Luxury cruising along the wide waterways of Southern and Central England - the famous Kennet & Avon Canal, the Royal River Thames, the Grand Union Canal, the Lee Navigations, the tranquil Wey Navigations and the Basingstoke Canal.
Many seasoned narrowboat hirers think that there’s not so much you can do on a wide beam boat/barge. How wrong they are! Aboard Merryweather you can cruise continuously for upwards of five months covering most of the waterways of southern England - as far north as Warwick, east to Hertford, south to Guildford and the southernmost point of our inland waterways at Godalming, and west to Bristol with its famous Floating Harbour!
One Month: From our base on the summit of the Kennet and Avon Canal, with its own private mooring at historic Burbage Wharf, a month’s hire is enough to cruise west in a relaxed manner to Bath and Bristol, and return with plenty of time for sightseeing or an extended stay in either city. Heading east, in a month, there is enough time to visit Hungerford, Newbury, Henley on Thames, Marlow, & Windsor before returning. Alternatively head upstream on the Thames towards Oxford, visiting Pangbourne, Goring, Wallingford & Abingdon before returning. But don’t forget to make time for a secluded country mooring every now and again!
Two months:
Option A: Travel both west and east, potentially covering the entirety of the Kennet & Avon Canal, and (dependant on how many hours each day you choose to cruise)there may be to savour some of the River Thames as well.
Option B: Head east along the Kennet & Avon Canal to reach the River Thames. Turn upstream to venture into the Cotswolds as you head up the River Thames to its head of navigation above Lechlade.
Option C: Instead of heading up-river, when you reach Reading, head downstream on the Thames to perhaps visit Henley, Marlow, Windsor and Hampton Court. You’d have time to turn onto the sylvan Wey Navigations and discover this hidden gem of a waterway as it winds its way towards Guildford and Godalming.
Option D: Setting off as with Option D above, carry on down the Thames instead of turning onto the Wey. Join the tidal section to brentford and then voyage all the way along the Grand Union Canal, through teh Chilterns, past the famous canal villages of Stopke Bruerne and Braunston, as far as Warwick with its famous castle.
Option E: Again, travelling onto the Grand Union Canal but, at Bulls Bridge Junction in west London you can turn east and cruise right through our capital city to cruise the Lee Navigation as far as Hertford. This could include visits to all the isghts of London itself but do be aware that moorings in central London are hard to come by!
Three - Six Months: Enough time to take in all of the above if you wish but, with all that time, why rush? Spend a few days in any of the myriad English gems strung along the canals and rivers like a string of pearls.
A bespoke itinerary for your chosen cruise can be willingly provided at no extra charge - simply email me with your list of preferences for places to visit, types of moorings, likely hours you’d like to cruise each day. I can do the rest! Or, if you wish to plan your own cruise I recommend you go to canalplan.uk
Please Note: These hires are entirely self-drive. We are unable to offer skippered charter aboard Merryweather.