Drifters members hire canal boats for the day from 19 narrowboat hire bases across England and Wales, offering the chance to enjoy a family day out boating on the canals this autumn.
Britain’s 3,000-mile network of inland waterways winds through some of the nation’s best-loved countryside. On a day out canal boating, people can see the beautiful autumn colours in the trees and hedges that line our canals reflected in the water.
Full tuition is included, so day boat hire is a great way for newcomers to canal boating to get the hang of steering, mooring up and working the locks.
All Drifters’ day boats are equipped with cutlery, crockery and a kettle, and most also have a toilet, cooker and fridge. Boats range in size and can accommodate between eight and 12 people. Drifters day boat hire prices start at £99 and are pet-friendly.
1. Cruise through Shakespeare country to Wilmcote (Warwickshire)
From Drifters day boat hire centre at Wootton Wawen on the Stratford Canal, day boaters can cruise to the village of Wilmcote and back. The journey takes 2.5 hours each way and crosses the impressive Edstone Aqueduct with beautiful views across the Warwickshire countryside. Boaters will find The Mary Arden Inn at Wilmcote and The View Restaurant at Hill Farm Marina, close to Edstone Aqueduct.
2. Navigate through Cannock Chase to the Wolseley Arms (Staffordshire)
From Drifters’ boat hire base Great Haywood on the Trent & Mersey Canal near Stafford, day boaters can cruise to the historic market town of Rugeley and back. The journey, which takes around two hours and passes through two locks, passes the Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the popular Wolseley Arms pub at Wolseley Bridge. At Rugeley, day boaters can walk to the canalside Colliers pub.
3. Glide along the leafy Worcester & Birmingham Canal (Worcestershire)
On a day out from Alvechurch Marina near Bromsgrove, day boaters can cruise north through the remains of the Forest of Arden to Kings Norton Junction and back. Along the way, day boaters can stop off at the canalside Hopwood House pub and take a walk around the Bittell Reservoirs. The route is lock-free but passes through Wast Hills Tunnel, which is over a mile-and-a-half long.
4. Navigate to The Star Inn at Mamhillad in the Brecon Beacons (Monmouthshire)
On day out boating along on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal from Goytre Wharf, boaters can cruise through the beautiful Usk Valley. It takes around two-and-a-half-hours to reach moorings close to the popular Star pub at Mamhillad, a short walk from bridge 62.
5. Cruise along the Grand Union Canal to Napton-on-the-Hill (Northamptonshire)
From Braunston in heart of the canal network, day boaters can reach the historic village of Napton-on-the-Hill. The lock-free journey takes boaters through the Northamptonshire countryside and into Warwickshire. Once at Napton, boaters can moor up and walk into the village where there’s a choice of pubs, including the popular Kings Head. The journey to Napton and back takes around six hours.
6. Float across ‘The Stream in the Sky’ (Denbighshire)
From Trevor on the Llangollen Canal in North Wales, day boaters can travel across the UNESCO World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. Standing at over 38 metres high above the Dee Valley, this incredible structure offers amazing views of the Dee Valley below. After cruising over the Aqueduct, there are two tunnels and another aqueduct to cross, before reaching the Bridge Inn at Chirk Bank. The journey to Chirk takes around two-and-a-half hours.
7. Boat along the Kennet & Avon Canal to Brassknocker Basin (Wiltshire)
From Bradford on Avon Marina, day boaters can cruise west through the Bath Valley to Brassknocker Basin and back. The route takes boaters through Bradford on Avon Lock and across the magnificent Bath stone Avoncliff and Dundas aqueducts. At Brassknocker Basin, boaters can visit the Angelfish café for lunch. The journey there and back travels nine miles and takes around four hours.
8. Navigate through the West Berkshire countryside to the Spring Inn (Berkshire)
From Drifters’ day boat hire centre at Aldermaston on the Kennet & Avon Canal near Reading, day boaters can cruise to Theale and back, stopping off to enjoy lunch at the Spring Inn at Sulhamstead, a 10-minute walk from the canal. The total journey takes just over four hours and passes through two locks each way.
