racheljl

I have gotten a lot of helpful responses to my "Where should I go?" thread -- thanks so much. Now I'm realizing that much of the fun will be visiting the towns along the way. I loved seeing the villages in the Cotswolds -- we don't have anything that looks like that in the US. What that in mind, what routes should I be looking at? I'd especially love places that are off the usual tourist trail.

Overwhelmed by all the replies! I'm looking at a timeshare type deal that we have access to and they have two options: Canal Boat Club at Anderton Marina in Northwich and Canaltime at Union Wharf in Market Harborough. Using one of them would really help sell my husband on this idea. We definitely want to operate the boat ourselves and go through the locks -- but not a real lock-heavy route. Rural areas for sure -- we live just outside the DC beltway. On our last trip a hike on the Cotswold Way was a highlight. We're quite happy to travel by train to our jumping off point. We can't take the trip until fall at the earliest. (Although I want to go Right Now!) We try to avoid high season travel but OTOH we want there to be leaves on the trees. Am I right that late October thru late March would be not as good? I'm looking at a timeshare type deal that we have access to and they have two options: Canal Boat Club at Anderton Marina in Northwich and Canaltime at Union Wharf in Market Harborough. Using one of them would really help sell my husband on this idea.

I'll just be my husband and myself. As far as "doing England" I'd expect it to take months and months. And months. So I'm looking at the idea of a canal trip as being a detailed experience of a teensy part of England rather than a quick glance at a lot of places. I had been looking at the idea of a walking trip until I read a book that introduced me to the idea of narrow boats. And definitely pubs and cows sticking their noses thru the windows. What would be the best time of year?

Total newbie to the idea of a vacation on a canal boat and it sounds amazing! Where should I go for a week for the best scenery? And by "best" I don't know if I mean most dramatic or most Wind in the Willowsy. I live in the US and have only visited the UK once (London, Bath, Oxford and the Cotswolds) so it would help if there was a major site or two near the canal to spend a morning or afternoon.