Top five boating holidays
Spring is in the air and the Easter break is just around the corner. But where are the best places to go boating in spring 2009? Take a look at our top five holiday ideas.
1: Experience breathtaking scenery and awe-inspiring architecture on the Llangollen Canal
Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart gave celebrity endorsement to this scenic cruiseway in summer 2004. It remains one of the most enduringly popular holiday destinations in the UK – recently coming out tops in a BBC poll of British holiday hot spots - and for good reason. There are several hire-bases along the canal – so getting started is easy – and once you’re on your way, the stunning scenery and pretty market towns make narrowboating a delight. The magnificent Pontcysyllte Aqueduct across the River Dee is worth the journey alone and is simply a must-see.
Hire a boat on the Llangollen Canal
Read more about the Llangollen Canal
2: Cruise through ‘Little Switzerland’ on Staffordshire’s Caldon Canal
This beautiful canal could well be England’s most scenic waterway. The Caldon Canal simply gets more and more attractive as you cruise from Stoke-on-Trent towards the Peak District and 'Little Switzerland'; a beautiful wooded valley with only a preserved steam railway to disturb the peace. Holiday boaters love the Caldon Canal – and its two tunnels, famous island, staircase lock and awe-inspiring aqueduct succeed in bringing them back year after year.
Hire a boat on the Caldon Canal
Read more about the Caldon Canal
3: Discover classic English scenery on the unspoilt Oxford Canal
The Oxford Canal winds an unhurried course through picturesque surroundings from Oxford to Coventry. Charming villages dot the route - but little else interrupts your enjoyment of the undulating countryside. If you fancy an outing, history buffs can explore Blenheim Palace and all the family will find something to rock their boat at Braunston - the busiest point on the British canal network.
Hire a boat on the Oxford Canal
Read more about the Oxford Canal
4. Experience the spectacular Falkirk Wheel on the Union Canal
Peaceful cruising is the order of the day on Scotland’s Union Canal. Sit back and enjoy the delightful Lowland scenery, cross over dramatic aqueducts and discover Scotland’s only canal tunnels as you cruise the 32 miles between historic Edinburgh and Falkirk. There are no locks, until you reach Falkirk that is – and that’s when the fun really begins. Here stands the magnificent Falkirk Wheel, the world’s first and only rotating boat lift, and a guaranteed highlight of any holiday.
Hire a boat on the Union Canal
Read more about the Union Canal
5. Enjoy our best-loved landscapes along the Kennet & Avon Canal
Picturesque market towns and delightful undulating hills accompany your voyage along the Kennet & Avon Canal. The charm of the Cotswolds, the beauty of West Berkshire, medieval Devizes, the K&A has it all. After the challenge of the Caen Hill Lock Flight, one of the most memorable on the entire waterway system, you can catch your breath in the Caen Hill Café and then simply sit back and admire the view as you float across the Dundas and Avoncliff aqueducts near Bath.
Hire a boat on the Kennet & Avon Canal
Kennet & Avon Canal
Fancy something more than a straight there-and-back cruise? Explore a variety of landscapes - and waterscapes - with a voyage around a scenic cruising ring.
Hire a boat for a day
You don't need to book a weeks holiday to enjoy our most beautiful canals. Hiring a boat for a day is a great way to get a taste for life at the tiller - and an inexpensive day out for a group of friends or family.
More about boat day hire
Get to grips with the Stourport Ring.
Plan your canal holiday.
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