Cruise No. 1: Warwick to Oxford. 23rd April to 30th April. (7 nights).
64 miles, 64 locks, 1 aqueduct. Nearest railway station: Warwick

This cruise is always one of our favourites, and is on the lovely rural Oxford canal. After leaving Warwick, famous for its castle, we descend the Cape of Good Hope locks, then pass over the River Avon and through Royal Leamington Spa. Our passage is leisurely as we cross under ancient roads at Welsh Lane and Fosse Way locks. After a pleasant rural stretch with few locks, we ascend the flight at Stockton and then tackle Calcutt locks. Here we leave the Grand Union canal and join the much older Oxford canal. Passing Napton windmill on its hill, we ascend the pretty locks to the summit level of the canal. James Brindley cleverly followed the contours of the land rather than built additional locks, so the summit level of the canal wanders back and forth like a drunken cyclist for miles as it passes Fenny Compton and eventually arrives at Claydon.We descend a flight of locks at Claydon, where there is a traditional canal painter at the top lock, and a wonderful museum of bygones in the nearby village.Cropredy village is a real treat with its sleepy churchyard, before we reach the well-known market town of Banbury. This is much changed of late, but still has a few gems worth discovering.Out into open countryside again, we pass under the M40 motorway and descend a few more quiet locks with Kings Sutton church spire visible as a backdrop.At Aynho Weir lock we briefly cross the River Cherwell via an unusual diamond-shaped lock, then follow the peaceful river valley for several miles.Somerton has the deepest narrow lock in the country, after which only isolated locks punctuate the rural idyll of the sleepy river valley.At Bakers lock we join the River Cherwell for one of the finest stretches of waterway in the country, then at Shipton Weir lock, we re-join the canal. Shipton on Cherwell church overlooking the canal, and if time permits, the nearby abandoned village of Hampton Gay is worth a visit. On our approach to Oxford, we very appropriately take the little-used 'Dukes Cut' to gain access to the River Thames and after passing some lovely water meadows, we enter Oxford silently and majestically.

A firm favourite, on one of Britain's earliest canals: some parts of it seem to be still in the past.

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Cruise No. 2.  Oxford to Oxford. 30th April to 7th May. (7 nights).
60 miles, 22 locks. Nearest railway station: Oxford

This is a wonderful peaceful cruise, which always proves very popular with guests. The Upper reaches of the River Thames never fail to delight us as we sedately cruise their tranquil waters. Leaving Oxford amongst pretty water meadows, we pass the ruined Abbey and the famous Trout Inn at Godstow. Then the river really starts to meander through glorious open countryside past Swinford and Bablock Hythe. At this time of year, this is really the epitome of rural English life from generations past, with spring flowers and blossom in cottage gardens, and afternoon tea in the sun. Newbridge is not new, and in fact everything here really does seem to belong to another age. We pass under Tadpole bridge, then negotiate the narrow stone bridge at Radcot. At Kelmscot, we may have time to visit the manor house, once home to William Morris. At Buscot, the river winds about so much that it is almost impossible to see where it will go to next. However, we soon arrive at St Johns lock, with a statue of Old Father Thames reclining on the lock side, and see ahead of us the tall spire of Lechlade church. Above the charming Cotswold town of Lechlade we turn the boats, as this is the milt of navigation, maybe with a chance to see the entrance to the Thames & Severn canal at Inglesham, before retracing our route to Oxford.

An unbeatable cruise for relaxation and the sheer joy of living.
 

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Cruise No. 3. Oxford to Newbury. 7th May to 14th May. (7 nights).
58 miles, 35 locks. Nearest railway station: Oxford

We leave Oxford in grand style past the colleges, where we get uninterrupted views of many fine old buildings. We soon enter unspoilt countryside and after some very pleasant quiet cruising we will pause in the lovely little town of Abingdon. We then head downstream, passing the new entrance to the Wilts & Berks canal before descending some very pleasant locks (each of which will have lovely floral displays) and cruising through the villages of Shillingford, Wallingford and Moulsford. We next arrive in Goring, set in a deep wooded valley on one of the most spectacular reaches of the river. The river itself is much wider here, and there are some wonderful riverside mansions to be glimpsed on the banks and through the trees before we arrive in Caversham. We turn off the river onto the Kennet & Avon canal and pass briefly through Reading. This part of the canal is however really the River Kennet, so it is soon more winding and lush than the average canal. We journey past water meadows to the isolated locks and pass Theale and Sulhamstead. At Aldermaston, we can enjoy disrupting the traffic as we raise the huge lift bridge to pass under it. The lock here is of a very pleasing ornate design. Next we arrive at Woolhampton, where the skipper has to demonstrate some considerable navigational skills. Old Monkey Marsh lock has been preserved in its original turf-sided style, giving us a flavour of this canal's past. Passing Thatcham, we navigate the final few locks to arrive at the fine market town of Newbury.

A wonderful with wonderful contrasts between the Rivers Thames and Kennet.

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Cruise No. 4. Newbury to Bath. 14th May to 21st May. (7 nights).
57 miles, 79 locks, 1 tunnel, 3 aqueducts. Nearest railway station: Newbury

This cruise is always a favourite with our guests, and is on the scenic Kennet & Avon canal. From the market town of Newbury, we head past water meadows to Hungerford, the home of some fascinating antique shops. We then pass the Bedwyns before arriving at Crofton. As we climb the locks toward the summit of the canal, we pass the steam pumping engines that supplied the canal with water in times past. From the top lock, we head off across the summit, passing through the short Savernake tunnel. We emerge by the old wharf crane at Burbage before descending the lovely peaceful flight of locks to the really delightful village of Wootton Rivers. From here a long lock-free pound takes us past Pewsey wharf, then through the wooded Stowell Park with its elegant suspension bridge, the 'wide water' and the elegant Ladies' Bridge. We meander through unspoilt countryside, past such delightful places as Honey Street to arrive in Devizes with its theatre by the canal. From Devizes we descend the unforgettable series of locks known as the Caen Hill flight. We pass Seend Cleeve and Semington before arriving at Bradford on Avon. This is a small but very lovely town and its delights are to be savoured, including the huge tithe barn. From here we descend along the side of the Avon valley, crossing it on not one but two magnificent stone aqueducts, at Avoncliff and then Dundas. We glide through Bathampton, and soon the city of Bath itself comes into sight, its sweeping crescents of honey coloured stone glowing in the afternoon sun. We enter Bath through Sydney Gardens, with marvellous views of the glowing stone houses of this fine city.

There are just too many special moments on this cruise to list them all. A must for every canal fan.

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Cruise No. 5. Bath to Newbury. 21st May to 28th May. (7 nights).
57 miles, 79 locks, 1 tunnel, 3 aqueducts. Nearest railway station: Bath Spa

This cruise is the reverse of cruise 4, but is just as exciting and can be highly recommended.

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Cruise No. 6. Newbury to Godalming. 28th May to 4th June. (7 nights).
85 miles, 59 locks. Nearest railway station: Newbury

This is an exiting cruise on the rivers Kennet, Thames and Wey.Leaving the market town of Newbury, we travel on the Kennet Navigation. This has many interesting original features, including an old turf-sided lock and several swing bridges. We pass Woolhampton before arriving at Aldermaston, where we pass under a large lifting bridge while the traffic on the road waits for us. After a quick jaunt through Reading, we join the River Thames and are back out into open countryside. We pass sleepy Sonning to arrive in Henley, which is home to the River and Rowing Museum, and is a lovely place to meander around. Cruising on downstream past Marlow, we reach Windsor with its great castle on the hill above us. At Weybridge we join the River Wey, which is quiet, narrow and meandering in contrast to the grand Thames we leave behind. We wend our way amongst water meadows in unspoilt countryside amid some charming scenery. The River Wey is in the care of the National Trust, which seems entirely appropriate for this charming waterway. Each lock has its own character, and you would never know you were so close to suburbia. We pass though Guildford, with its modern cathedral on the hill, then back into unspoilt countryside again as we head for Godalming.

Three very different rivers, and a chance to visit to the lovely River Wey with us.

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Cruise No. 7. Godalming to Windsor. 4th June to 11th June. (7 nights).
70 miles, 36 locks. Nearest railway station: Godalming

This cruise starts on the delightful River Wey, which is in the care of the National Trust, and is a simply lovely stretch of water from start to finish. The river meanders back and forth amongst water meadows, with plenty of wildlife and some pretty locks. Papercourt lock is surely one of the most picturesque on the system. At Newark, there is an atmospheric ruined priory is in sight of the lock. Despite being in suburbia, we are on our own tranquil rural world as we meander on past Pyrford. Coxes Mill lock is picturesque, and is followed by a cruise past grand houses to descend the double lock at Weybridge onto the River Thames. We cruise upstream on the mighty Thames passing Penton Hook and Runnymede, before cruising past the Royal Home Park on the approach to Windsor, where we moor in sight of the famous castle. Travelling on upstream we pass Maidenhead, the lovely wooded Cliveden Reach to Cookham, then Marlow and Hambledon before arriving in Henley, home of the River and Rowing Museum, and with some delightful shops to visit. We then re-trace our route back down stream as far as Windsor, admiring the many fine riverside mansions as we glide sedately past.

A welcome return to the wonderful River Wey and some of the grander stretches of the Thames.

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Cruise No. 8. Windsor to Little Venice. 11th June to 18th June. (7 nights).
86 miles, 36 locks, 1 aqueduct. Nearest railway station: Windsor & Eton.

We spend most of this cruise on the grand wide stretches of the River Thames, before making our way into the heart of London.
From our mooring, overlooked by the famous royal castle, we head upstream. We pass Maidenhead, the lovely wooded Cliveden Reach to Cookham, then Marlow and Hambledon before arriving in Henley. Here we can soak up the atmosphere of archetypal English town, home of the River and Rowing Museum and with some interesting little shops. We then re-trace our route down this grand stretch of river as far as Windsor. We leave Windsor past the Royal Home Park, then pass Runnymede where the story of our human rights began! We pass Chertsey and Shepperton before arriving at King Henry's Hampton Court Palace with its extensive grounds and famous maze. We negotiate the massive Teddington lock, then pass Twickenham, Richmond and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew before locking into the Grand Union canal at Brentford. After ascending several locks at Hanwell, we turn right and head for London. This must be the best way to appreciate the outskirts of London - so much more civilised seen this way than by road. Cruising through the suburbs we arrive at the peaceful haven of Little Venice, just a short distance from Paddington.

Some grand river scenery on the most dramatic section of the Royal Thames

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Cruise No. 9. Little Venice to Berkhamsted. 18th June to 25th June. (7 nights).
58 miles, 62 locks, 2 tunnels. Nearest railway station: London Paddington

This cruise will mark new waters for us, as we plan to cruise the exciting Thames Tideway through the heart of London. From Little Venice, we first skirt London Zoo in Regents Park, with close-up views of the aviary. Then we travel past Camden Market and the London Canal Museum to Limehouse basin. Weather conditions permitting, we then lock out onto the Thames tideway and cruise under the splendid Tower bridge, past the Tower of London and the Houses of Parliament. This very exciting passage is marked with almost too many sights to see, passing under many very fine bridges. We then lock up from the Thames onto the Grand Union canal at Brentford. The canal climbs past Hanwell to Uxbridge, then we start our ascent of the valley of the River Colne past the lake at Widewater, the curiously-named but pretty Black Jack's lock and Rickmansworth, where there is a quaint little canal museum. Another treat is in store for us as we cruise through the landscaped Cassiobury Park. Here we pass under ornate bridges, and are likely to find kingfishers waiting for us. Continuing up the pretty river valley past Apsley, we arrive at Berkhamsted with its fine Norman castle.

The finest and most exciting way to travel through London, without a doubt.

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Cruise No. 10. Berkhamsted to Northampton. 25th June to 2nd July. (7 nights).
53 miles, 57 locks, 1 tunnel, 1 aqueduct. Nearest railway station: Berkhamsted.

We leave Berkhamsted past the intriguing totem pole and climb to quickly reach Cowroast, the end of the canal's long climb from London. We now cut through the summit of the Chiltern Hills by way of a lovely long tree-lined cutting to arrive at Bulbourne. The canal workshops here are very elegant, although now largely disused. We descend the winding flight of locks to Marsworth village, passing several huge reservoirs that supply water to the canal ahead of us. There are too many water birds to be spotted here. From Marsworth, we head off across open countryside to Leighton Buzzard. The canal twists and turns by way of occasional locks to Stoke Hammond's famous Three Locks. At Fenny Stratford, the canal descends a few inches only, and joins a long lock-free stretch to explore the nicer side of Milton Keynes. The highlights are the old villages of Simpson and Great Linford. After passing the railway workshops at Wolverton, the canal soars over the River Great Ouse on an iron aqueduct before ascending Cosgrove lock. Cosgrove is a pretty village, with an ornate stone bridge at its northern end. We continue with barely a house in sight to the foot of Stoke Bruerne locks. Above the top lock, we reach the famous Canal Museum, which is well worth a visit. This is followed by the lengthy Blisworth tunnel, which over 200 years old. At Gayton junction, we turn off the main line of the canal and start to descend the flight on 17 pretty Rothersthorpe locks to the county town of Northampton.

The Grand Union canal reveals some of it surprising secrets.

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Cruise No. 11. Northampton to Peterborough. 2nd July to 9th July. (7 nights).
61 miles, 37 locks. Nearest railway station: Northampton.

This will be a very leisurely cruise down the delightful River Nene, giving us a chance to explore some wonderful secret locations.
We leave Northampton quietly and are soon in open countryside. The river runs past Billing, Cogenhoe and Earls Barton to Wellingborough. Here the valley flattens out and the river twists and turns between low rolling hills. The villages now approach the river more closely, and there are some fine opportunities to explore the mellow stone houses and graceful old churches. At Islip, we have to remember to change our pronunciation of the river name from 'Neen' to 'Nen'. At Ashton there is a unique dragonfly museum - it is also the location of the world conker championships. Fotheringhay church makes a fine sight as we approach, and we may sample its acoustics. There are a few traces of the castle here, where Mary Queen of Scots spent her last years, but the Scottish thistles abound to remind us of her presence. The villages along this section of the river include such gems as Elton and Water Newton. At Wansford, we may get a close-up view of a steam train on the Nene Valley Railway as it crosses the river. We approach Peterborough through the imposing Ferry Meadows water park, and moor on the fine riverside walk, quite close the magnificent cathedral.

A slow trip through wonderful peaceful countryside, with many hidden gems along the way.

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Cruise No .12. Peterborough to Braunston. 9th July to 16th July. (7 nights).
83 miles, 67 locks, 1 tunnel. Nearest railway station: Peterborough.

We leave the cathedral city of Peterborough to head upstream on the pretty River Nene. We are almost at once in open countryside as we negotiate the Ferry Meadows water park. At Wansford, the preserved Nene Valley railway crosses the river, which now starts to wind gently between low rolling hills. There are tiny unspoilt villages dotted along the banks at regular intervals. At Fotheringhay, we pause to admire the imposing church and ruined castle. At Ashton me may visit the dragonfly museum or visit the charming village. Oundle is a handsome stone-built market town. The river continues to wind between the low hills, but the villages are now a little more distant as we pass Irthlingborough and Wellingborough. We are soon amongst the wide flood meadows. We pass Earls Barton and Cogenhoe before arriving at the county town of Northampton. Here, after some exploration, we leave the river and join the narrow arm of the Grand Union canal. The canal winds its way out of the town and starts to climb the delightful and winding flight of locks to join the main line of the canal at Gayton. We make our way past Bugbrooke and Weedon to the lovely Brockhall Park, before tackling the locks at Whilton and Long Buckby. A short summit pound with grand views across the Northamptonshire countryside takes us to the entrance to Braunston tunnel - the one with the kink in the middle! We descend the flight of locks to the sleepy canal village of Braunston.

A lovely, peaceful cruise on the River Nene, with locks and a tunnel to follow.

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Cruise No. 13. Braunston to Burton upon Trent. 16th July to 23rd July. (7 nights).
93 miles, 73 locks, 4 tunnels, 1 aqueduct. Nearest railway station: Rugby.

Some new waters for us here, using the Leicester Line and the River Soar.
Leaving Braunston, we climb the winding flight of locks to enter the imposing tunnel. At Norton Junction, we turn left towards Leicester and are soon ascending the staircase locks at Watford. Once on the summit here, the canal meanders through lush pastureland with barely a sign of civilisation. We pass the Welford arm, then after passing through Husbands Bosworth tunnel, we come to the top of Foxton locks. These are a unique set of staircase locks, with grand views over the Leicester plain ahead. The old inclined plane here is under restoration and is worth a visit. Setting off towards Leicester, the hills close in and we pass through Saddington tunnel. This is remote countryside with scattered locks as we gradually descend toward Leicester. After leaving the city, we join the River Soar and head back into open countryside, past Mountsorrel and Barrow-on-Soar to Loughborough. Again we enter lush open countryside as we approach the River Trent. Once we reach the mighty river, we turn upstream and onto the Trent & Mersey canal. The first port of call is Shardlow, an interesting canal village. The canal then runs past the entrance to the old Derby canal at Swarkestone. After the deep lock at Stenson, we pass the pleasant village of Willington. We cross the River Dove on a fine stone aqueduct before entering the outskirts of Burton upon Trent, famous as a brewing town.

An interesting mixture of rural and urban scenery, with the pleasant River Soar as a highlight.

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Cruise No. 14. Burton upon Trent to Stoke on Trent. 23rd July to 30th July. (7 nights).
77 miles, 51 locks, 1 aqueduct. Nearest railway station: Burton-on-Trent.

This cruise starts on James Brindley's Trent & Mersey canal, and features the ever-popular Caldon canal.Leaving Burton behind, we first encounter the charming little village of Alrewas before arriving at Fradley. After passing the famous Swan Inn and ascending a few locks, we enter another lovely wooded stretch of canal to Wood End. There are further signs of industry past and present as we pass Rugeley before sailing over the River Trent on a minor aqueduct. A pleasant stretch takes us to Great Haywood, then occasional isolated locks bring us to the little canal town of Stone. The pretty flight of locks at Meaford takes us out into open countryside again, passing the Wedgwood Visitor Centre before ascending the Stoke locks to Etruria. Here we turn onto the Caldon canal - one of the gems of the waterway system, which just keeps getting better as we cruise onwards. We soon leave the built up areas and a short flight of locks at Stockton Brook puts us on the summit of the canal. We then descend the lovely little flight of locks at Hazelhurst (watching for signs of the two previous routes of the canal here) to Denford, under a fine stone aqueduct. At Cheddleton, we can glimpse James Brindley's flint mill, powered by water and still working. Just when you think this can't get any better, we descend onto the River Churnet - another simply wonderful stretch of waterway set amongst pretty woods and meadows. Passing the isolated Consall Forge, we may catch a glimpse of a steam train passing overhead. We then retrace our route to Stoke - back to the real world, but refreshed by our trip into such a magical alternative.

A wonderful and lovely rural cruise, mixed with plenty of industrial heritage.

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Cruise No. 15. Stoke-on-Trent to Chester. 30th July to 6th August (7 nights).
66 miles, 67 locks, 1 tunnel, 1 aqueduct. Nearest railway station: Stoke on Trent

Leaving Stoke on Trent, we swing onto the lovely Caldon canal. This is a wonderful canal, which just keeps getting better as we cruise onwards. We soon leave the built up areas behind and the short flight of locks at Stockton Brook takes us onto the summit of the canal. We wind our way past Endon to Hazelhurst Junction where we take the Leek arm of the canal. This is surely one of the most glorious stretches of rural canal, which twists and turns through lovely woods filled with spring flowers, with heady views over open countryside. Even the little tunnel at the end of the arm is picturesque. Returning down the arm, we pass over an aqueduct and then retrace our route to Stoke. Joining the Trent & Mersey canal, we head through what was once the heart of the Potteries to the unforgettable tunnel at Kidsgrove. Under an aqueduct we start the long descent of Heartbreak Hill. Plenty of locks in quick succession as we journey past Church Lawton, Rode Heath and Wheelock to arrive at the salt town of Middlewich. Here we turn onto the shortest canal - the Wardle canal, which becomes part of the Shropshire Union after the first lock! We wander through lush deserted countryside to Barbridge, where we join the Shropshire Union proper. At Bunbury we use the staircase locks - always a source of some excitement, then cruise on to reach Beeston Stone Lock. We catch sight of the fine Beeston castle on its crag overlooking the canal, then continue to Christleton and approach the wonderful Roman city of Chester, where we pass around the magnificent city walls to arrive at our destination.

Wonderful scenery, followed by plenty of locks and a Roman city.

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Cruise No. 16. Chester to Manchester. 6th August to 13th August. (7 nights).
57 miles, 8 locks. Nearest railway station: Chester

Some very exciting new waters for us on this cruise. From Chester, we head north for Ellesmere Port, home of a very interesting waterway museum and docks. After watching the ships passing the lighthouse here, we plan to lock out onto the Manchester Ship Canal. This will depend upon special permissions being granted, and also on appropriate weather. We then sail up this massive waterway, spotting some huge coasters on the way, then turn in at Weston to join the River Weaver. This is a quiet river, threading though its wide wooded valley. We pass under the impressive Dutton viaduct to arrive at Dutton locks, then move on to Acton Bridge, Saltersford and pass the industrial area of Anderton. The river meanders on past Northwich, through the impressive wooded valley of Vale Royal to arrive at Winsford with its picturesque flashes. Then we turn back and ascend the famous Anderton boat lift to the Trent & Mersey canal high above. Two short, narrow tunnels at Barton and Saltersford always provide some amusement. We can look down onto the Weaver valley far below us now as the canal winds its way to Dutton with its stop lock. This is one of the spiritual homes of hotel boats. After passing through Preston Brook tunnel, we join the Bridgewater canal. This very early canal is free of locks as we pass the attractive village of Moore. Soon we have views of the Ship Canal below us as we pass through Lymm and into open countryside before Sale introduces us to the outskirts of Manchester. We pass the Manchester United football ground before arriving at our mooring in Castlefield, in the heart of Manchester.

A great mixture of rural and urban waterways, with some exciting new waters.

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Cruise No. 17. Manchester to Liverpool. 13th August to 20th August. (7 nights).
57 miles, 14 locks, 1 tunnel. Nearest railway station: Manchester

A wonderful and unusual route, with the excitement of cruising the new Liverpool Link. We leave Manchester by passing close to the Ship Canal, then turn right at Waters Meeting junction to head over the famous Barton Swing Aqueduct. Worsley is a fascinating place, with the half-timbered Packet House next to the canal. We journey on through Leigh to arrive in Wigan, famous for its museums and of course its Pier. On leaving Wigan we are in open countryside through Parbold, overlooking the valley of the River Douglas to Burscough, junction of the Rufford branch. The canal runs level amongst some fine wooded countryside past Maghull and Aintree where, by standing on the roof of the boats, we can see the Grand National racecourse (by the famous Canal Turn, of course). The canal winds onward as signs of population increase and we moor at the attractive Eldonian village. Next we descend four locks to Stanley Dock and continue on the newly opened Link through several famous docks, including the Princes dock (made famous in the song) and a new tunnel to emerge passing the Pier head, with the fabulous sight of the Three Graces. Passing through Albert Dock, we arrive at the new pontoons in Salthouse Dock. Here we have the Mersey estuary on one side, and the European City of Culture on the other.

An exciting cruise with much of architectural merit and plenty of industrial archaeology.

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Cruise No. 18. Liverpool to Northwich. 20th August to 27th August. (7 nights).
77 miles, 17 locks, 3 tunnels. Nearest railway station: Liverpool

We journey first through the recently opened Liverpool Link, which opens up the historic and world-famous docks of Liverpool for us to cruise. There are many wonderful pieces of industrial archaeology to be seen here. We pause at the Eldonian village on our way out into open countryside past Aintree (of racecourse fame), and Lydiate. The land here is cultivated and a little reminiscent of the Fens. At Burscough, the Rufford arm leads down towards the Lancaster canal, unfortunately inaccessible to us. We skirt Wigan and Leigh, then pause at Worsley, the birthplace of the canals. Passing over the Barton Swing Aqueduct is always a thrill, especially if we should see it swing for a ship passing underneath on the Ship Canal. We join the Bridgewater canal at Waters Meeting Junction and pass through Sale, Bollington and Lymm. We pass under the soaring M6 motorway at Thelwall and past the attractive village of Moore before joining the Trent & Mersey canal at Preston Brook. A short tunnel at Dutton takes us to the ridiculously shallow stop lock. The canal now runs on the valley side high above the River Weaver until we reach Anderton, where we descend the mighty Boat Lift to arrive at our destination on the lovely River Weaver below.

A mixture of old and new, urban and rural, combined with some old favourites.

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Cruise No. 19. Northwich to Llangollen. 27th August to 3rd September. (7 nights).
69 miles, 30 locks, 2 tunnels, 3 aqueducts, 1 boat lift. Nearest railway station: Northwich

We commence this cruise on the lovely River Weaver, where we head downstream to encounter the Anderton Boat Lift. This amazing structure will lift us 50 feet from the river up to the Trent & Mersey canal above. We cruise off on this canal, with views down over the Weaver valley that we have just left. We pass the outskirts of Northwich and the 'flashes' before arriving in Middlewich via the Big Lock. Here we turn onto the shortest canal in the country, the Wardle canal, ascend a lock and are on the Shropshire Union canal. We make our way across open pastureland to Barbridge. Shortly we turn off again onto the Llangollen canal, ascending Hurleston locks beside a reservoir that supplies drinking water to much of Cheshire. If it were not for the fact that the canal brings this water all the way from the River Dee at Llangollen, this canal would have been closed fifty years ago. We are now in totally open countryside as we pass the villages of Wrenbury and Marbury. The lifting bridges, which are unique to this canal, make an interesting diversion for the crew every so often. Soon we approach Grindley Brook locks, always a scene of excitement with the staircase of locks and plenty of boats about. After Whitchurch, we cross the lovely Whixall Moss, reclaimed from marshland to form the course of the canal. This area is a haven for wildlife of all sorts. We may take a diversion down the Prees branch, before the impressive trees and lakes presage the approach to the pretty little town of Ellesmere. We pass Frankton, where we can catch sight of the Montgomery canal before crossing the fine stone aqueduct at Chirk, with its nearby castle. We are now in Wales, and this aqueduct is a build up to the much larger cast iron one of Pontcysyllte, crossing which is certainly a memorable experience. Now we turn up the narrow feeder canal, with magnificent views over the Dee valley as we meander in amongst the trees to Llangollen.

The wonderful Llangollen canal, with a boat lift thrown in.

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Cruise No. 20. Llangollen to Ellesmere. 3rd September to 10th September. (7 nights).
62 miles, 21 locks, 2 tunnels, 2 aqueducts. Nearest railway station: Wrexham

This cruise gives a fine opportunity to sample the delights of Llangollen itself before we make our way slowly down the valley of the River Dee, with fine views on either side. As we look back from Sun Trevor, we can see the ruined Castel Dinas Bran perched on the hillside high above Llangollen. We make a sharp right turn at Trevor and immediately sail off across the fantastic Pontcysyllte aqueduct which carries us 100 feet above the River Dee with awe-inspiring views in both directions. The people below really do look like ants. Next we encounter Chirk tunnel, then the rather more sturdy, but still impressive, aqueduct at Chirk with its close neighbour the railway viaduct. The canal runs through quiet green countryside past St Martins to the isolated locks at New Marton. At Frankton Junction, we turn onto the Montgomery canal and wait our turn to lock down onto this recently restored waterway. After descending the staircase locks, we turn west and negotiate Graham Palmer lock, which commemorates one of the pioneers of canal preservation. Passing Queens Head, we descend the pretty locks at Aston and meander on a tree-lined stretch of canal to the tiny hamlet of Maesbury Marsh. This is as far as we can travel at present - there are further lengths of this fine canal still to be restored at a future date. Back to Frankton Junction, where Colin the friendly lock keeper awaits us. Then we turn onto the Llangollen canal and head for Ellesmere. We travel through peaceful countryside, then through a short tunnel to emerge right beside the waters of Blake Mere, in a sylvan setting and a truly magical place. We cruise across Whixall Moss, a real treat for bird watchers, before arriving at Whitchurch. We then turn the boats and head back to our mooring at the market town of Ellesmere.

A gentle relaxing rural cruise, with some of the finest sights on the canals.

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Cruise No. 21. Ellesmere to Birmingham. 10th September to 17th September. (7 nights).
82 miles, 75 locks, 1 tunnel. Nearest railway station: Gobowen.

From the pleasant little market town of Ellesmere, we travel on through peaceful countryside, through a short tunnel to emerge by Blake Mere, in a sylvan setting and a truly magical place. We cruise across Whixall Moss, a real treat for bird watchers, before passing Whitchurch and arriving at the locks at Grindley Brook. There is always entertainment to be had here at the locks under the watchful eye of the lock keeper. We pass isolated locks such as Willeymoor and Marbury before reaching Wrenbury, a fascinating village. Under various raised lift bridges, and past totally rural scenes, we arrive at Hurleston locks, which we descend to join the Shropshire Union canal.
We soon arrive in Nantwich, a fine old market town with half-timbered buildings and its own aqueduct. At Audlem, the Mill houses a particularly interesting gift shop, well known to hotel boat guests. We then tackle the ascent of a lengthy flight of narrow locks. There is further picturesque flight of locks at Adderley, where we can still see traces of the gardens set out by a former lock keeper many years ago. Passing through Market Drayton, a wooded cutting brings us to Tyrley locks, cut out of the rock as they ascend. We cruise through one of the very deep cuttings so typical of this canal, with tall trees and seemingly even taller bridges carrying roads high above us, to pass Offley, with its tiny and very traditional public house. We next arrive at Norbury Junction, where the Shrewsbury canal once joined on our right. We soar over the great embankment at Shelmore before passing through the peaceful village of Gnosall to enter a short tunnel. Our last lock is in the sleepy hamlet of Wheaton Aston, after which we pass over the Roman Watling Street, now roaring with traffic, on a fine iron aqueduct at Stretton. We enter another deep cutting to arrive in Brewood, then a deep rocky section takes us to Autherley Junction and at Aldersley we turn onto the Birmingham canal system.We ascend twenty-one pleasant locks to a busier world. We cross Birmingham with a few detours, searching out some of the disused loops and arms that show where industry once thrived, all of it served by canal. We pay a visit to the Black Country Museum, with its fine evocation of this region's past (including wonderful fish and chips). We journey on across Birmingham to arrive at the renovated central area, which bustles with life, yet retains the secrecy of the canal's world.

A nice mix of rural and urban canals - each with their own charm and history.

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Cruise No. 22. Birmingham to Stourport. 17th September to 24th September. (7 nights).
36 miles, 48 locks, 1 tunnel. Nearest railway station: Birmingham.

We leave the regenerated and thriving heart of Birmingham and travel on the main line of the Birmingham navigation. This affords many glimpses into the industrial past of the Black Country, when canals were the main thoroughfares of trade. We turn and pass through Netherton tunnel - one of the finest on the system, with towpaths on each side - to reach Windmill End. This was once the junction of several routes, in the days when Birmingham had more miles of canals than Venice. It is a pleasant surprise to find how green tranquil many part of these cans have now become. Turning at Park Head, and following a meandering course, we come to the pretty Delph locks that take us down onto the Stourbridge canal. Another long flight of locks takes us to Stourbridge town, which is full of fascinating industrial archaeology. We then wind our way through open countryside to Stourton and descend a wooded flight of locks onto the Staffordshire and Worcester canal. This is a lovely canal, running secretly in wooded cuttings, with many glimpses of the red sandstone cliffs right beside the canal. A tiny tunnel at Dunsley takes us to a simply gorgeous stretch of canal approaching Kinver village. At Austcliff, the glowing sandstone cliff seems to loom right on top of us, and many of the locks are cut into the rock. We pass Kidderminster with its fine church overlooking the canal, and after more rural cruising, we arrive at the canal town of Stourport, where we can see the work to restore the old canal basin that was once filled in and derelict.

Some great surprises and scenery on this cruise.

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Cruise No. 23. Stourport to Gloucester. 24th September to 1st October. (7 nights).
76 miles, 9 locks. Nearest railway station: Kidderminster.

This cruise begins on the mighty River Severn, but features the grand Ship Canal from Gloucester. Leaving Stourport, we begin our journey down the great Severn valley at the picturesque Lincombe lock. The river then runs through a wide wooded valley past Holt Fleet. We can take a diversionary trip up the recently-restored barge canal into the old town of Droitwich. Back on the Severn, we soon arrive in Worcester where the magnificent cathedral towers over the river. Upton is a pleasant little town with some interesting shops, and a great place to spend some time. At Tewkesbury, the River Avon joins the Severn, but we cruise on under high bridges to the twisty and narrow approaches to Gloucester, where we shall moor in the docks. This is a fascinating place, with a great deal to see and do. Leaving the docks, we shall find ourselves on the Gloucester & Sharpness Ship Canal - heading for Sharpness. At Saul junction we cross the Stroudwater canal, and soon reach the Wildfowl Trust sanctuary at Slimbridge. At Purton, we get a chance to visit the graveyard of old barges on the river bank. Then as we approach Sharpness, we pass the remains of the old Severn railway bridge before entering the dock area. After a little exploring, we then retrace our way to the cathedral city of Gloucester.

All the best bits of the River Severn and a rare chance to sample the Ship Canal.

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Cruise No. 24. Gloucester to Stratford upon Avon. 1st October to 8th October. (7 nights).
57 miles, 18 locks. Nearest railway station: Gloucester.

This cruise will feature a relaxing and relaxed journey on the lovely River Avon. It is hard to beat the River Avon for its sheer beauty, and we shall have plenty of time to appreciate it on this slow cruise upstream. From Gloucester's bustling docks, we journey on the mighty River Severn past Ashleworth with its tithe barn to Tewkesbury, where we lock up onto the River Avon. Tewkesbury is a fine old town with plenty of quaint streets to explore and marvellous Abbey. Our route then takes us up the sinuous valley of the Avon, under the fine old sandstone bridge at Eckington, with views of the imposing Bredon hill overlooking our journey through lush unspoilt countryside. At Pershore we pass under another fine old stone bridge before mooring in this bustling little market town. The indoor market here is quite fascinating to explore. We cruise on slowly past old mills and locks before arriving at Evesham. Here again there is a fine old Abbey overlooking the river. The friendly lock keeper lives in a uniquely-shaped triangular cottage overlooking the lock. The hills close in somewhat now as we make our way up to Bidford on Avon, then the river winds its way past Welford to enter Stratford by the back door. Shakespeare's town is deservedly popular with tourists, but we have our own moorings away from the clamour of the town. We can venture upstream a short way from Stratford before taking up our mooring spot in Bancroft basin.

A wonderfully peaceful cruise on a truly lovely river, with some fine old towns en route.

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Cruise No. 25. Stratford upon Avon to Warwick. 8th October to 15th October. (7 nights).
22 miles, 58 locks, 1tunnel, 3 aqueducts. Nearest railway station: Stratford upon Avon

A delightful short cruise on the Stratford and Grand Union canals, with locks galore and Warwick's magnificent castle at its end. We start out from Stratford by our own secret route, climbing the locks to Wilmcote, site of Mary Arden's house, and a fine little village. We pass over road, railway and river on the cast iron Edstone aqueduct, looking down on people on the towpath. Then through an isolated lock and on to the aqueduct at Wootton Wawen. This is followed by the wooded approach to Preston Bagot, with pretty locks and unusual waterside dwellings. At the sleepy village of Lowsonford, with its barrel-roofed lock keeper's cottage, we pass the Fleur de Lys Inn, once home of the famous pies. The locks now become more frequent as we cross the diminutive Yarningdale aqueduct and approach Kingswood Junction. Here we pass through a narrow opening to join the Grand Union canal. A long stretch, where we float high above the countryside on embankments, is followed by a deep wooded cutting and then Shrewley tunnel. After emerging from the tunnel, we soon find ourselves at the top of Hatton locks. A glance ahead will show us the towers of Warwick's churches below, separated from us only by the twenty-one locks of the flight. We descend easily, and the ground begins to level out as we travel downwards towards Saltisford, our destination.

A trip full of locks, aqueducts, and barrel roofed cottages, but very peaceful countryside.

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