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    • A Proper Family holiday!
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  • Narrowboat Hire from the Heart of the English Midlands
  • Book
    • Book Your Narrowboat Holiday for 2026
    • Make a Payment
    • Georgies – Our Day Hire Affiliate
  • DEALS
  • About
    • Prices
    • Our Narrowboat
    • A Typical Day on a Narrowboat Holiday in England
    • Us
    • Conditions of Hire
  • FAQs
    • What happens if water levels or canal conditions change during my holiday?
    • Where can we go in a week?
    • Four Counties Ring alternatives
    • Just looking for pubs
    • Are Pets Allowed?
    • Where can I shop for food?
    • Are bedding and towels provided?
    • All FAQs
  • Contact
  • How to find us
  • Quick Links
  • Blog
    • A Proper Family holiday!
    • Packing for a narrowboat holiday
    • Five Counties in 14 days – don’t do this at home!
    • Shroppie 2019: A leisurely cruise. Day 1
    • Basic boating questions answered
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Category: Our Trips

Tips on things to do AND TO AVOID, from our own trip experiences

Learn to Navigate Your First Narrowboat Holiday

Operating a narrowboat can put some people off a canal boat holiday. At UKvacationsAfloat we make sure you get the training you need to confidently …Read More

Cruising the Staffordshire (Black Country) Ring

This popular canal cruising ring navigates thorough the heart of the Industrial Revolution and the picturesque villages of the surrounding Midlands counties of Staffordshire and …Read More

Original Plan and Cross-section views of Harecastle Hill - Image courtesy of Institute of Civil Engineers/Thomas Telford Ltd.

Five Counties in 14 Days – into the Abyss

Summer 2011 was wet and I picked it to show off the canal system to Canadian family. It was the first real canal boat holiday …Read More

Narrowboat Kodran, canal boat holiday Rest stop at Gnosall, Staffordshire, Shropshire Union canal

Shroppie 2019: A leisurely cruise. Day 5, Gnosall

Day 5 – Gnosall Gnosall sits about halfway between Newport in Shropshire and the county town of Stafford. Once served by the Newport to Stafford …Read More

Narrowboat rising in a lock between Wheelock to Kidsgrove, Trent & Mersey canal

Five Counties in 14 days – A Day full of Locks

Summer 2011 was wet and I picked it to show off the canal system to Canadian family. It was the first real canal boat holiday …Read More

Five Counties in 14 days – Wet weather challenge

Summer 2011 was wet and I picked it to show off the canal system to Canadian family. It was the first real canal boat holiday …Read More

Canada Maple Leaf flag on the stern of a canal boat holiday Birmingham UKvacationsAfloat

Five Counties in 14 days – don’t do this at home!

Summer 2011 was wet and I picked it to show off the Four counties ring and my hometown of Birmingham to Canadian family. It was …Read More

Canal lock Wheaton Aston Top Lock Shropshire Union canal Thomas Telford

Shroppie 2019: A leisurely cruise. Day 4

Day 4 – Brewood to Gnosall Sunday evening cleared brighter and the good weather rolled over into Monday morning. Again, we weren’t under any time …Read More

Shroppie 2019: A leisurely cruise. Day 3

Day 3 – Of Winding and Wifi Our friends departed early on Sunday morning and we went to church in the now grey drizzle of …Read More

Shroppie 2019: A leisurely cruise. Day 2

Day 2 – Shore Leave: Brewood, Staffordshire This was going to be easy. We planned to meet good friends of ours for a long overdue …Read More

Pendeford, Shropshire Union Canal, in the early Autumn sunshine.

Shroppie 2019: A leisurely cruise. Day 1

If you just want a leisurely pub crawl in classic English scenery, cruising Gailey to Tyrley is about as easy as it gets. Out and …Read More

Packing for a narrowboat holiday

If you’ve arrived at Gailey Wharf by car and taking advantage of the free secure parking, then where to store your bags once unpacked is …Read More

Canal boat holiday from Overwater Marina, Audlem Cheshire. Start of our clockwise Four Counties Ring cruise

Like the Amazing Race, only wetter!

My first narrowboat cruise since relocating to Toronto was an adventure. I returned to England with my Canadian wife and her close cousin and husband …Read More

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More from the Blog…

  • A Proper Family holiday!
  • A Typical Day on a Narrowboat Holiday in England
  • All About UKvacationsAfloat
  • Canal boat dining
  • The Caldon Canal

We're here to Help

Whether you’re looking for an active outdoors experience or have more relaxation in mind, we offer a personalised booking experience with help in planning routes to suit customers’ needs.

We will advise according to your experience, ability and size of your crew but more importantly using our own knowledge of the local canals and their attractions.

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    +1 (416) 998-4747 US & Canada
    +44 (0)7491 507825 UK & Europe
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