Father’s Day canal boat cruise

Enjoy a relaxing family day out boating on the canals on Father’s Day 

Cruising along a peaceful canal and stopping off for a pub lunch along the way, is a great way to bring the family together on Father’s Day (Sunday 16 June).

We offer self-drive day boat hire from six of our bases, with prices starting at £99 on weekdays, £150 on weekends and bank holidays.

Full tuition is included so we can help you get the hang of steering, mooring up and working the locks. Our day boats have a toilet, fridge, kettle, cutlery, cups and plates – perfect for a picnic afloat. Or you can you can stop-off for lunch at a canalside pub or restaurant nearby.

Here’s a guide to our six day boat bases and top destinations:

1. Glide across ‘The Stream in the Sky’ – you can cruise across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct from our canal boat hire base at Trevor on the Llangollen Canal in North Wales. Standing at over 38 metres high, the UNESCO World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is often referred to as ‘The Stream in the Sky’. There are a choice of canalside pubs to stop off at, including The Bridge Inn at Chirk Bank.
2. Cruise along the Stratford Canal to the Fleur de Lys at Lowsonford – from Wootton Wawen on the Stratford Canal near Henley-in-Arden, it takes around three-and-a-half hours to reach the Fleur de Lys canalside pub at Lowsonford.  The route takes you through the Warwickshire countryside and the remains of the Forest of Arden, passing through eight locks each way.
3. Boat along the Kennet & Avon Canal to the Cross Guns at Avoncliff – on a day out boating from Bradford on Avon in Wiltshire, you can cruise through the Bath Valley to Brassknocker Basin and back. There are a choice of places to stop for lunch, including the Cross Guns pub at Avoncliff.
4. Navigate through the Shropshire countryside to the Boathouse at Ellesmere – from Whixall Marina you can cruise along the Llangollen Canal to Ellesmere and back. You can moor up on the Ellesmere Branch and take a short walk through the town to enjoy lunch at the waterside Boathouse restaurant on the Mere. The journey to Ellesmere and back takes around six hours.
5. Float along the Trent & Mersey Canal to the Ash Tree pub at Rugeley – on a day out from Great Haywood you can cruise to the historic market town of Rugeley and enjoy lunch at the canalside Ash Tree pub. Along the way, you’ll pass the Wolseley Arms in Wolseley Bridge. The return journey to Rugeley and back takes around six hours, passing through two locks each way.
6. Cruise ‘The Shroppie’ to The Cheshire Cat at Nantwich – from Bunbury on the Shropshire Union Canal, you can cruise to Nantwich and back in a day.  There’s a choice of pubs at Nantwich, including the Cheshire Cat. And you’ll pass the canalside Barbridge Inn at Barbridge.  The journey to Nantwich and back takes around six hours.

To find out more about our day boat hire and to book, go to https://www.anglowelsh.co.uk/our-boats/our-dayboat-fleet/

Or call us on 0117 304 1122