Narrowboat Holiday

That Jekka Gal

That Jekka Gal

That Jekka Gal

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Joined
2 Oct 2019
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83
I’ve always wanted to do one of these and was wondering what would be the best part of the canal network to do one.

It would be for a week, somewhere with nice scenery and not too busy.

I’ve got the Kennet and Avon on my doorstep, which is lovely, but it’s choca during the summer months.

Any recommendations would be most welcome.
 
Both the Rochdale Canal and Leeds Liverpool Canal traverse the Pennines and offer some fabulous scenery. The Rochdal canal has the deepest lock in the UK (in Sowerby Bridge). I also recommend the Lancaster Canal with the fabulous Georgian Lune Aqueduct that takes the canal over the River Lune.

edit: if you do the Rochdale canal you should time it so you can spend a day in Hebden Bridge on market day.
 
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Tuppy_Glossop said:
Both the Rochdale Canal and Leeds Liverpool Canal traverse the Pennines and offer some fabulous scenery. The Rochdal canal has the deepest lock in the UK (in Sowerby Bridge). I also recommend the Lancaster Canal with the fabulous Georgian Lune Aqueduct that takes the canal over the River Lune.

edit: if you do the Rochdale canal you should time it so you can spend a day in Hebden Bridge on market day.
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I guess traversing the Pennines will involve a lot of locks?

Crossing an aqueduct has to be done though:-)
 
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Iv only ever done one of these once in my lifetime, and it was with family when i was younger

norfolk broads?


Cant say im an expert on Narrowboat hire though :D
 
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We Did the "Cheshire Ring" in August 21. Picked up the Boat from Anderton Marina.
One of the most enjoyable weeks holiday I have ever had. But, you need to plan, and things can go wrong.
We had planned our route and times, making sure we could get back to the marina on our last day. On our first day, we had reports that one of the locks had broken and would be closed for a significant time, so we had to turn around and go the other way.
Still managed to find local places to stop for food and drink. Even did a bit of shopping. Cooked breakfast most days on the boat. BBQ in the evenings.
For 4 days the weather was fab, and despite some of the locks being hard work, it does not feel like it. We did loads.
Even a couple of rainy days could not spoil it.

Would recommend it wholeheartedly.
 
DJMK4 said:
Iv only ever done one of these once in my lifetime, and it was with family when i was younger

norfolk broads?


Cant say im an expert on Narrowboat hire though :D
Click to expand...
Norfolk Broads would probably have less likelihood of rain.
Countcussy said:
We Did the "Cheshire Ring" in August 21. Picked up the Boat from Anderton Marina.
One of the most enjoyable weeks holiday I have ever had. But, you need to plan, and things can go wrong.
We had planned our route and times, making sure we could get back to the marina on our last day. On our first day, we had reports that one of the locks had broken and would be closed for a significant time, so we had to turn around and go the other way.
Still managed to find local places to stop for food and drink. Even did a bit of shopping. Cooked breakfast most days on the boat. BBQ in the evenings.
For 4 days the weather was fab, and despite some of the locks being hard work, it does not feel like it. We did loads.
Even a couple of rainy days could not spoil it.

Would recommend it wholeheartedly.
Click to expand...
Sounds idyllic. Just looked at the prices for a week in July - more than double the last time I looked into this some 6 years ago. Have to put it into context, I guess.
 
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Llangollen can be busy, especially during the school holidays, but that's for good reasons. It's a must do canal, even if you only do one. Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is a world heritage site and at 120ft high is not to be sniffed at. It's probably busiest there. The canal appears to have a tleast one of everything else. If you get time book a passage down to the Montgomery from Franklin junction, I promise it's a trip you won't forget.
 
That Jekka Gal said:
Norfolk Broads would probably have less likelihood of rain.

Sounds idyllic. Just looked at the prices for a week in July - more than double the last time I looked into this some 6 years ago. Have to put it into context, I guess.
Click to expand...
Back in 2021, I think it was around 2.5k for the boat for the week.
6 of us on the boat. It was 66 feet long !!
Not a cheap week by any means, but I would do it again.
 
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