Drifters reveal Top 8 canal boat holidays for 2024

From rural retreats to vibrant city centres, narrowboat holiday-makers can explore Britain’s peaceful 3,000-mile network of inland waterways, with the choice of hundreds of waterside destinations and historic canalside pubs to visit along the way. 

Drifters Waterway Holidays (drifters.co.uk) offers over 550 boats for hire from 45 locations across England, Scotland and Wales.  2025 hire prices start at £630 for a short break (three or four nights) on a boat for four, £875 for a week.  Tuition is included in all Drifters’ holiday packages. 

Drifters’ Top 8 canal boat holidays for 2024:

(1)    Cruise to Castlefield Basin in Manchester and visit the Hard Rock Cafe

On a four night break from Drifters’ narrowboat boat hire base at Acton Bridge near Northwich in Cheshire, boaters can cruise to Manchester and back, enjoying time in the countryside as well as the city.  The return route travels 54 miles, two locks (one each way) and takes around 18 hours.  The route travels along a section of the Trent & Mersey Canal and through the Preston Brook Tunnel.  Boaters then join the lock-free Bridgewater Canal, cruising through the Cheshire countryside and the historic village of Lymm.  Then it’s on through Stockton Heath and Sale, past the Manchester United football ground, Salford Quays and the Old Trafford Cricket Ground. In Manchester, boaters can moor up at Castlefield Basin, within easy reach of city centre attractions, including the Hard Rock Cafe.

***The 58ft ‘Duchess 4’ narrowboat for up to four people is currently available for a midweek break from Acton Bridge 6-10 May 2025 for £935, saving £164.  Price includes boat hire, gas, car parking, tuition on arrival, damage waiver, buoyancy aids, bed linen and towels.  Fuel is charged on return, circa £10-15 per day. 

(2)    Navigate to the UNESCO World Heritage City of Bath

On a weekend break from Drifters’ base at Hilperton near Trowbridge in Wiltshire, boaters can travel along the Kennet & Avon Canal to Sydney Wharf, on the edge of Bath City Centre.  On the way, the route passes through the medieval town of Bradford on Avon, with a choice of independent shops and restaurants. The canal crosses the magnificent Bath stone aqueducts at Avoncliff and Dundas with spectacular views of the Bath Valley.  Once at Sydney Wharf, boaters can moor up and take a 15-minute walk into Bath City Centre.  The journey to Sydney Wharf and back travels 24 miles, passes through two locks (one each way) and takes around eight hours. 

**The 47ft ‘African Swift’ narrowboat for up to four people is currently available for a three-night weekend break from Hilperton 18-21 July 2025 for £1,040, saving £259.  Price includes a non-refundable damage waiver, bed linen, towels, car parking, two pets, buoyancy aids and tuition.  A fuel deposit of £110 for a week is payable with the balance of hire. Fuel costs are approx. £15 per day.

(3)    Travel through the Scottish Lowlands to Edinburgh

On a four-night break from Drifters’ canal boat hire base at Falkirk, canal boat holiday-makers can cruise along the Union Canal to Edinburgh and back.  The trip starts with a passage through the Falkirk Wheel, the world’s first rotating boat lift.  Pubs to visit along the way include The Bridge Inn at Linlithgow and The Bridge Inn at Ratho.  Visitor moorings are available at Edinburgh Quay, just a five-minute walk from Princes Street.  The journey to Edinburgh Quay and back travels 64 miles, passes through six locks (three each way) and takes around 22 hours.

***The 52ft Princess narrowboat for up to six people is available for a four-night mid-week break 17-20 September 2025 for £1,445, saving £254.  Price includes boat hire, damage waiver, gas, car parking, tuition, buoyancy aids, bed linen and towels. Diesel is extra, charged based on use on return, circa £15 per day. An additional licence is required to cruise from Falkirk, priced at £15 for three days, or £25 for longer.

(4)    Cruise through the Aire Valley and up onto the Pennines

On a week’s holiday from Drifters base at Silsden in West Yorkshire, boaters can cruise along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal to Barnoldswick and back. The route takes boaters along the valley of the River Aire and through the villages of Kildwick, Bradley and Snaygill. At Skipton, boaters can moor up to explore the town’s medieval castle and great choice of places to eat. Three miles on through the hills, the route reaches Gargrave on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Further along at Bank Newton there seven locks that take boaters up on to the Pennines, then on through East Marton and Greenberfield. At Barnoldswick there’s a choice of places to eat and the Pendle Way to explore.  The journey there and back travels 38 miles, passes through 30 locks (15 each way) and takes around 22 hours.

***The 50ft ‘Gwen’s Drum’ narrowboat for up to five people is currently available for a week’s break from Silsden 14-21 April 2025 for £977, saving £108. Price includes boat hire, gas, car parking, tuition on arrival, buoyancy aids, bed linen towels, damage waiver and up to three pets.  Fuel is extra – a £70 deposit is taken for short breaks (three or four nights), £110 for a week.  Charge based on use, circa £15 per day. 

(5)    Travel round the Droitwich Ring

Starting from the Drifters’ base at Worcester, this circuit can be completed on a four night mid-week break.  The route cruises the Droitwich canals through Droitwich Spa and sections of the River Severn and Worcester & Birmingham Canal.  Route highlights include: Vines Park in Droitwich; the ancient village of Salwarpe; Diglis Junction; and views of Worcester Cathedral.  The journey travels 21 miles, passes through 33 locks and takes around 16 hours.

***The 66ft ‘Dunn’s Lark’ narrowboat for up to six people is currently available for a four-night midweek break from Worcester 16-20 June 2025 for £1,445, saving £254.  Price includes a non-refundable damage waiver, bed linen, towels, car parking, two pets, buoyancy aids and tuition.  A fuel deposit of £110 for a week is payable with the balance of hire. Fuel costs are approx. £15 per day.

(6)    Glide across the UNESCO World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

On a week’s break from Drifters narrowboat hire base at Trevor on the Llangollen Canal in North Wales, boaters can cruise to the historic town of Whitchurch and back. The journey includes crossing the 38 metres high Pontcysyllte Aqueduct to enjoy incredible views of the Rive Dee Valley. Places to eat along the way include: the Pontcysyllte Chapel Tea Room at Trevor; the Bridge Inn at Chirk; the Boathouse at Ellesmere; and the Black Bear at Whitchurch.  The journey to Whitchurch and back travels 52 miles, passes through four locks (two each way) and takes around 25 hours. 

***The 67ft ‘Blore’ narrowboat for up to six people is currently available for a week’s break from Trevor 9-16 May 2025 for £1,431, saving £159. Price includes boat hire, gas, car parking, tuition on arrival, buoyancy aids, bed linen towels and up to three pets.  Diesel is extra – a £70 deposit is taken for short breaks (three or four nights), £110 for a week.  Charge based on use, circa £15 per day. 

(7)    Boat through the Staffordshire and Shropshire countryside to Market Drayton

On a week’s break from Drifters’ narrowboat hire base at Autherley, canal boat holiday-makers can cruise along the Shropshire Union Canal to the historic town of Market Drayton, home of the gingerbread man.  The route takes boaters through the countryside and a series of deep cuttings where time seems to stands still. Pubs to visit along the way include: the Bridge Inn at Brewood; the Hartley Arms at Wheaton Ashton; and the Junction Inn at Norbury.  The journey to Market Drayton and back travels 53 miles, passes through 14 locks (seven each way) and takes around 24 hours.

***The 60ft ‘Grace’ narrowboat for up to six people is available for a week 13-20 June 2025 for £2,159.  Price includes VAT, cancellation protection, gas, diesel, bed linen, car parking, life jackets and boat inventory. Pets are extra, charged at £35 each.

(8)    Float through the Brecon Beacons to Llangynidr  

On a weekend break from Drifters’ base at Goytre near Abergavenny, boaters can cruise along the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal to Llangynidr, enjoying spectacular views of the River Usk Valley and Brecon Beacons National Park.  Pubs to visit along the way include: the Bridgend Inn at Govilon; the Bluebell Country Inn at Crickhowell; and the Horseshoe Inn at Llangattock.  The journey to Llangynidr and back travels 32 miles and takes around 13 hours.  There are no locks along this route.

***The 56ft ‘Red Sea Swallow’ narrowboat for up to four people is currently available for a three-night weekend break 8-11 August 2025 for £1,440, saving £359.  Price includes a non-refundable damage waiver, bed linen, towels, car parking, two pets, buoyancy aids and tuition.  A fuel deposit of £110 for a week is payable with the balance of hire. Fuel costs are approx. £15 per day.

For more information about Drifters boating holidays call 0344 984 0322 or visit www.drifters.co.uk. 

For information about visiting the canal network go to www.canalrivertrust.org.uk