coming from the land DOWN UNDER

[koalabear]

Recommendations for 2 retired, but active couples visiting the UK and looking at narrowboat hire. Portion of hire would be over the Easter 2012 period (6-9 April), preferably 10 days hire approx. Looking at Llangollen, gather this is a popular waterway...would it be horribly busy at this time? Are 7 days long enough given the loss of two days collecting and dropping off? We have looked in general at the web and a couple of Hirers... one out of Beeston and one out of Chirk, Approx 45ft craft look reasonable. (are specific hire company recommendations allowed to be discussed ?) Two of our group, back in the early 1970's cruised the LLangollen....nearly froze to death, but gather things have improved on the craft since! Its not easy making choices from so far away so hope the canal folk from the UK can give us colonials some expert advice and suggestions, thank you Cheers!.

[Athy]

Gooday!

Firstly, 45 feet long would be cramped for two couples, unless you mean one boat per couple in which case it would be just right.

[john6767]

I would suggest you look at a longer boat for 2 couples, get one with 2 fixed berths if you can.

 

In the past before we had our own boat we did the trip to LLangollen and back from Anglo Welsh at Bunbury in a hire boat week (eg 6 1/2 days). If you had 10 days (ie 9 1/2) you can make it a bit more leisurely, and could then spend 2 nights (the max allowed) in LLangollen basin.

 

Usually with hire boats you will pick up early to mid afternoon, but always get there earlier than they say as usually the local team what you off asap. You drop of at 9:00-9:30 am on the last day.

 

I don't think it will be too busy at Easter.

 

All the boats will have central heating so you should not be unduly cold, although you will probably get wet (it is Wales).

[Woodstock]

Recommendations for 2 retired, but active couples visiting the UK and looking at narrowboat hire. Portion of hire would be over the Easter 2012 period (6-9 April), preferably 10 days hire approx. Looking at Llangollen, gather this is a popular waterway...would it be horribly busy at this time? Are 7 days long enough given the loss of two days collecting and dropping off? We have looked in general at the web and a couple of Hirers... one out of Beeston and one out of Chirk, Approx 45ft craft look reasonable. (are specific hire company recommendations allowed to be discussed ?) Two of our group, back in the early 1970's cruised the LLangollen....nearly froze to death, but gather things have improved on the craft since! Its not easy making choices from so far away so hope the canal folk from the UK can give us colonials some expert advice and suggestions, thank you Cheers!.

we're just back from a week on the llangollen- started at Bunbury- found Anglo welsh boats great and the staff lovely. They have a good choice of boats and some with wood burning stoves. We had 48ft for 2 of us and a dog- so would choose a longer boat for you with 2 fixed berth as suggested. We did the tripin a week but would have liked a couple of extra days to see more of the towns. They have a base in Trevor if you want to start nearer the aquaducts- good tip from other members- to ring the boat yard before to ask what time you can start. I did like the Llangollen - it's beautiful, but we've only a few canals under our belt- so dont want to bias you

[LEO]

Recommendations for 2 retired, but active couples visiting the UK and looking at narrowboat hire. Portion of hire would be over the Easter 2012 period (6-9 April), preferably 10 days hire approx. Looking at Llangollen, gather this is a popular waterway...would it be horribly busy at this time? Are 7 days long enough given the loss of two days collecting and dropping off? We have looked in general at the web and a couple of Hirers... one out of Beeston and one out of Chirk, Approx 45ft craft look reasonable. (are specific hire company recommendations allowed to be discussed ?) Two of our group, back in the early 1970's cruised the LLangollen....nearly froze to death, but gather things have improved on the craft since! Its not easy making choices from so far away so hope the canal folk from the UK can give us colonials some expert advice and suggestions, thank you Cheers!.

 

Hi,

 

For a good reliable hire company with nice boats try Wyvern Shipping of Leighton Buzzard Beds.

 

Go north on the GU, great cruising (Milton Keynes interesting) and Stoke Bruerns and tunnel brill.

 

Best of Luck.

 

Leo

[stagedamager]

i'd second wyvern, MK is great, Campbell park is a great overnight stop, and about a 15-20 min walk through the park to the centre. It also has a great theatre with some fantastic shows all year round. It is actually very rural by canal, even though, as a new town it is only 42 years old!!

 

Dan

[Athy]

Blisworth Tunnel and "brill" in the same sentence? Hmmm. Did the tunnel each way on a hire boat from Wyvern years ago, never again. Good boat though.

[familyfive]

Recommendations for 2 retired, but active couples visiting the UK and looking at narrowboat hire. Portion of hire would be over the Easter 2012 period (6-9 April), preferably 10 days hire approx. Looking at Llangollen, gather this is a popular waterway...would it be horribly busy at this time? Are 7 days long enough given the loss of two days collecting and dropping off? We have looked in general at the web and a couple of Hirers... one out of Beeston and one out of Chirk, Approx 45ft craft look reasonable. (are specific hire company recommendations allowed to be discussed ?) Two of our group, back in the early 1970's cruised the LLangollen....nearly froze to death, but gather things have improved on the craft since! Its not easy making choices from so far away so hope the canal folk from the UK can give us colonials some expert advice and suggestions, thank you Cheers!.

 

 

I would go with your choice of Beeston. We hired 'Strider' a 65' from Chas Hardern and think it would be suitable for 2 couples. It's a lovely boat and Chas Hardern take such good care of their customers.

[daveyboi2050]

Hi. The Llangollen should not be too busy around easter.

 

Id try www.narrow-boat-hire.net. From there base at Blackwater marina Ellsemere. They have a 55ft 6 berth would be great.

 

I have hired from

Them a few times great staff & boats