Top 7 October half term canal boat holiday destinations

Our top 7 October half term canal boat holiday destinations include Chirk Castle

You’ll be self-contained aboard your very own floating holiday cottage. You’ll find all the key comforts of home, including hot water, TV, well-stocked kitchens, showers, flushing toilets and central heating.

We’ve put together a guide to our top 7 narrowboat holiday destinations and Halloween events* this October half term:

1. Enjoy live performances of Shakespeare’s spookiest plays

From our boat yard on the Stratford Canal at Wootton Wawen, it takes around six hours to reach Bancroft Basin in the centre of Stratford-upon-Avon. A short walk away at Shakespeare’s Birthplace, visitors can experience live performances of of scenes from some of Shakespeare’s spookiest plays. The special Halloween event is on from Saturday 26 October to Sunday 3 November 2024. The journey to Stratford and back from Wootton Wawen passes through 34 locks (17 each way) and takes around 12 hours.

2. Cruise to Llangollen to visit the magnificent Horseshoe Falls

Setting off from our base on the Llangollen Canal at Trevor in North Wales, it takes just two hours to reach moorings at Llangollen Basin.  From there, you can explore this historic town nestled in the Berwyn Mountains, including the magnificent Horseshoe Falls.  This 140 metre long weir structure was designed by Thomas Telford to feed water from the River Dee to the Llangollen Canal.

3. Hear tales of Folklore, myth and tradition at the Shugborough Estate

Our base on the Trent & Mersey Canal at Great Haywood is less than an hour’s cruise away from the National Trust’s Shugborough Estate.  From 5-30 October, Shugborough Rangers will be hosting daily walking talks around the gardens and grounds recounting tales of Folklore, myth and tradition.

4. Experience the Super Natural at Chester Zoo

On a short break from our Bunbury base on the Shropshire Union Canal near Tarporley, you can reach the historic City of Chester, home of the award-winning Chester Zoo.  The journey to Chester cruises 12 miles, passes through 18 locks and takes around seven hours.  From 28 September to 2 November 2024, Chester Zoo will be hosting a special Super Natural event. Visitors can shrink to the size of a rat in a giant pumpkin sculpture trail. Then adventure into unexplored lands with a digital immersive story experience, encountering mysterious mythical beasts.

5. Face medieval monster-themed challenges at Chirk Castle

From Whixall, on the Prees Branch of the Llangollen Canal, you can reach Chirk in around eight hours.  The journey passes through just two locks.  From visitor moorings on the canal at Chirk it takes around 30 minutes to walk up to the National Trust’s Chirk Castle.  From 26 October to 2 November, Chirk Castle will be offering a Medieval Monster Activity Sheet for a self-led monster-themed adventure challenge.

6. Take a ghost tour in Bath

From Bradford on Avon, it takes around five hours, passing through seven locks, to cruise into Bath City Centre.  From there, you can explore this UNESCO World Heritage city and book a Ghost Tour. The tour takes visitors on a thrilling tour of Bath, discovering tales of murder, mayhem, witch burnings, hangings, medieval monks, duels and poltergeists.

7. Experience the Royal Armouries Escape Room in Leeds

On a week’s holiday from Silsden on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, you can cruise to Leeds and back. You can moor up in Leeds Dock, home of the Royal Armouries Museum. There you can book an Escape Room experience with Great Escape Game. The journey from Silsden to Leeds and back takes around 34 hours, and passes through 56 locoks (28 each way).

*NB Most of the events listed need to be booked in advance via the venue’s website