Travelling through the countryside at just four-miles-an-hour, canal boat holidays are the fastest way to slow down this summer. 

Drifters offers 550 narrowboats for hire from 45 bases across England, Scotland and Wales.  Our summer holiday prices for a short break (three or four nights) on a boat for four people start at £835, and at £1,145 for a week.

Narrow boat holiday-makers don't need a licence and it's easy to learn how to steer a narrowboat. Tuition is included as part of all Drifters' holiday packages.

All Drifters' narrowboats have heating, well-equipped kitchens, quality furnishings, flushing toilets, hot water, showers, TVs and DVD players, and many also have WiFi on board.

Drifters' has published a guide to the Top 7 Summer Canal Boat Holidays for 2023:

1. Yorkshire: Toddle to Todmorden for some stunning Pennine scenery: on a short break (three or four nights) from Drifters' base at Sowerby Bridge, canal boat holiday-makers can travel along the Rochdale Canal to Todmorden. This historic town offers visitors fine Victorian architecture, plenty of pubs and restaurants, and a busy market.  Along the way, boaters pass through the village of Mytholmroyd, the birthplace of Ted Hughes, and the old mill town of Hebden Bridge, where the BBC's popular 'Happy Valley' drama is set.  The journey to Todmorden and back travels 20 miles, passes through 34 locks (17 each way) and takes around 16 hours.  ***The 56ft 'Hereford 4' narrow boat for up to four people is currently available 28 to 31 July 2023 for £1,300.  Prices include damage waiver, pre-holiday information, comprehensive instruction, fuel, gas, parking, buoyancy aids and bed linen.
2. South Wales: Glide through the Usk Valley to Brecon and back: from Drifters' base at Goytre Wharf near Abergavenny, on a week's break boaters can navigate through the wooded Usk Valley to the pretty market town of Brecon, in the heart of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Brecon offers theatre, cinema, cafes and restaurants and access to the National Park, with walking routes, cycle hire and pony trekking.  Along the way, boaters can stop off at Llanfoist to take the old tramway into the Black Mountains, visit the 13th century caste at Crickhowell and walk to the Blaen y Glyn waterfalls at Talybont-on-Usk.  The journey there and back travels 51 miles, passing through 12 locks (six each way) and takes around 25 hours.  ***The 47ft 'Red Naped Finch' narrowboat for up to five people is available for a week 4-11 August for £1,799.  Price includes a non-refundable damage waiver, bed linen, towels, car parking, two pets, buoyancy aids and tuition.  A fuel deposit of £50 for a short break, £90 for a week is payable with the balance of hire. Fuel costs approx. £10-15 per day.
3. Scotland: Travel through the Scottish Lowlands to Edinburgh: from Drifters' base at Falkirk, canal boat hirers can reach Edinburgh Quay on a four-night mid-week break., perfect for a mid-week break. The journey starts with a trip through the world's first rotating boat lift, the Falkirk Wheel. Boaters then pass through two tunnels and soon after across the magnificent Avon Aqueduct.  Then it's on through the lovely lowland villages of Linlithgow, Broxburn and Ratho.  The journey to Edinburgh Quay and back travels 64 miles, passes through four locks (two each way) and takes around 22 hours. The 48ft 'Princess' narrowboat for up to four people is available for a mid-week break 28 August to 1 September for £1,099. Price includes boat hire, damage waiver, gas, car parking, tuition on arrival, buoyancy aids, bed linen towels and first pet.  Diesel is extra – a £50 deposit is taken for short breaks (three or four nights), £90 for a week.  Charge based on use, circa £15 per day.  Second pet is charged at £25 for a short break, £35 for a week.
4. Wiltshire: Visit Georgian Bath afloat: on a short break from Drifters' canal boat hire base at Devizes, boaters can navigate along the Kennet & Avon Canal to the beautiful World Heritage Status City of Bath. Along the way, the route passes a series of canalside pubs, through the historic market town of Bradford on Avon, and over the beautiful Bath stone Avoncliff and Dundas aqueducts.  There are moorings at Sydney Wharf, a 15-minute walk from Bath City centre. The journey to Bath and back travels 39 miles, passes through 20 locks (10 each way) and takes around 19 cruising hours.  ***The 58ft 'Tibetan Fox' narrowboat for up to six people is currently available for a mid-week break 14-18 August for £1,441 (saving £67). Price includes fuel, gas, damage waiver, parking, bedding, towels, life jackets and tuition.  Pets are extra, charged at £30 each.
5. North Wales: Glide across the awesome Pontcysyllte Aqueduct: passing through stunning North Wales landscapes, the Llangollen Canal is one of the most popular waterways on the network. On a short break from our base at Chirk, boaters can travel to the pretty Eisteddfod town of Llangollen and back.  The route cruises the 11 miles of the Llangollen Canal that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, including the awesome Chirk and Pontcysyllte aqueducts. ***The 58ft 'Duchess' narrowboat for up to four people is currently available to hire from Drifters' base at Chirk for a short break 21-24 July for £1,425.  Price includes damage waiver, tuition, Wifi, gas, bedlinen, towels and car parking. Fuel is extra, charged depending on use, circa £15 per day.
6. Northamptonshire: Travel along the peaceful Ashby Canal to Shakerstone: on a week's holiday from Drifters' Braunston base on the Grand Union Canal in Northamptonshire, boaters can explore the beautiful Ashby Canal. With no locks, and mile-upon-mile of countryside to enjoy, this peaceful 22-mile long waterway passes the pretty town of Market Bosworth and the site of the Battle of Bosworth Field.  The journey to Shakerstone and back, travels 95 miles, passes through eight locks (four each way) and takes around 37 hours. ***The 69ft 'Hemplow' narrowboat for up to eight people is available from Braunston 11-18 August for £2,370. Price includes diesel, gas, damage waiver, cancellation protection, parking, tuition and first pet. Second pet is charged at £25 per week.
7. Shropshire: Cruise through the Shropshire countryside to Market Drayton: on a four night mid-week break from Drifters' base at Brewood on the Shropshire Union Canal in Shropshire, boaters can reach the historic market town of Market Drayton. The route passes through a series of villages with canalside pubs, including the Junction Inn at Norbury and the Royal Oak at Gnosnall.  And through tunnels of trees in the deep canal cuttings. The total journey there and back travels 42 miles, passes through 12 locks and takes around 19 hours. ***The 55ft 'Sir Ulfius' narrow boat for up to four people, is available for a mid-week break 31 July to 4 August for £1,045.  Price includes diesel, gas, damage waiver, bed linen, buoyancy aids, tuition on arrival, parking and pets.

For more information about Drifters boating holidays call 0344 984 0322 or visit www.drifters.co.uk

For more information about visiting the canals go to www.canalrivertrust.org.uk

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For Drifters press enquiries contact Debbie Walker on 01628 618069 mb 077486 40577 walker.debbie@sky.com

Notes to editors

Drifters Waterway Holidays is made up of nine hire boat companies: ABC Boat Hire, Anglo Welsh, Black Prince, Countrywide Cruisers, Foxhangers, Kate Boats, Napton Narrowboats, Shire Cruisers and Union Canal Carriers.  Between them they offer over 550 boats for hire, operating from 45 bases across England, Scotland and Wales.  2023 hire prices start at £590 for a short break, £815 for a week on a boat for up to four people. Narrowboats range from 32ft to 70ft and can accommodate up to 12 people.  Drifters also offers day boat hire from 17 bases across England and Wales.