UK canal trips
 

We're contemplating a visit to the UK in October and thought a canal trip for a week would be interesting. We have no idea where to start and would appreciate any advice.

Decide which part of the country you'd like to visit and Google "Narrow Boat Hire" followed by the area, such as "narrowboat hire lancashire".

Hi
Our Aussie family has enjoyed canal travel on several UK canals over the last ten years or so. It started when we were in the Midlands and walked beside the towpath of the Llangollen canal. We spoke to several boaters and felt it looked great. We contacted Black Prince Holidays who have a marina on that canal and hired a narrowboat from them for two weeks. We cruised from Chirk to Chester and back then on to Llangollen. Highlights were mooring beside the city walls in Chester and just walking in to the historic centre and of course the mighty Pontcysyllte Aqueduct near Llangollen.
Since then we have had a week on the Monmouth and Brecon canal in Wales, super scenery and not many locks, a week on the Lancaster canal,very pretty and no locks, and ventured into Scotland for a week on the Union Canal from the fabulous Falkirk Wheel to Edinburgh, the only locks are manned.
There are lots of companies who rent narrowboats and most have online brochures.
It can be quite hard work if you choose a route with lots of locks, we tend to go the lazy route because we are late sixties and just want to relax. Take wet weather gear and be aware that October can be getting cold on the water.
We enjoy it and plan another week next year.

Rosemary

Thanks Rubicund and Rosemary. Your info will help us make an informed decision. We are a couple in our late sixties and travelling alone. Do you know offhand if there are smaller Canal Boats? Will check out the website in any case.
Kind regards.

Hi again

Cambrian Cruisers on the Monmouth and Brecon canal have two person boats. We all voted this canal the best. It runs through the Brecon Beacons National Park in mid Wales and is quite spectacular. The town of Brecon has a wonderful canal basin with a restaurant and theatre in walking distance of all the amenities of the town (supermarkets,pubs, laundrettes).

Rosemary

I realize you are set on doing the canals in the U.K. but, having done both the ones in Britain and those in Europe, I would vote strongly for France, especially in October. My last narrow boat trip with my children in Wales cured me of ever wanting to do that again. During the week we had only part of one afternoon during which the sun shone. Being wet and having to crank those damned paddles in the lock was a PITA, even with the kids helping.

Why don't you at least consider a week on the Canal du Midi. Even in October the weather is bound to be better than in England, and all of the locks are either automatic or manned.

Here are a couple of links to boat hire sites, but there are dozens of them.

http://www.franceafloat.com/fasouth.html

http://www.locaboat.com/en/12/canal-du-midi.html

There have been some recent discussions on this here:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...boat-in-uk.cfm