offers a "hotel boat" on the Thames. Right now I'm leaning toward finding a hotel along a canal and staying there for a few days.

If you don't like the idea of going through locks, consider renting a boat on the Norfolk Broads: http://www.norfolkbroads.com

Heimdall--I looked at the Norfolk Broads, but that appears to be more like lakes than canals. I discussed this with my spouse and decided that we are too much "landlubbers" to pilot our own vessel, so we'll stick to the paths unless we come upon a place that offers 'day cruises" on one of the canals when we happen to be in the vicinity.

Actually the broads are more like slow flowing rivers than lakes. They are man made from water filled peat diggings centuries ago. You can navigate along these narrow stretches, stopping at moorings at pubs and villages. It's like being on a canal boat without all the work.

The broads have very strict speed limits, no more than 6 mph, sometimes less, so you don't have to be a sailor. You will see lots of wildlife on the broads.
http://www.visitnorfolk.co.uk/explor...he-Broads.aspx