Thinking of hiring a canal boat for a weeks holiday.

Pretty flexible about where to go, just would prefer one of the quieter routes.

Can anyone recommend a particular area and a hire company?

Not done the canal boat thing, but have you considered a boat on the Norfolk Broads?
We had a great time on one last year. We used Richardsons boat yard.

Love a good canal holiday. Try to go once a year for a long weekend. Enjoyed Mon & Brec, Leed Liverpool (From Silsden), I’m told Bath way is nice.

Recently went to Llangollen Canal for a short break. Not cheap. Family of 5 in a 10 berth boat. Would not have wanted many more than that.
Llangollen (Trevor Basin) is a busy route as you have the famous aquaduct to cross, but if you can do it out of the holiday season you’d be ok.
Take a look at AngloWelsh

Rich.

Oh yes, went to Llangollen last year, tis nice but was busy.

We did a week on the Kennet and Avon canal. We got the boat from Aldermaston Wharf. Very nice it was too. Not too busy.

Home

Did Lllangollen out of Trevor as well. The aqueduct was busy, but well worth it. Canal got quieter after that. A few decent pubs at the water side. There was some kind of boaty festival on at Ellesmere so we didn’t stay but just parked up at the Meres which was a lovely spot.
Hire was from Anglo Welsh. I’d recommend both the canal and the company.

A long time ago we hired from Alvechurch, went up to Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Kinver, up to Dudley, back to Brum etc. 7 days, quite relaxed, very quiet, loved it.
Yes, it was once one of the most industrial areas in the Country, but the canals are very peaceful, and hidden from view a lot of the time, making it very quiet.
The only things that stops me doing it again is the price, I was quite shocked when we looked last year – £1300 for a 4 berth.

Not a canal as such, but we did the Caledonian Canal a few years ago. It’s a long series of lochs joined together by short stretches of man-made canal. Absolutely brilliant holiday. Narrow boats aren’t used, cabin cruiser-type things instead.
In a week we travelled from Inverness to Fort William and back.
Highly recommended.

We had a holiday with Robin hood boats. Had a great time will deff do it again.
If you want quite though Monmouth/Brecon is probably the quietest, goes through some great riding country as well 😀

2nd the Monmouth/Brecon canal, booked a narrowboat from the Ghoytre (sp?) wharf there one Autumn, over the Usk aquaduct, beautiful country, wildlife, interesting operating the boat and gates etc, everyone wanted a go, such a chilled pace but never btiresome IMO.

Did the Cambridge broads a while ago – hired a narrow boat from Fox Boats in March, nr Peterborough – was really good – a weeks cruise got us to Cambridge and back quite comfortably. It doesn’t connect to the Norfolk broads and seemed quieter.