Britain’s beautiful inland waterways are a great place to visit in the Spring, when the countryside is bursting into new life, with blossom on the hedges and waterside trees, birds busy rearing their young, lambs playing in the fields and bluebells in waterside woodlands.
Drifters (www.drifters.co.uk) offers the choice of 550 boats from 45 bases across England, Scotland and Wales. All Drifters operators provide hirers with boat steering tuition and canal boat holidays are pet friendly.
Drifters 2024 Easter break prices start at £747 for a short break (three or four nights) on a boat for four people, £1,008 for a week.
Drifters’ guide to the top 7 Easter breaks for 2024:
1. Explore the ancient woods at Skipton Castle
On a short break from Drifters narrowboat hire base at Silsden on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in West Yorkshire, boaters can travel to the historic town of Skipton, with its medieval fortress and ancient woods to explore. Skipton’s 900-year old castle is one of the most complete and best preserved medieval castles in England and its extensive woodlands are home to at least 18 species of trees, and hundreds of flowering plants, including wild orchids and bluebells. The journey to Skipton and back takes around seven hours, travelling 13 miles with no locks. ***The 56ft ‘Dans Drum’ for up to five people is currently available for a weekend break 29 March to 1 April 2024 for £596, saving £149. Price includes two pets, parking, damage waiver, fuel, gas, tuition and buoyancy aids.
2. Glide through the Brecon Beacons
Isolated from the main canal network, the beautiful Monmouth & Brecon Canal runs through the Brecon Beacons National Park and offers canal boat holiday-makers incredible mountain views, plenty of wooded sections full of the sound of woodland birds, and a series of historic village pubs to visit along the way. On a short break from Drifters’ base at Goytre Wharf, near Abergavenny, boaters can cruise lock-free to Llangynidr and back, passing the Lion Inn at Govilon and the Bridge End Hotel at Llangattock. On a week’s break, boaters can travel on to Brecon, passing through Talybont-on-Usk, with walks to the waterfalls at Blaen y Glyn and the popular Star and White Hart pubs. ***The 56ft ‘Red Sea Swallow’ for up to four people is currently available for a mid-week break 1-5 April 2024 for £1,190, saving £209, or for a week (29 March to 5 April) for £1, 700, saving £299. Price includes a non-refundable damage waiver, bed linen, towels, car parking, two pets, buoyancy aids and tuition. A fuel deposit of £60 for a short break is payable with the balance of hire. Fuel costs are approx. £15 per day.
3. Drift through the prehistoric Vale of Pewsey
From Drifters base on the Kennet & Avon Canal at Devizes, it takes around 20 hours, travelling 27 miles through 53 locks to reach the historic town of Hungerford – perfect for a week afloat. Along the way, boaters travel up the spectacular flight of 16 locks in a row at Caen Hill and cruise through the beautiful Vale of Pewsey, passing close to prehistoric Avebury and along the edge of the ancient Savernake Forest, full of bluebells in the Spring.
Once at Hungerford, narrowboat holiday-makers enjoy eating in a choice of pubs and cafes, and browsing in the town’s numerous antique shops. ***The 45ft ‘Foxcub’ narrowboat for up to four people is currently available for a week’s break from Devizes 23-30 March 2024 for £890, saving £345. Price includes diesel, gas, damage waiver, bed linen, towels, canal map, life jackets, parking and tuition. Pets are extra, charged at £30 each.
4. Boat to Brewood and back
From Drifters’ boat yard at Gailey on the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal, it takes around five hours to reach the historic village of Brewood, with its half-timbered cottages and Georgian houses. The 13-mile journey, which passes through just one lock, takes boaters through beautiful stretches of Shropshire countryside, and passes the waterside Anchor Inn at Cross Green. On reaching Brewood, there’s a choice of pubs, restaurants and tea rooms to dine at, including the canalside Bridge Inn. The journey to Brewood is perfect for a relaxing weekend away. ***The 48ft ‘Common Kestrel’ narrowboat for up to four people is currently available for a weekend break 29 March to 1 April 2024 for £850, saving £149. Price includes a non-refundable damage waiver, bed linen, towels, car parking, two pets, buoyancy aids and tuition. A fuel deposit of £60 for a short break is payable with the balance of hire. Fuel costs are approx. £15 per day.
5. Float across ‘The Stream in the Sky’
From Drifters’ base at Chirk on the Llangollen Canal in North Wales, the Eisteddfod town of Llangollen on the edge of the Berwyn Mountains can be reached on a short break, with the World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct to travel across along the way. Standing at 38 metres high above the Dee Valley, this incredible 300-metre long structure consists of a cast iron trough supported by 18 enormous pillars and 19 elegant arches.
On reaching Llangollen, boaters can enjoy visiting the town’s independent shops, pubs and restaurants, as well as its Steam Railway and Horseshoe Falls. ***The 65ft ‘Anna’ narrowboat for up to four people is currently available for a weekend break from Trevor 29 March to 1 April 2024 for £784, saving £196. Price includes boat hire, gas, car parking, tuition on arrival, buoyancy aids, bed linen towels and first pet. There’s a compulsory non-refundable £50 damage waiver and 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.
6. Visit the old mill town of Hebden Bridge
On a short break (three or four nights) from Drifters’ base at Sowerby Bridge in West Yorkshire, canal boat holiday-makers can travel along the leafy Calder & Hebble Navigation through the Calder Valley to the old mill town of Hebden Bridge, nestled in a fork in the hills. Climbing through woods, fields and small stone towns, the journey there covers seven miles, passes through 10 locks and takes around five-and-a-half hours. Once at Hebden, boaters can enjoy a variety of shops, cafes, restaurants and pubs, as well as stunning countryside walks with woods, crags and the Calder running alongside. ***The 56ft ‘Sussex 4’ narrowboat for up to four people is currently available for a mid-week break from Sowerby Bridge 1-5 April 2024 for £975. Price includes damage waiver, pre-holiday information, comprehensive instruction, fuel, gas, parking, buoyancy aids and bed linen.
7. Cruise through Shakespeare country to Stratford-upon-Avon
From Drifters’ narrowboat hire base at Wootton Wawen, on the Stratford Canal near Henley-in-Arden, it takes around six hours, travelling through 17 locks to reach Stratford upon Avon. Travelling through the Warwickshire countryside, boaters can stop off along the way to visit Mary Arden’s Tudor Farm in the canalside village of Wilmcote where Shakespeare’s mother grew up.
Once in Stratford, boaters can moor up in Bancroft Basin, just a stone’s throw from the Swan Theatre and the town’s shops, restaurants and museums. ***The 67ft ‘Summer’ narrowboat for up to six people is currently available for a weekend break from Wootton Wawen 29 March to 1 April 2024 for £924, saving £231.Price includes boat hire, gas, car parking, tuition on arrival, buoyancy aids, bed linen towels and first pet. There’s a compulsory non-refundable £50 damage waiver and 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.
For more information about Drifters boating holidays call 0344 984 0322 or visit www.drifters.co.uk
