Top 8 autumn canal boat holidays

Autumn is a great time to go boating and enjoy the beautiful colours in the trees along our amazing inland waterways

Tuition is included as part of our boat hire. So whether you are beginner looking for an easy short break to test the waters. Or a seasoned canal boater looking for a longer more challenging route, why not book a narrowboat holiday break this autumn and choose from hundreds of fantastic waterside destinations.

All our boats are equipped with the key comforts of home – central heating, hot water, TV, WiFi, well-stocked kitchens, showers and flushing toilets. And some have multi-fuel stoves on board too.

Here are our top 8 destinations to enjoy this autumn:

1. Explore the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds

   From Silsden on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, it takes around 17 hours, passing through 28 locks, to reach Leeds – perfect for a week away. Along the way, you’ll travel through the Bingley Five Rise locks, one of the Seven Wonders of the Waterways. And the UNESCO World Heritage town of Saltaire. Once in Leeds, you can moor up in Leeds Dock, and visit the Royal Armouries Museum, home to the national collection of arms and armour.

2. Cruise through the beautiful Vale of Pewsey    

   On a week’s holiday from Monkton Combe, you can cruise along the Kennet & Avon Canal to Pewsey and back.  Along the way, you’ll encounter the historic market town of Bradford on Avon and the Caen Hill flight of locks at Devizes.  Once you’ve travelled up the flight of 29 locks, you’ll pass through the North West Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the beautiful Vale of Pewsey. You can moor up at Pewsey, where there’s a choice of pubs. The journey to Pewsey and back cruises 57 miles, passes through 74 locks (37 each way) and takes around 33.5 hours.

3. Visit the Bodleian Library in Oxford

   Experience a Thames boating holiday from our Oxford base, cruising to city centre moorings in around three hours. One of Oxford’s most famous attractions is the magnificent Bodleian Library, one of the oldest libraries in Europe. You can access the library by walking through ‘The Quad’ (the Old Schools Quadrangle of the Divinity School), a breath taking masterpiece of English Gothic architecture.

4. Enjoy panoramic views from Chester’s Roman walls   

   On a short break from Bunbury on the Shropshire Union Canal you can navigate to the Roman City of Chester and back. The journey through the Cheshire countryside takes around 14 hours (seven each way). And passes through 18 locks (nine each way). Once there, you can explore this great heritage city, home to the most complete City Walls in Britain, dating back 2,000 years to the Roman occupation. There’s a two-mile wall-walking trail, giving you the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Roman soldiers and enjoy panoramic views on both sides.

5. Glide across the Stream in the Sky to Whitchurch   

   On a week’s holiday from Trevor on the Llangollen Canal in North Wales you can cruise to historic Whitchurch and back. The journey takes a total of 44 hours (22 each way), passing through just four locks (two each way). Soon after leaving Trevor, you’ll cross the incredible UNESCO World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, carrying the canal 38 metres high above the Dee Valley. Once at Whitchurch, you can moor up to explore this pretty historic town with independent shops and restaurants, walking trails and the award-winning Black Bear pub.

6. Travel round the Birmingham Mini-Ring     

   On a week’s holiday from Wootton Wawen you can complete the Birmingham Mini-Ring.  The journey takes 35 hours and passes through 83 locks. You’ll cruise sections of the Stratford Canal, Grand Union Canal and Worcester & Birmingham Canal. It takes you through peaceful stretches of the Warwickshire countryside, with quiet villages and historic waterside pubs to enjoy along the way. And right into the heart of Britain’s Second City, where you’ll find over-night moorings at Gas Street Basin. From there, you can visit some of the City’s top attractions, including Brindleyplace and the Mailbox Shopping Centre. And the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, home to the world’s largest collection of Pre-Raphaelite art.

7. Visit the Royal Crescent in fabulous Georgian Bath     

   From Bradford on Avon, it takes just five hours to cruise along the Kennet & Avon Canal to the centre of the UNESCO World Heritage City of Bath. Once moored up, you can explore some of the City’s top attractions, including the Roman Baths, Bath Abbey and the stunning Georgian Royal Crescent. There 14 locks on this journey (seven each way) and two magnificent Bath stone aqueducts at Avoncliff and Dundas.

8. Cruise into the Peak District to enjoy magnificent scenery   

   On a week’s break from Great Haywood you can reach the Caldon Canal and cruise into the Peak District. It’s a 43-hour return journey to Froghall and back, travelling a total of 72 miles (36 each way) through 70 locks (35 each way). The route first takes you north along the Trent & Mersey Canal to Stoke-on-Trent. There you transfer onto the peaceful 17-mile long Caldon Canal, which passes through some of the most magnificent scenery in Britain. As the canal leaves Stoke, you’ll soon be cruising through gently rolling hills, wooded areas, past old mills and alongside the beautiful River Churnet. The route takes you through Cheddleton, home of the Churnet Valley Railway. And the village of Consall Forge with the secluded Black Lion pub serving good food and real ales.

Check availability and book online here, or call our booking team on 0117 304 1122.