Week on the canal, pretty and minimal lockage....

[Turn7]

Thinking about booking a week on the vut later this summer if possible...

Only the 2 of us and have driven a Barge before - did the Warick ring with some mates....

Fancy just put putting along and watching the scenery as going abroad isnt going to happen....

Question is, where ?

We are based in Herts, so nothing to far North please.

Kennet & Avon ?

[lost in espace]

I did the Llangollen canal last year, only 3 locks. Took 3 hours to get there from Herts. It is pretty unique and pretty!

Narrow canal as you got near to Llangollen was a pain though.

[chrisgtx]

I live next to the Llangollen canal so I’m biased, it is beautiful but very busy in the high season. Make sure you pop down to my local (if it’s open by then) The Bridge inn at Chirk Bank. Just below the canal at monks bridge the decking has lovely views of the aqueduct and viaduct, and the Aquaduct inn in froncystlle does great food n beer.

[sunbeam alpine]

I saw the thread title and thought "as long as they don't suggest the Kennet and Avon"...

[miniman]

chrisgtx said:

I live next to the Llangollen canal so I’m biased, it is beautiful but very busy in the high season. Make sure you pop down to my local (if it’s open by then) The Bridge inn at Chirk Bank. Just below the canal at monks bridge the decking has lovely views of the aqueduct and viaduct, and the Aquaduct inn in froncystlle does great food n beer.

Will be there in about 5 weeks

[pequod]

Why not try the upper reaches of the Thames? No locks to manhandle (lock-keepers) and a few pubs along the way that are (or used to be?) a delight to overnight alongside.

https://www.waterwaysholidays.com/river-thames.htm

Edited by pequod on Tuesday 23 June 19:59

[Simpo Two]

I'd like to do the K&A but it has a lot of locks, so you might like to bear that in mind when choosing. Another in reach is the Oxford, very pretty but busy. Indeed as narrowboats become more fashionable canals are getting more full. The Grand Union goes through Watford and has the 'Watford flight'.

'Rings' are a popular choice for hire boats but I'm happy doing one route out and back because it looks quite different in the other direction.

You could consider doing one of the 'Wonders of the canal world' but without googling I'm not sure if any are within your range.

Canals fall into two categories, wide and narrow. If you want a barge (up to 14' beam) you'll need to head for a wide canal. They'll offer much better accommodation than a narrowboat but (I haven't tried one) they may be more of a pig to handle.

[miniman]

chrisgtx said:

I live next to the Llangollen canal so I’m biased, it is beautiful but very busy in the high season. Make sure you pop down to my local (if it’s open by then) The Bridge inn at Chirk Bank. Just below the canal at monks bridge the decking has lovely views of the aqueduct and viaduct, and the Aquaduct inn in froncystlle does great food n beer.

This was taken from your local in 2007

[Turn7]

sunbeam alpine said:

I saw the thread title and thought "as long as they don't suggest the Kennet and Avon"...

Why ?

[pequod]

Simpo Two said:

I'd like to do the K&A but it has a lot of locks, so you might like to bear that in mind when choosing. Another in reach is the Oxford, very pretty but busy. Indeed as narrowboats become more fashionable canals are getting more full. The Grand Union goes through Watford and has the 'Watford flight'.

'Rings' are a popular choice for hire boats but I'm happy doing one route out and back because it looks quite different in the other direction.

You could consider doing one of the 'Wonders of the canal world' but without googling I'm not sure if any are within your range.

Canals fall into two categories, wide and narrow. If you want a barge (up to 14' beam) you'll need to head for a wide canal. They'll offer much better accommodation than a narrowboat but (I haven't tried one) they may be more of a pig to handle.

Hired one of these widebeams from Moonboats a couple of years ago for a family week on the canal and we pottered across the top section of the K&A to the top lock before Crofton Steam Engine heritage museum. Although the bowthruster was out of action I didn't find a problem with handling the wb, and the ladies enjoyed the jacuzzi!!!

https://www.moonboats.co.uk/

[chrisgtx]

miniman said:

This was taken from your local in 2007

I've spent many a happy hour inside and outside of that place. It's a real old 'local' with a friendly local clientele. Don't expect haute cuisine or gold service, but he keeps the beer tidy

[sunbeam alpine]

Turn7 said:

sunbeam alpine said:

I saw the thread title and thought "as long as they don't suggest the Kennet and Avon"...

Why ?

Simpo Two said:

I'd like to do the K&A but it has a lot of locks...

I have a place down in Wiltshire and many years ago I had a mate who hired out narrowboats on the Kennet & Avon. This was back in the day when I could do a reasonable impression of Rowley Birkin...

...but I remember the locks!

[miniman]

Bath end of the K&A is lovely. Through Sydney Gardens in the City, Dundas and Avoncliff aqueducts, into Bradford on Avon, Semington, Seend, and then it gets a bit tougher

[Turn7]

miniman said:

Bath end of the K&A is lovely. Through Sydney Gardens in the City, Dundas and Avoncliff aqueducts, into Bradford on Avon, Semington, Seend, and then it gets a bit tougher

Oof! That makes Foxton flight look easy lol

[Simpo Two]

pequod said:

Hired one of these widebeams from Moonboats a couple of years ago for a family week on the canal and we pottered across the top section of the K&A to the top lock before Crofton Steam Engine heritage museum. Although the bowthruster was out of action I didn't find a problem with handling the wb, and the ladies enjoyed the jacuzzi!!!

Jacuzzi, bloody hell so much for getting back to basics - try filling that with a hose! 10' seems like a good compromise.

sunbeam alpine said:

This was back in the day when I could do a reasonable impression of Rowley Birkin...

Been there too! Were you by any chance vey vey drunk?

Turn7 said:

Oof! That makes Foxton flight look easy lol

Meh, just hover in front of the top lock, then open all the gates and shout 'Banzai!'

[Saleen836]

Turn7 said:

miniman said:

Bath end of the K&A is lovely. Through Sydney Gardens in the City, Dundas and Avoncliff aqueducts, into Bradford on Avon, Semington, Seend, and then it gets a bit tougher

Oof! That makes Foxton flight look easy lol

If it is busy you can waste a whole day going up or down that flight!

[bigmowley]

Saleen836 said:

Turn7 said:

miniman said:

Bath end of the K&A is lovely. Through Sydney Gardens in the City, Dundas and Avoncliff aqueducts, into Bradford on Avon, Semington, Seend, and then it gets a bit tougher

Oof! That makes Foxton flight look easy lol

If it is busy you can waste a whole day going up or down that flight!

Me and Mrs Bigmowley did a week on the K&A a few years ago. It was the closest we have come to divorce in 30 years of marriage. Lock after frigging lock after frigging lock. Mrs Bigmowley went berserk after the 30th lock of the holiday and fked off on foot Took a good few bottles of wine to calm her down again. Roundabout Hungerford if I remember correctly.

[ocd]

Basingstoke canal is easy and v pretty. Nice pubs and some interesting stuff to see along the way like Farnborough.

[sherman]

We did the 4 counties ring as a family in my early teenage life. Its a full 2 weeks sailing iirc. Seems to have about 70 locks including a couple of decent flights and a big tunnel.

[ukaskew]

miniman said:

Bath end of the K&A is lovely. Through Sydney Gardens in the City, Dundas and Avoncliff aqueducts, into Bradford on Avon, Semington, Seend, and then it gets a bit tougher

Yep a mini break from Foxhangers (at the bottom of Caen Hill) up to Bath and back would be fine, only a few locks to navigate.

I live near the canal just south of Bradford-on-Avon, the stretch from there to Bath is incredibly busy in the summer and I can only imagine this year is going to significantly worse, as it's one of the few obvious 'isolated' breaks you could take, so everyone is going to have the same idea.