Routes / Planning

[Jeff78]

Hi, I’m planning a 2 week family Canal holiday in August for 6 people. Changing 2 people (Parents) after 7 days for 2 other people (more Parents) can anyone suggest 2 different circular routes from the same hire base or a week out week back route with rail connection back to near base after 7 days ? Difficult I know ??

[Arthur Marshall]

Could do the four counties with a detour to Chester, stations at Stoke and Chester.  Not sure what hire boats are based near stations though.

[JohnEW2912]

Black Prince in Stoke are a short taxi ride from Stoke station.

There will be plenty of hire boat bases that are a taxi ride away from stations. Foe example the hire bases in Middlewich are about 12 miles from Crewe station. A taxi from there will be a small cost compared to the boat hire cost. Anglo Welsh at Great Heywood is pretty close to Stafford station, Napton Narrowboats at Autherley Junction close to Wolverhampton etc. All on the 4 counties.

[Flyboy]

7 hours ago, Jeff78 said:

Hi, I’m planning a 2 week family Canal holiday in August for 6 people. Changing 2 people (Parents) after 7 days for 2 other people (more Parents) can anyone suggest 2 different circular routes from the same hire base or a week out week back route with rail connection back to near base after 7 days ? Difficult I know ??

Anglo Welsh may be your best bet as they have two bases on the Four Counties Ring.  Great Haywood in the SE corner & Bunbury in the NW corner just off the main ring. First crew starts from say Gt Haywood and cruises to Bunbury where 2nd crew takes over and cruises back to Gt Haywood.

https://www.anglowelsh.co.uk/

Edited June 5, 2020 by Flyboy

[David Mack]

Two bases doesn't really help the OP though. Surely what he needs is either one base with two different one week rings available (and no need for public transport) or a two week ring with railway stations convenient for both the hire base and the mid point of the ring (and preferably a sensible railway route between the two).

[Flyboy]

4 minutes ago, David Mack said:

Two bases doesn't really help the OP though. Surely what he needs is either one base with two different one week rings available (and no need for public transport) or a two week ring with railway stations convenient for both the hire base and the mid point of the ring (and preferably a sensible railway route between the two).

In that case you could use Autherly Junction as the base and do the Four Counties & the Stourport Ring.

http://www.napton-marina.co.uk/bases/autherley/index.php

[JohnEW2912]

Presumably Anglo Welsh from Great Heywood & Bunbury would have the advantage that you could go from one to the other in one week and then arrange for a pump out and maybe clean bedding for new guests and then back to the original base. You could easily arrange two different one week cruises between the two with some side trips off the straight route.

[Flyboy]

3 minutes ago, John Wareing said:

Presumably Anglo Welsh from Great Heywood & Bunbury would have the advantage that you could go from one to the other in one week and then arrange for a pump out and maybe clean bedding for new guests and then back to the original base. You could easily arrange two different one week cruises between the two with some side trips off the straight route.

Yes that was my original thoughts. AngloWelsh are quite flexible but obviously the boat would have to be returned to the starting base. You will probably have to pay a small charge for the extra bedding though, pumpout would be free as long as it's done at an AngloWelsh base. I suggest you contact them and discuss your requirements.

[___]

The Warwickshire ring and Stourport ring from Alvechurch is possible. Or if the Warwickshire ring is a bit much perhaps combine the Stourport ring with the Black Country ring.

 

For an out and back something like Rugby to Oxford and return might work.

 

JP

Edited June 10, 2020 by Captain Pegg