The waterways of the East Midlands represent rural England at its best, winding past unspoilt villages and idyllic water-meadows. Linked by the mighty River Trent and meandering River Soar, these canals are little changed from the days they were built 200 years ago. Cruise through historic towns and cities like Cambridge, Lincoln and King’s Lynn, bustling Nottingham, or the great canal villages of Braunston and Stoke Bruerne. The Ashby Canal, completely free of locks, is ideal for the first-time boater - and takes you right past the site of the Battle of Bosworth. You could tackle the glorious Chesterfield Canal, recently reopened through some of the country's finest scenery; or perhaps the isolated peace of the Grand Union Canal's Leicester Line, where herons and kingfishers are just as common as people.
All of the operators below offer quality assessed boat accommodation:
Canal Boat Holiday Ltd
The Boatyard
High street
Weedon
NN7 4QD
Tel: 01327 340739
Rating: 4 Stars
Aqua Narrowboat Hire
6 Old Hall
Willington
Derbyshire
DE65 6DT
Tel: 01283 704855
Email: admin@aquanarrowboathire.com
Website: www.aquanarrowboathire.com
Rating: 4 Stars
Family run business located at Kings Bromley Wharf on the Trent & Mersey Canal in rural Staffordshire. Ideal to explore the Four Counties, Black Country and Warwickshire Rings or numerous week return routes. Short break’s available. Open all year including Christmas & New Year.
Union Wharf Marina
Canaltime Management (Alvecote) LTD
Leicester Road
Market Harborough
Leicestershire
LE16 7AU
Tel: 01858 432123
Email: dick_holly@hotmail.com
Website: www.canaltime.com
Rating: Awaiting grading
Nestling on the banks of the Grand Union Canal in Leicestershire Union Wharf is a hive of quality boating and features impressively refurbished canal warehouses and excellent restaurants.
Alvechurch Boat Centres ltd
Alvechurch Boats
Gayton Marina
Blisworth Arm
Gayton, Northants
NN7 3 ER
Tel: 08708 352525 (Overseas +44 1905 734168)
Email: enquiries@alvechurch.com
Website: www.alvechurch.com
Rating: 3-5 Stars
Relax and unwind with a boating holiday on the Grand Union Canal from Gayton marina. Travel south to the canal museum at Stoke Bruerne and on to Aylesbury, or cruise north to Warwick, Coventry, Oxford or for a longer holiday even the Grand ring taking in the River Thames.
Premier Canal Cruisers LTD
P.O. BOX 7259
Hinckley
LE10 1YH
Tel: 0800 1613 130
Email: sales@prosper123.com
Website: www.premiercanalcruisers.com
Rating: 4 Stars