Scarletgirl

We went with Bearboating a few years ago and, as well as the boats being fantastic, the crew there are exceptional! They will take you through the 1st couple of locks and answer any questions you have as well as give advice as needed. The lockies along the route love the “boo boats” and will also be welcoming & helpful! it’s a fabulous canal to be on & I’m sure you’ll have a great time!

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Anglo Welsh have some boats with chairs. Their Firth Class is one (boats named Golden ......) - a 57’ 2 berth boat. We’ve been on them a few times & going on one again on Monday for 2 weeks from Stockton.

We were o the Mon & Brec a couple of years ago in August & hardly saw another boat! We arrived in Brecon during the Jazz Festival and moored just before the basin without problem. A beautifully peaceful canal.

Thanks everyone (I think lol!). I was worried that it might be too busy but the suggestion of going that far to have a look & turning round if we have to is sensible! Hadn’t thought of going onto the river but that’s definitely something to look into. Can we get a visitor licence locally or will we need to arrange one in advance? Will need to check with the hire company too that we can do that - and that they give us the necessary kit! (though we have been on rivers with them before). Looking forward to getting Pearson out once again - and OH will have his Nicholson’s!!!!

Thanks guys. We were hoping to go as far as we can into Oxford itself - is that possible? Or is it better to stay in one of the areas suggested and bus it in?

Hi. We’ve just booked a 2 week trip, end of May into June, going from Stockton. We’re planning a leisurely trip to Oxford & back. Have previously been as far as Aynho (and done the Leicester Ring from Stockton as well as arriving there from Warwick way!) Would be grateful for any advice on where we can moor for a couple of nights so that we can explore a bit of Oxford? Many thanks

PS Books ordered - Pearsons for me Nicholsons for him

Well, decision made at last. JessicaBoo from bear boating booked How did we decide? Well it was the choice of boat in the end. Most availability from other companies was for 6 berth boats for the weeks we need so we would have had space we wouldn't need but with smaller sitting & kitchen areas. In the past we've hired the "Golden" boats from Ango Welsh - 1 double bed, 2 comfy chairs, proper table & chairs and a decent size kitchen - especially useful as we enjoy cooking & eating in some nights - especially our Sunday Roast!! I was also keen to try a different layout - this boat's a reverse layout with a pull out/cross over bed. We're seriously considering buying a boat when we retire (used one, not enough cash for new!) so trying something a bit different will help us decide what we like & don't like. We will certainly do the Cheshire Ring one day - we hope to have plenty of retirement years ahead of us for lots more exploring Many thanks for all your helpfull comments. I'm sure I'll be back on here again before June to ask more questions about the L&L Rhian

Hi everyone. Many thanks for all your replies. Both options obviously have their merits & Mike, your post on overnight stops on the Cheshire is already being looked at in detail by the beer loving Mr S ?! Think that whichever one we decide on this year we'll just have to do the other next year!! We're going on the last 2 weeks in June so final decision might be down to what boat we can get! John - will have a look at the companies you suggest. Roll on retirement - 18 months & counting ?

Thanks again MJG. Will have a look at the boats from Skipton. All advice much appreciated

Thanks MJG. Very tempted by the L&L. Think we'll have another look at the boats from Silsden. Unless anyone out there recommends the Cheshire Ring?!!

Thank you both. We did the Four Counties a few years ago, from Bunbury and in a week. Promised ourselves that we'd never do that again - days far too long & we felt exhausted by the end of it - though strangly pleased with ourselves with what we achieved !!!! After that started booking 2 weeks away but always seem tempted to push ourselves - just to make good use of our precious 2 weeks on the boat. If we go from Bunbury this year we aim to turn Right onto the Mac up to Manchester, joining part of the Four Counties before retracing our steps from the Mac back to Bunbury. My worry if we do the L&L is that aiming for Wigan will mean long days travelling with pressure on us to get back to base on time.

It's that time of year again when we have to decide where to go for our annual 2 weeks on the canals. We've narrowed our choices down to either the Cheshire Ring or the Leeds & Liverpool - basically because of the availability of the hire boats. It's just the 2 of us, we have a few years of hiring "under our belt", I (usually) do the locks whilst Mr S is at the helm (typical hirers!!), we enjoy sampling the local food & beverages (otherwise know as pubs in the evening!) and like to spend as much time as possible on the boat rather than too much exploring the local sights - though a leisurely time so no more than 6-7hrs travelling/day. If doing the Cheshire Ring we would start from Bunbury - I've noticed that some are doing the Ring in a week so will 2 weeks be too long? If doing the L&L we'll be starting from either Appleby Bridge or possibly Silsden & would like to go th Wigan & back - is that feasible in the time available? Any advice to help us decide would be warmly welcomed.

Hi Graham We were a bit apprehensive about the rivers as well, though we have done the Avon in the past. No need to worry - the Soar is beautiful & no different really to a very wide canal. It did go into flood without much rainfall & I think we were lucky to get through when we did or we would have been in Loghborough for an extra day. The Trent by comparison is huge & turning onto it was like going out to sea!!!! (slight exaggeration perhaps!). It was a clear sunny evening but we had the wind & current against us so it seemed to take forever to get to Sawley. We only saw 1 other boat and it was a wonderful experience. So glad though to get a great mooring in Shardlow & that well deserved beer / glass of wine! We weren't really aware of a potential problem crossing to Alrewas but there are lights in Wychnor (I think that's where they are!) & we were told that that section is prone to flood. It was pouring with rain the morning we were travelling but we had no problem at all - other than getting drenched & not really able to appreciate the scenery. Lunch at The Swan in Fradley was very welcomed. Back in work now but wishing we were back out there somewhere, anywhere - roll on retirement!!!!!!! Best wishes Rhian

Anglo Welsh have some boats with stoves

Hi Graham We came back last week having done the ring in 2 weeks - plenty of time to do it. We went anticlockwise (from Stockton / Napton). The weather was a bit unpredictable & we were worried about the rivers so we ploughed on with longish days until we'd crossed the Trent then relaxed a bit for the 2nd week ( we're not ones for early starts if we can help it!). We just managed to get through the Soar before the lights turned red & whilst it was a bit "choppy" on the Trent it was a beautiful evening & an amazing experience. We moored ate & drank in - Braunston, - tried to get into the Admiral Nelson but they were busy & had stopped serving food early so it was back to the boat for an unscheduled home cooked meal. Not the ideal start but we were fortunately well stocked with drink as well as food!!! Crick - a walk up to the village & drinks in the Wheatsheaf then food in the Red Lion - beer good, food OK - all "home cooked" & popular with the locals Foxton - moored before the bridge & had a walk down to the pub - Bridge 61 - a must for its uniqueness! The Foxton Locks Inn was very very busy (Sunday evening) so we gave that a miss. Back to the boat for a Sunday Roast. Kilby Bridge,- stopped here before going through Leicester & had a meal in The Navigation - good beer & the largest gammon & pineapple I've ever seen!! Travelled straight through Leicester without stopping. We shared the locks and seemed sensible to stick with them because the locks were quite a bit of work. Another boat left Kilby with us & they got the last mooring in a Castle Gardens around lunchtime. Birstall - handy place to stay after a long day & a good pub a minute from the moorings - The White Horse; we didn't eat there but the menus looked good. Loughborogh - we were going to stop before Loughborough but the River was rising & the CRT guy at Mountsorrel said that we'd be the last boat through Pillings that afternoon so decided to go for it!!! Went to Weatherspoons in the evening!! Shardlow - a bit of an adventure along the Soar & Trent. Shardwell's a lovely place to stop & well deserved beer & food in The Clockwarehouse - a Marston,s "eating" pub Burton - again a bit worried about the weather & getting through to Alrewas so went to a Burton to reduce the next days travelling. Not really somewhere we'd choose to go to again - best I think to go on to Branston - The Bridge looked a good place for refreshments. Fradley Junction - very picturesque, moorings next to the road leading to the caravan site but no traffic at night so not a problem. Good food & drink in a The Swan (2nd) Sunday & had a good lunch in the RedLion , Hopwas - very popular, busy area Polesworth - didn't really fancy any of the pubs here - they all seemed to have themed curry nights but not on the night we were there so food & drink on board. Hartshill - stayed just past The Anchor Inn - good beer garden & nice inside with a good menu but we were eating in again so just had a drink or 2! Brinklow - a long walk to the village but good after a day of no locks. Good food & drink in The Bull's Head Then back to Braunston & a Steak night in one of the village pubs - The old Plough. A great 2 week holiday & I'm sure that we missed some good places but they'll keep for another time!! Have a great holiday Rhian

Thanks for the replies. Not long to wait now before the start of the holiday. Graham - Will definitely report back after our trip, When are you going? Rhian

Hi all. We're doing the Leicester Ring this year as well - 1st 2 weeks in June. Is it best to push through Leicester itself? We were hoping to stop & have a wander round the town but having 2nd thoughts now!

Just returned from the K&A on Saturday - travelled from Bath to Newbury (&back!) our favourite overnight moorings were in Newbury, Kintbury - Dundas Arms canalside, Crofton - a short walk through the fields to The Swan & Seend Cleeve - The Barge Inn was excellent. We usually like stopping for lunch away from towns or villages but found this quite difficult on the K&A because of overgrown banks & shallow water making mooring difficult. Popular places such as Bradford, Devizes & Hungerfrd were very busy & we were advised to get here early afternoon for a good mooring spot - not something we managed to do!! Great 2 week holiday in a beautiful area - enjoy your trip.

Just returned home after 2 weeks on the K&A - went up Caen on the first Sunday & back down last Tuesday. We were lucky & paired up with another boat both ways & had 2 great days. Lots of friendly people travelling & helpful volunteers as well. Take your time to look at the views and enjoy!