Take a different view of the Lake District, where towering hills and dramatic ridges give way to beautiful lakes and stone-built villages. Lake Windermere is England’s longest natural lake and a magnet for visitors. Second-largest, Ullswater, provided the vista commemorated by William Wordsworth in his poem, The Daffodils. Coniston Water along with elements of Windermere inspired Arthur Ransome to write the Swallows & Amazons series of books that for nearly a century have captivated generations of children to take to the water. There’s a dark side to Coniston, too. It’s where Donald Cambell and Bluebird crashed in his 1967 pursuit of the world water speed record.
The Leeds & Liverpool Canal is the UK’s longest man-made waterway, passing through beautiful Pennine scenery on its way to the Mersey waterfront district that inspired the Beatles. But it’s not all history and industry. Just a few miles from the buzz of Manchester’s canalside bars and galleries is the rural tranquillity of the Peak Forest and Macclesfield Canals. And near to the heart of Liverpool, City of Culture, the Dee and Mersey estuaries offer world-class wetland habitats.
All of the operators below offer quality assessed boat accommodation:
Andersen Boats
Wych House Lane
Middlewich
Cheshire
CW10 9BQ
Tel: 01606 833668
Rating: 3-4 Stars
Claymoore Navigation Ltd
The Wharf
Preston Brook
Warrington
WA4 4BA
Tel: 01928 717273
Rating: 2-4 Stars
Hotel Periwinkle
1 Isabella Street
Longridge
Preston
PR3 3WL
Tel: 07747 017263
Rating: 4 Stars
Middlewich Narrowboats
Canal Terrace
Middlewich
CW10 9BD
Tel: 01606 83240
Rating: 3-4 Stars
Alvechurch Waterway Holidays
Wrenbury Mill
Wrenbury, Cheshire
CW5 8HG
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 in the Welsh Borders from Wrenbury Mill. Travel west over the Chirk and Pontcysllte Aqueducts to Llangollen, or east to Chetser & Ellesmere Port and its museum, or for longer on the four counties ring.
Anglowelsh Boats
Bunbury Lock
Bunbury
Tarporley, Cheshire
CW6 9QB
Tel: 01829 260957
Rating: 3-4 Stars
Black Prince Holidays
Bartington Wharf
Acton Bridge
Northwich,
Cheshire
CW8 4QU
Tel: 01527 575115
Fax: 01527 575116
Email: BHolidays@aol.com
Website: www.black-prince.com
Rating: 4 Stars
Black Prince operate over 100 boats from 6 locations across England, Wales and Scotland. Boats are from 2-12 berth and are less than 4 years old at the start of each session. Short breaks, week or longer. Previous Gold Award Winner of the Hire Craft Operator of the Year
Alvechurch Waterway Holidays
Anderton Marina
Uplands Road
Anderton
Cheshire
CW9 6AJ
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 Trent & Mersey Canal from Anderton Marina. Travel down the Magnificent Anderton Boat Lift to the river Weaver, round the picturesque Cheshire ring or on a longer holiday even up to the Leeds and Liverpool canal or South Pennine ring.
