Amber34

Fabulous, that is just the sort of advice I wanted - especially on the watering holes!

We're leaving from Tattenhall tomorrow and still have no idea where we're going to go. I'm considering the four counties, but is one direction better than the other? We have a 'hire boat' week, so 6 and a smidge days in reality. Thanks

We were along that way a few weeks back and had a really good meal at The Coopers Arms, Weston. Really interesting building and lovely grounds and lake, around a 10 minute stroll from the canal. The food is more restaurant than pub, but the carvery is really good.

Well, despite our decision to take the Soar, the hire company were not having it as the rain had caused the river to rise and they were concerned that any more rain could mean we wouldn't get back in time, so we set off up the T & M. We stocked up on bread at 30p a loaf at Aldi in Rugeley and our 9 year old was rationed to 2 loaves a day for duck feeding - mostly all gone by lunchtime! We passed the Ash Tree just after the thefts and OH was quite proud to be filmed by the local TV crew as we passed under the bridge, although completely forgot to watch TV at 6 pm to see if he was famous! We realised that the map given to us by the hire company wouldn't see us for many days so reverted to the laptop and CanalPlanner and decided to nip off at Great Haywood along the Staff and Worcs. From there our sense of adventure took over and we managed to make it down to the BCN Main line, the Birmingham and Fazeley, back up the Coventry and back along the T&M, reaching Sawley Marina with 15 minutes to spare before our hire period ended!! It was jolly hard work but we managed to stop off each day for a lunchtime drink and a meal in the evening. I just need a week off now to get over the 115 locks! Spotted this (just in time) at Minworth, under the bridge just above the top lock.

Thanks for your opinions - I guessed they would be mixed The dodgy locks on the Soar do concern me a bit, although there are two of us, I generally do the locks. The industrial aspect of the T&M appeals a bit, although my partner is now trying to convince me we could do the whole ring in a week . Although we generally like long days, I am not for convincing

We're off on our third canal holiday on Tuesday and I can't decide which way we should go. Sadly, we only have a week, so it will be an 'out n back' on either the Trent and Mersey or the River Soar to Market Harborough. Which would you recommend? We're taking our 9 year old so need interesting things to look at, as well as nice places to stop and eat as well as moor. Thanks

Thank you for all your replies - they have certainly given me something to think about, although I am not totally put off yet! I'll see if I can answer a few questions. Firstly, the purchase price of the 'timeshare' week is £500 (although it is negotiable, I doubt I'll be able to knock a lot off). That includes the legal transfer costs. They are then selling the week they have already paid for for £400 (their cost - the fee is going down next year making the annual management fee £384), then £130 utility fee to pay when we turn up at the marina (Gayton) A grand total of £1030 to pay out this year then £514 next year I agree with the negative views about the layout, although they have added a few more boats to their fleet with a better layout, it is only 4 more boats! Last year we were let down by 2 small hire boat companies at the last minute and ended up grabbing a holiday on a boat with precisely this layout, which, whilst not ideal, was fine for us - just my partner, myself and our 8 year old. Incidentally, that week cost £1090! I have spoken to the booking company and tried to hypothetically change the prebooked week for one in the school holidays, and although there is not a lot of choice left, it can be done, which bodes well for future bookings (considering this was originally booked in October last year) Thank you for that link to TCA Peter - I need to have a more thorough read of it later. I will consider joining RCI but at the moment we are happy on the canals - we only discovered them last year and still have so much to explore. PeterG, I agree about the shared ownership idea, but the entry costs into that would be a lot higher, and we both struggle to get enough time off work (both self employed!) to be able to participate in a shared ownership scheme. Graham - thank you for the questions - I have spoken to the management company several times already (to the point they are recognising my voice when they answer the phone to me!) but didn't think to ask those questions! They will be hearing from me again - I may have to use 141 this time so they don't recognise my number and put me directly to voicemail! I am swayed in the direction of making the purchase - it is not a huge sum of money and providing I am protected against management fees rising extortionately in the coming years, it may just do us for the short time. Thanks again for your input - much appreciated

I have an opportunity to buy a 'peak week' timeshare in a canalclub boat. The maintenance going forward is £380 pa with a utility charge of £130 - even with my slightly dubious maths, that's £510 for a weeks canal boating, which seems pretty good compared to a one week hire rate in peak season. Including the cost of the timeshare transfer, we would still be quids in compared with what we paid last year for the same week. Now, I know very little about most things and even less about timeshare, so I am hoping to get some opinions from other owners or even just the worldly wise. Other bits of info: Timeshare valid until 2076 (far longer than I will be valid for!) The annual week is pre-booked and can be sold on if we choose not to partake. Choice of 7 marinas. I have called the management co and been offered alternative weeks to the date the current owners have prebooked, so to my mind, that shows some flexibility. Your opinions please? Thanks