 It is a
wonderful holiday for all of the family
There is something new around each corner
whilst canal cruising! For
the children, helping to work the locks and steer the boat, picnicking &
feeding the ducks keep them happy all day. The less active can sit on
the deck watching the world slip by. There are also many tourist sites
including Chester’s medieval shops and Roman walls, Llangollen with its
steam railway and famous Eisteddfod, Tudor Nantwich, or the "time has
stopped” villages at Bollington or Brewood. Canalside attractions abound,
from the ancient such as Chirk or Beeston castles to the modern such as Etruria
Festival Park (where you can swim or ski !) and Chester Zoo. |
Beautiful
unspoilt countryside that you pass slowly
through,
 A quiet
200 year old narrow, winding ribbon of water passing
between the woods, meadows, pretty
villages, soaring aqueducts and
embankments, mysterious tunnels and fine old bridges all now mellowed and beautiful. It
sounds idyllic and it is! There is no easier way
to get away from it all than with canal cruising!
|
Is it the pace?
Canal cruising top
speed is about 4 mph, a little different from the
motorway you have probably just left! At this speed you
really appreciate the beautiful countryside, fine old
buildings and superb wildlife and have time to chat to your fellow travellers.
There is no rush and no pressure –
truly "the fastest way of slowing down". |
The fact that it’s not ALL relaxation,
Activity lovers needn’t feel deprived - you can
choose your canal crusing route according to the activity required,
from the quiet, lock-free Bridgewater canal to the busy
32 locks of the Cheshire Flight up to Kidsgrove. You can
take canoes or cycles and the towpath
makes a fine country walking route, with an accompanying
café or pub available en route. |
|
We
must not forget the
PUBS.
 Scores of
them, all shapes and sizes – some modern, some very
old – where you can enjoy good food (usually at very
reasonable cost), good drinks, and good company, with
your cosy floating home moored only a few feet away.
What
could be nicer?
|
 Simplicity and the remarkable freedom.
Steering the boat whilst canal cruising and working the
locks is easy and great fun and the rules are few. You
can go where you want to and stop where you like –
no yellow lines here! Cook on board in well-equipped
galleys, barbecue, or go the pub. Read a book or sunbathe
on the roof. Children can play their hardest and
teenagers have their fun. This is what holidays should be
about but so often aren’t. On the canals they are! |
How did it all start?
The
first real canal was the Bridgewater, built by the James
Brindley in 1761 to solve the problem of moving large
quantities of coal from Worsley to Manchester, 8 miles
away and included the first aqueduct, at Barton.
Brindley’s success soon gave rise to the Trent and Mersey Canal, on
which we are situated. Here the first tunnels were built. The canals were built
by wandering navigators (navvies), using
mainly hand labour. They were contour canals, following
the profile of the land. Later an engineers called Thomas Telford built straighter and
more level canals. He built the Shropshire Union and the famous
aqueducts at Chirk and Pontcysyllte on the Llangollen
Canal. Britain’s
canal system was hereby created and prospered
until the railways came. Canal carrying then declined
because trains were quicker and the boat people could no
longer afford to live in houses. They moved onto their
boats and lived in cramped but neat and tidy back cabins.
Thus the narrowboat was created, firstly horse drawn or
occasionally steam powered, then diesel engined and
usually towing another boat, or "butty". The canals most serious
decline came in the 1940’s and 50’s, but they
now have a great new life as recreational waterways and
many long abandoned canals are being cleared and
restored. Now the canals have new life as recreational waterways and
many long abandoned canals have been cleared and restored.
|
 |
Groups have a great time
On the larger
boats, the cost per head is very low and the potential
for fun very high! Organised youth groups (schools,
Scouts, churches, clubs etc.) value the freedom to do
what they want, an easily controllable environment,
effective teamwork training opportunities, and a final
achievement goal.
Groups of
friends and families sharing have great fun too!
|
