Boat Hire for 2020

[Naughty Cal]

3 hours ago, noddyboater said:

I’d go early rather than late. If we have one of those odd summers where the sun shows itself the weed can hang on into autumn. 

We always find our quickest progress on the Chessy is when there’s an inch or two of ice! 

Not wanting to put you off in your choice, but if you’re social boaters that like a friendly pub mooring rather than being out in the sticks I’d study a current map.

There’s still pubs open, but not ideally placed for a normal days boating, especially if you want to do different stops on the way back. 

We often go from Retford to Cinder Hill Lock above shireoakes in a long day. A short walk down the path from there is The Hewitt Arms, the best proper pub on the canal. Not a lot between there and Retford though, unless you fancy a night in Worksop or a noisy stop by the A1 at the Chequers. The same applies above Shireoakes, gorgeous days boating up the locks but crap pub and not very inspiring mooring when you get there. But as I said, not a problem at all if you like a quiet spot for the night with a view, there’s plenty of those along it’s length from Stockwith to Kiveton. 

We like a mixture of pub evenings and evenings spent on board when we are on holiday. We will also have the dog with us so some quiet moorings with nice walks will be a bonus.

 

If we can we might try and time our stop near Worksop at The Lock Keepers to try and coincide with the monthly classic car show that they have in the car park. Not the best pub in the world by any mean but we have been a few times to the car show which usually has a nice selection to view.

[Scholar Gypsy]

I think my favourite mooring was at Osberton, just below the lock, next to Scofton village. Not a brilliant bank as you can see. One can also moor just above the lock at Gringley-on-the-Hill and walk up to the village (I am not on the lock landing, honest).

 

 

[noddyboater]

On 06/02/2019 at 12:56, Naughty Cal said:

We like a mixture of pub evenings and evenings spent on board when we are on holiday. We will also have the dog with us so some quiet moorings with nice walks will be a bonus.

 

If we can we might try and time our stop near Worksop at The Lock Keepers to try and coincide with the monthly classic car show that they have in the car park. Not the best pub in the world by any mean but we have been a few times to the car show which usually has a nice selection to view.

All the canalside pubs I can think of are dog friendly, unfortunately the Blue Bell at Gringley wasn’t last time we had a walk up there. If you don’t mind a little walk from your mooring you’ll be fine for pubs. You’ll probably get to Drakeholes the first night, there’s a couple of pubs at Everton down the road behind the closed “Swan”.  The Brewers at Clayworth is a short stroll from the visitor mooring and does good, proper food. Have a back up plan if you intend stopping at the Boat at Hayton, there’s only room for one boat on the mooring and it’s often occupied by a dosser. (It’s 48hr, the boat on it now has been there over 2 weeks) They also close early if they’re short of customers, like the Gate at Clarborough. Walk up the road though and there’s the Kings Arms and a late opening Spar, handily in the pub car park. 

[Naughty Cal]

On 09/02/2019 at 12:33, noddyboater said:

All the canalside pubs I can think of are dog friendly, unfortunately the Blue Bell at Gringley wasn’t last time we had a walk up there. If you don’t mind a little walk from your mooring you’ll be fine for pubs. You’ll probably get to Drakeholes the first night, there’s a couple of pubs at Everton down the road behind the closed “Swan”.  The Brewers at Clayworth is a short stroll from the visitor mooring and does good, proper food. Have a back up plan if you intend stopping at the Boat at Hayton, there’s only room for one boat on the mooring and it’s often occupied by a dosser. (It’s 48hr, the boat on it now has been there over 2 weeks) They also close early if they’re short of customers, like the Gate at Clarborough. Walk up the road though and there’s the Kings Arms and a late opening Spar, handily in the pub car park. 

Thanks for that. Really informative.

 

We have been to one of the pubs at Everton by car but hadn't put two and two together and realised we could walk there from the canal