Drifters offers day boat hire from 19 narrowboat locations across England and Wales, offering the chance to enjoy a day out canal boating with family and friends. Britain’s 3,000-mile network of canals wind through some of the nation’s best-loved countryside and is a haven for wildlife, so there’s always something special to look out for.
Full boating tuition is included, so day boat hire is a great way for newcomers to canal boating to get the hang of steering, mooring up and working the locks. All Drifters’ day boats are equipped with cutlery, crockery and a kettle, and most also have a toilet, cooker and fridge. Boats range in size and can accommodate between eight and 12 people. Day boat hire prices start at £99 and are pet-friendly.
Drifters’ 14 best day boating destinations this summer:
Cruise through Shakespeare country to Wilmcote (Warwickshire)
From Drifters’ day boat hire centre at Wootton Wawen on the Stratford Canal, day boaters can cruise to the village of Wilmcote and back. The journey takes 2.5 hours each way and crosses the impressive Edstone Aqueduct, with beautiful views across the Warwickshire countryside. Boaters will find The Mary Arden Inn at Wilmcote and The View Restaurant at Hill Farm Marina, close to Edstone Aqueduct.
*Day boats ‘Dolly’, ‘Charlie’ and ‘Emma’ can carry up to 10 people each. Summer prices start at £99.
Boat through the Shropshire Lake District to Prees (Shropshire)
From Blackwater Meadow Marina on the Llangollen Canal near Ellesmere, day boaters can cruise through the Shropshire Lake District to Prees and back. The lock-free return journey takes around six hours and goes through one short tunnel. The route passes Blake Mere and Cole Mere where there are some great walking and picnic spots.
*Day boat ‘Lazy Days’ can carry up to 10 people. Summer day hire prices are £199.
Navigate through Cannock Chase to the Wolseley Arms (Staffordshire)
From Great Haywood on the Trent & Mersey Canal near Stafford, day boaters can cruise to the historic market town of Rugeley and back. The journey, which takes around two hours and goes through two locks, passes the Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the popular Wolseley Arms pub at Wolseley Bridge. At Rugeley, day boaters can walk to the canalside Colliers pub.
*Day boats ‘Daphne’ and ‘Abi’ can carry up to 10 people each. Summer prices start at £120.
Glide along the leafy Worcester & Birmingham Canal (Worcestershire)
On a day out from Alvechurch Marina near Bromsgrove, day boaters can cruise north through the remains of the Forest of Arden to Kings Norton Junction and back. Along the way, they can stop off at the canalside Hopwood House pub and enjoy a walk around the Bittell Reservoirs, a haven for bird life. The route is lock-free and takes boaters through Wast Hills Tunnel, which is over 1.5 miles long.
*Electric day boats ‘Away Day’ and ‘Fun Day’ can carry up to 10 people. Summer prices start at £219.
Navigate to The Star Inn at Mamhillad in the Brecon Beacons (Monmouthshire)
On day out boating along on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal from Goytre Wharf, boaters can cruise through the beautiful Usk Valley. It takes around 2.5 hours to reach moorings close to the popular Star pub at Mamhillad, a short walk from bridge 62.
*Electric day boat ‘Golden Day’ can carry up to 10 people. Weekend and bank holiday day boat hire is £219.
Cruise along the Grand Union Canal to Napton-on-the-Hill (Northamptonshire)
From Braunston in heart of the canal network, day boaters can reach the historic village of Napton-on-the-Hill. The lock-free journey goes through the Northamptonshire countryside and into Warwickshire. Once at Napton, boaters can moor up and walk into the village where there’s a choice of pubs, including the popular Kings Head, and Napton Village Stores with a deli, local produce and homemade meals. The journey to Napton and back takes around six hours.
*Day boat ‘Ouzel II’ can carry up to 12 people. Prices start at £150, plus £50 returnable deposit.
Float across ‘The Stream in the Sky’ (Wrexham)
From Trevor on the Llangollen Canal in North Wales, day boaters can travel across the UNESCO World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. Standing at over 38 metres high above the Dee Valley, this incredible structure offers amazing views of the Dee Valley below. After cruising across the Aqueduct, there are two tunnels and another aqueduct to cross, before reaching the Bridge Inn at Chirk Bank. The journey to Chirk and back takes around five hours.
*Day boats ‘Jacob’, ‘Daniel’ and ‘Lotty’ can carry up to 10 people. Prices start at £155.
Boat along the Kennet & Avon Canal to Brassknocker Basin (Wiltshire)
From Bradford on Avon Marina, day boaters can cruise west through the Bath Valley to Brassknocker Basin and back. The route takes boaters through Bradford on Avon Lock and across the magnificent Bath stone Avoncliff and Dundas aqueducts. At Brassknocker Basin, boaters can stop off at the Angelfish café. The journey there and back travels nine miles and takes around four hours.
*Day boats ‘Jacy’, ‘Emily’, ‘Katherine’, ‘Sally’ & ‘Grace’ can carry up to 10 people each. Summer prices start at £185.
Navigate through the West Berkshire countryside to the Spring Inn (Berkshire)
From Aldermaston on the Kennet & Avon Canal near Reading, day boaters can cruise through the West Berkshire countryside to Theale and back. Boaters can stop off to enjoy lunch at the Spring Inn at Sulhamstead, a 10-minute walk from the canal. The total journey takes just over four hours and passes through two locks each way.
*Electric Day boat ‘Seize the Day’ can carry up to 10 people. Weekend and bank holiday day boat hire is £249.
Enjoy views of the Peak District on the Peak Forest Canal (Derbyshire)
On a day out boating from New Mills Marina on the Peak Forest Canal, day boaters can cruise to Marple and back, enjoying fantastic views of the rolling countryside along the way. There are moorings at the bottom of the Marple Lock flight and the chance to watch boats passing through one of the steepest lock flights in Britain. The Hatton Arms in Marple is a short walk away. The journey to Marple and back takes 5.5 hours and there are no locks.
*Electric day boat ‘Field Day’ can accommodate up to 10 people. Weekend and bank holiday day boat hire is £149.
Float along the Shropshire Union Canal to Nantwich (Cheshire)
From Bunbury Wharf on the Shropshire Union Canal near Tarporley, day boaters can cruise south for six miles to Nantwich and back. The journey travels across the impressive Grade II* listed Nantwich Aqueduct, with panoramic views across the town, and passes the canalside Olde Barbridge Inn. The journey to Nantwich takes around 2.5 hours and there are no locks.
*Day boat ‘Bella’ can carry up to 10 people. Prices start at £99.
Boat along the Kennet & Avon Canal to Avoncliff Aqueduct (Wiltshire)
From Hilperton Marina, near Trowbridge, day boaters can cruise west through the Bath Valley to Avoncliff and back, passing through the medieval market town of Bradford on Avon. There’s just one lock to pass through at Bradford on Avon, before reaching the impressive Bath stone Avoncliff Aqueduct. Here boaters can moor up visit The Cross Guns pub or the No.10 canalside cafe. The journey to Avoncliff and back takes around six hours.
*Electric day boat ‘Seize the Day’ can carry up to 10 people. Weekend and bank holiday day boat hire is £219.
Cruise through the countryside to Atherstone (Warwickshire)
On a day out from Springwood Haven Marina on the Coventry Canal near Nuneaton, boaters can cruise through the Warwickshire countryside to the historic market town of Atherstone and back. The route passes the canalside Anchor Inn and return journey takes around three hours.
*Electric day boat ‘Sunny Day’ can accommodate up to 10 people. Weekend and bank holiday day boat hire is £199.
Navigate to the Fenn’s, Whixall & Bettisford Mosses National Nature Reserve (Shropshire)
From Whitchurch Marina, on the Llangollen Canal, day boaters can cruise through the Shropshire countryside to the Fenn’s, Whixall and Bettisford Mosses National Nature Reserve and back. The return journey takes around six hours. There are three lift bridges along the route. Whixall Mosses Nature Reserve is the perfect spot for a walk and a picnic.
*Electric day boat ‘Perfect Day’ can accommodate up to 10 people. Weekend and bank holiday day boat hire is £219.
For more information about Drifters’ day boat hire go to Day Boats. Canal boat day hire. Rent a boat for a day (drifters.co.uk)
For more information about visiting the canals go to www.canalrivertrust.org.uk
Images supplied.
