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Looking to book your next narrowboat holiday, but wondering what you should consider before you embark? From preparing your route to respecting others on the canal, find our top 5 tips to help you comply with canal boat etiquette, moor safely and properly and, of course, how to drive your canal boat. 5 Tips for narrowboat holidays 1. Prepare for your trip beforehand One of the most important ti...

The canals have become a quintessential part of British culture and history. Maybe you live in a city and walk along the canal to escape the hustle and bustle of the city centre. Or maybe you live in the countryside and you use the convenient footpath along the canal to get to the closest village. Either way, a walk along the canal has become a staple part of British life. No one alive can rememb...

Looking for canal boat holidays in the Cheshire region? Whether you’re wanting to start from one of our Cheshire marinas, or if you’d like to cruise around The Cheshire Ring, your next trip with ABC Boat Hire has you covered. Read more from our guide on canal holidays in Cheshire now. What to do in Cheshire As well as being home to some of the UK’s most integral canal networks, there are ample t...

Those who live on a canal boat will tell you that one of the hardest aspects of the narrowboat layout is finding room for all your stuff. That’s often why people often opt for narrowboat holidays rather than living on canal boats. However, every boat owner will have their own methods of saving space – but we have a compiled a list of the very best ones to help you minimise your clutter if you’re...

In light of the unfortunate passing of Captain Sir Tom Moore – who raised almost £33m for charities supporting the NHS during his last year – his family have encouraged people to take on a “100” challenge of their own. This challenge will fall on the bank holiday weekend – between 30th April – 3rd May – as this would have been Tom’s 101st birthday. The family, especially his daughter Hannah Ingra...

The UK is absolutely brimming with stunning holiday locations, all right on our doorstep. Not only stunning cities and beaches, but also beautiful woodland, filled with British wildlife. From red squirrels and bats to water voles and turtle doves, nature in the UK is both fascinating and adorable. However, due to dwindling numbers, some of the most stunning creatures in our Country can only be sp...

If you cruised the entire 137 miles by canal from Birmingham to London without stopping, this would take around 74 hours. However, you’re likely to stop for breaks in between – so if you were averaging at 8 hours of cruising a day, this would take you 9 days. Travelling to London from Birmingham, and vice versa, can be achieved by using the Grand Union Canal – which is the longest canal in the UK...

Interested in booking a canal boat holiday, but wondering how many berth you would need? Our guide to canal boat berths has you covered. From what a narrowboat berth is to what berth would be suited to your canal boat holiday, learn what the different types of narrowboat berth are now. What is a canal boat berth? A berth typically refers to a fixed bunk which is typically used for sleeping. A sl...

If it’s your first time boating and perhaps you’re a little apprehensive – don’t worry. Here at ABC Boat Hire, we’ve devised a list of the best canal boat holidays for beginners. These involve canal routes which don’t have too many locks to navigate and are often quieter destinations – allowing you to get to grips with your narrowboat. Best canal routes for beginners UK So, which are the best ca...

Wondering how aqueducts work, or what the purpose of one is? Or perhaps you’re more interested in learning what the longest aqueduct in England is, or who invented aqueducts? Our ultimate guide has you covered. What is an aqueduct? Aqueducts, often found on canals, are structures which are used to conduct water across a valley, or a hollow. By using gravity to keep the water moving, aqueducts ar...