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Make the most of spring on the canals


The combination of our annual winter stoppages drawing to a close, the sun making its debut appearance of the year and the looming long weekends mean that Britain’s canals and rivers are going to be a fantastic place to escape to over the next month.

Whether you’ve been able to take advantage of the ‘eleven days for the price of three’ offer or you’re just looking forward to making the most of the long Easter weekend followed by the long weekend courtesy of the Royal Wedding, our waterways are going to be at their most magnificent as they come to life and ease themselves into summer.

Spring is a difficult season not to like. It’s not too cold, it’s not too hot, it’s not too wet or too dry. It’s not too crowded and it’s perfect for walking, cycling, boating, angling, wildlife watching or just sitting in a canal-side pub garden and watching it all go by. We’ve put together some of our favourite springtime activities to help you get the most out of the season.

Book a boating holiday
Whether it’s for a long weekend or a week-long break, the canals and rivers are an inspiring location to take a holiday. If you’ve not done it before, hiring a canal boat will open up a whole new way of life to you. What could be more relaxing than waking up to hear the dawn chorus, before cooking yourself a breakfast and then setting off at a leisurely pace, sitting at the tiller and appreciating the fresh spring air.
Find out more about taking a canal holiday

Appreciate the wildlife
One of the most appealing things about the spring is watching the canal wildlife emerge from its winter slumber. If you take a walk along the towpath at this time of year you could be rewarded with sights such as a swan carrying its signets on its back, grass snakes, butterflies and ladybirds. The bird spotters amongst us are also well catered for during spring as migrants such as the swallow, swift and house martin flock back to our shores and the important job of nest building begins.

It’s not going to be long before the British Waterways Wildlife Survey kicks off. It’s a great activity for all ages so keep an eye out for the big launch.
Find out more about spring’s waterway wildlife

Take a spring walk
Taking a gentle (or vigorous) stroll along the canal is a great way to exercise both body and mind. Canals are perfect for walking as their car-free towpaths meander through some of Britain’s finest countryside. Why not put a spring in your step and try out one of our specially selected spring walks.
Find a spring walk near you

Get on your bike
If you prefer two wheels, the towpaths can offer you plenty of trails perfect for making the most of the spring season. If your bike has been gathering dust over the winter then there’s no better time to remind yourself how invigorating a cycle ride can be. Great for families, the towpaths by their nature offer relatively flat routes and it’s almost impossible to get lost.
Find a route near you

Visit a museum
Gone are the days your children would rather tidy their bedrooms than visit a museum. Our canals and rivers play host to a number of museums and visitor attractions you’ll struggle to get your children out of at the end of the day. There’s a huge breadth of places to go from the nostalgic charms of the Black Country Living Museum to the creepy crawly BugWorld Experience in Liverpool’s Albert Dock.
Find a place to go near you

Join a working party
For the first time in its history, British Waterways is organising its own regular canal clean-ups, with regular working parties tidying the canal all over the country. While these working parties are set to continue year-round, spring has got to be the perfect time to volunteer and get your hands dirty as it’s unlikely to snow and you won’t need to worry about heat stroke. Not only will you meet new people, you’ll also make a real difference to your local community.
Find your local work party

Last updated: 05/04/2011

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