Sections of the Coventry, Oxford, Grand Union and Birmingham and Fazeley Canals are components in the Warwickshire Ring which, despite the almost constant proximity of conurbation and industry, manages to carve a surprisingly rural route through manicured fields and ancient meadows for much of its length. The Saltisford Arm above the two Cape Locks is…

4th May- 18th May Not so much a log as an end of journey report. Yesterday morning, as we worked our way back to the yard was to prove one of the coldest May days for years. It also rained heavily, apart from that we only needed to don wet weather gear for 3 hours…

I hope you will find the following a useful insight to the route down to Stratford Upon Avon, where you should expect to be each night and roughly how long your cruising day will be. Having travelled along the Stratford canal twice in the last few months I have thoroughly enjoyed this route and would…

We’d just spent an hour with John from the boatyard learning how to handle our hired narrowboat and, crucially, the locks. When he asked “Do you feel ready to go off on your own?” we confidently dismissed him. However, when he added: “Where are you going?” and I replied cheerfully “Banbury”, he smiled a wry…

Narrow boat holidays in Shakespeare Country There is something deeply satisfying in cruising, very slowly, through the English countryside following ancient routes that were once the main arteries of communication. Hugh Taylor, Moira McCrossan, Bill Rintoul and Irene Stakounis explore The Grand Union and Stratford and Avon Canals on board a boat called Jim.  …

A narrowboat holiday can have all the elements that a dog really enjoys. For a start they can be with you throughout the holiday. There is no deciding what to do with the dog today, they are just part of it all. Getting out for a walk is easy, the towpath is a great place…

It’s 50 years since the 1968 Transport Act officially recognised Britain’s canals as a leisure resource and canal boat holidays have become increasingly popular ever since. To celebrate, we (my husband, 10-year son and three-year-old Fox Terrier) booked a weekend away aboard Kate Boats’ brand new luxury narrowboat ‘Harry Hudson’, setting off from their canal…