Get prepared
Watch our special introduction video to our boats. This will give you an idea of how to handle the boat for your first trip but don’t worry if you don’t take it all in, we’ll give you full coaching on your arrival at our hire base.
We’ll get you started!
Are you a narrowboating novice?
Since lockdown we’ve been contacted by lots of people who want to try a narrowboat break for the first time. At Black Prince, our expert and friendly teams are here to help you get on your way!
Many of our new guests start with a short-break holiday of three or four nights to get the feel of life on the waterways, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t jump in to a longer canal boat holiday if you want to.
You’ll receive full, personalised coaching on your arrival at your hire base and there’s plenty you can do to get prepared before your holiday – find out more below!
A Beginner’s Guide
The best place to start…
Cheshire: Acton Bridge to Lymm, 1 ‘Stop Lock’
3 OR 4 NIGHT SHORT BREAK
A fantastic place to start – on perhaps the most famous canal – the Bridgewater Canal in Cheshire. This short break from our countryside base at Acton Bridge to the pretty village of Lymm offers a relaxing cruise with just one ‘stop lock’ to navigate. We call this a good ‘practice lock’ and you can find out more about this route here.
STOP PRESS: You can currently save 25% on short breaks at our Acton Bridge / Cheshire base between April 12 and May 28, 2021. Your discount will automatically apply if you book online or you can call us to book.
Cheshire: Acton Bridge to Manchester, 1 ‘Stop Lock’
7 NIGHT BREAK
This week long cruise is also fantastic for novice boaters. It’s a relaxing 33 miles of waterway along the Bridgewater Canal to the thriving hub of Manchester. There’s just the one ‘stop lock’ (a great practice lock to build confidence!), and this trip is perfect for couples or families with children. Find out more about our route to Manchester here.
STOP PRESS: You can currently save 25% on short breaks and 7-night holidays at our Acton Bridge / Cheshire base between April 12 and May 28, 2021. Your discount will automatically apply if you book online or you can call us to book.
If you have a good head for heights…
Wales: Chirk to Llangollen, 0 locks
For a relaxing short break, head to the Llangollen Canal in Wales. Starting from our Chirk Base you can enjoy a two-day trip to the head of this canal, then return with no locks to travel through. This is an easy route that suits beginners or those looking for a relaxing canal boat holiday.
Escape from the city…
Warwickshire: Napton to Snarestone, 4 locks
This rural route suits first timers that are looking for an easy cruise that does involve some lock work. If you’re looking for a short break you can travel lock-free to Braunston, or enjoy a week’s holiday with just 4 locks each way.
Wiltshire: Bradford Upon Avon to Bath, 1 lock
This beautifully scenic route through the heart of Wiltshire along the Kennet & Avon Canal has just one lock near the base at Bradford Upons Avon, which the base team can operate for you. This route makes for an ideal short break.
Cambridgeshire: Ely to Cambridge, 3 locks
Narrowboating on a river offers a slightly different experience to a canal, but you can break yourself in gently on the River Cam between Ely and Cambridge where there are just three locks, which are electronically operated, and it’s an easy short narrowboat break.
A Scottish adventure…
Scotland: Falkirk to Glasgow, 4 locks & 3 swing bridges
The joy of the canal boat holidays on the Forth & Clyde canals is that this waterway is wider than a typical canal waterway. This makes navigating a little easier and all the locks and swing bridges are manned by Scottish Canals staff.
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