Never been on a canal boat before or just fancy an easy cruise? Welcome to Black Prince, our expert teams are the right people to help you get you on your way with UK canal boat hire!
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.
And if you are looking for some great canal boat routes for families then we have some top recommendations for you.
The routes highlighted below can be adapted to include or not to include locks. A ‘Stop lock’ is a set of locks where the water may only need to move a matter of inches, if at all. They were created at a time when different sections of canal were managed by different companies.
All locks and bridges in Scotland are managed by Scottish Canals staff, so any breaks from our base at Falkirk means that you will not need to have to open and close locks.
https://www.black-prince.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Hero-Chirk-Aqueduct.jpeg 533 800 Team https://www.black-prince.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/logo.png Team2020-03-08 10:13:422024-12-19 11:35:19Manchester and Return
https://www.black-prince.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Worsely-on-the-Bridgewater-Canal.jpeg 600 900 Team https://www.black-prince.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/logo.png Team2020-03-08 09:42:182024-12-19 11:27:15Lymm and Return
https://www.black-prince.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/pontcysyllte-aqueduct.jpg 666 1000 Team https://www.black-prince.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/logo.png Team2014-02-27 17:17:522024-12-19 10:15:11Chirk Short Route https://www.black-prince.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Hero-Chirk-Aqueduct.jpeg 533 800 Team https://www.black-prince.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/logo.png Team2020-03-08 10:13:422024-12-19 11:35:19Manchester and Return
https://www.black-prince.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/BP-Falkirk-1.jpeg 667 1000 Team https://www.black-prince.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/logo.png Team2014-03-28 18:11:382024-12-19 16:39:39Glasgow & Edinburgh canal boat holiday
https://www.black-prince.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/BP-Edinburgh-3.jpeg 667 1000 Team https://www.black-prince.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/logo.png Team2014-03-27 18:09:282024-12-19 16:40:04Edinburgh and return canal boat holiday hire
https://www.black-prince.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/St-Ives-Bridge.jpeg 750 1000 Team https://www.black-prince.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/logo.png Team2014-02-27 21:03:072024-12-19 10:11:52Ely to St Neots and return, canal boat holiday
https://www.black-prince.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/BP-River-Cam-Cambridge.jpeg 667 1000 Team https://www.black-prince.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/logo.png Team2014-02-27 19:06:572024-12-19 10:12:19Ely, Cambridge to Huntingdon and return canal boat holiday
https://www.black-prince.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Snarestone-and-return-Black-Prince.jpeg 598 900 Team https://www.black-prince.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/logo.png Team2014-02-27 17:46:462024-12-19 12:24:41Snarestone and return canal boat holiday
https://www.black-prince.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/St-Ives-Chapel-on-the-Bridge.jpeg 750 1000 Team https://www.black-prince.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/logo.png Team2014-02-27 17:40:512024-12-19 10:12:32Cambridge and Bedford and Return Canal Boat Holiday
https://www.black-prince.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Caldon-canal-to-Leek.jpeg 429 912 Team https://www.black-prince.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/logo.png Team2014-02-27 17:34:252024-12-20 13:36:17Caldon & Leek Canal Boat Holiday
https://www.black-prince.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/whaley-bridge-and-return.jpeg 667 1000 Team https://www.black-prince.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/logo.png Team2014-02-27 17:32:142024-12-20 13:32:53Whaley Bridge and return canal boat holiday
https://www.black-prince.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/shutterstock_62525425.jpeg 664 1000 Team https://www.black-prince.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/logo.png Team2014-02-27 17:26:032024-12-20 12:47:17Llangollen and Whitchurch canal boat holiday
https://www.black-prince.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Llangollen-aqueduct-blackprince.jpeg 767 1024 Team https://www.black-prince.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/logo.png Team2014-02-27 17:23:492024-12-20 12:47:05Llangollen Canal Narrowboat Holiday
https://www.black-prince.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/DSC_0068.jpeg 598 900 Team https://www.black-prince.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/logo.png Team2014-02-12 21:30:252024-12-19 10:03:23Stourport Ring canal boat holiday
https://www.black-prince.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/stoke-prior-narrowboat.jpeg 598 900 Team https://www.black-prince.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/logo.png Team2014-02-12 21:20:242024-12-19 10:04:42Stourton and return canal boat holiday
https://www.black-prince.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/linlithgow-palace.jpg 496 702 Team https://www.black-prince.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/logo.png Team2014-01-05 15:29:382024-12-19 16:37:22Falkirk Short Route
https://www.black-prince.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/worcestershire-narrowboats.jpg 389 450 Team https://www.black-prince.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/logo.png Team2014-01-01 01:00:482024-12-19 10:07:33Worcester & Return Short RouteOur teams will give you a full induction when you arrive at the base, talking your through how to operate the boat and a lock. They can even stay with you on the boat as you set off to help you on your way.
You can also buy detailed waterways maps at each of the bases, or order them from our reservations team when you book your holiday. The teams at the base can go through the map with you, pointing out handy places to moor up, good pubs to stop at and where you can refill with water etc. If you choose to do a ring, they will also advise on where you need to be each day to return to the base in time.
It’s natural to be nervous about handling a lock for the first time, but remember the simple rules and you can’t go wrong. Plus there are either lock-keepers to provide professional help or fellow narrow-boaters who are generally more than willing to lend a hand if you need one. The waterways are a sociable place to holiday!
A fantastic place to start your narrowboat hire on perhaps the 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.
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.
For Cheshire canal boat hire, if you wish to book online then choose Acton Bridge as your starting base location, and add the dates and number of people in your party. We will show you the availability we have to suit you.
Alternatively, call our reservations team on +44 (0)1527 575115.
For a relaxing short canal holiday, 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 canal route that suits beginners or those looking for a relaxing canal boat holiday.
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.
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.
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.
The joy of the canal boat holidays on the Forth & Clyde or Union canals is that this waterway is wider than your typical UK canals. This makes navigating a little easier and all the locks and swing bridges are manned by Scottish Canals staff.
Call today on ++44 (0)1527 575 115 and a Black Prince team member will be happy to help!
