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This was a trip that we have been looking forward to since the summer of 2020. We had a boat booked that summer, but the entire trip from Canada to the UK was done in by COVID-19. Our experience with ABC has been nothing but great. The booking process was very smooth and the booking staff were extremely helpful. Upon arriving at Falkirk, we received a warm greeting at reception, help getting our luggage to the boat, and help getting our luggage on the boat. This was greatly appreciated as it was raining. The hand over tuition was very well done. It was quick, but not rushed. Bill made sure that we understood everything and patiently answered all our questions. As to the boat itself, we were very pleased. Having a wide beam boat rather than an actual narrow boat meant that we had more floor space. This was fully appreciated as we were a group of six. While obviously a bit older than some of the other boats we saw, it was very clean, well equipped, and for the most part, everything worked exactly as we expected. It did take us a few days to get a firm grip on handling her, but by the end of the week all three people who drove were comfortable at the helm. Then came the wind! That presented some new problems, but we survived. We found the wide beam boat travelled much slower than the narrow boats, and we were perfectly fine with that. We had a wonderful time exploring the Union Canal at a very leisurely pace.. A truly wonderful experience! A few very minor thoughts. We would suggest that more than 2 rolls of toilet paper per toilet be provided for a group of six people on a one week rental. Also, more hooks for towels in the bathrooms would be nice. There really aren’t a lot of places for six people to hang towels to dry. We purchased a couple of inexpensive lawn chairs to use at the table and on the front deck. At the end of the week, we left them on the boat. Hopefully, they have stayed on the boat! We also had to arrange for a pump out of one toilet after 2 1/2 days. Not a big issue, but did bite into our time a bit. The only other issue we had was a throttle lever that would not hold a constant speed, but I expect that has already been dealt with.
08 Aug 2025
Thank you for taking the time to share such a thoughtful and detailed review. We’re so pleased to hear that your long-awaited trip lived up to expectations — especially after such a long delay due to the pandemic. It’s wonderful to know that your experience with ABC from booking to boarding was smooth and welcoming, and that our team at Falkirk, including Bill, helped make the start of your journey as easy and informative as possible, despite the weather. We’re glad to hear the wide beam boat suited your group well and provided the space and comfort you needed for a relaxing trip along the Union Canal. It’s completely understandable that handling took a little getting used to, particularly with the challenge of windy conditions, but it sounds like you rose to the occasion and truly embraced the experience. Thank you for your feedback to help improve our service here at ABC Boat hire. Thank you again for choosing to travel with ABC. We’re delighted you had such a memorable time, and we hope to welcome you back on board in the future. ABC Boat Hire
12 Aug 2025
They were easy to deal with and price was good
08 Aug 2025
Thank you for your 5* review! We’re so pleased to hear you found our customer service excellent and the boat facilities up to standard. It’s great to know the booking process was smooth and the pricing met your expectations. We hope to welcome you back again soon. ABC Boat Hire
12 Aug 2025
Staff were all friendly, helpful and nothing was too much trouble. It was nice to be able to get straight through to staff on the phone for questions before our trip.
08 Aug 2025
The boat was er clean, everything was complete
08 Aug 2025
Thank you for your feedback. We’re so glad you enjoyed your stay on the boat and found everything clean and well-prepared. It’s great to hear our team made you feel welcome and that the handover tour was helpful. We hope to see you in the UK for another Canal Boat holiday in the future. ABC Boat Hire
12 Aug 2025
Lovely clean boat with a traditional style cabin layout but meeting modern needs. The tuition and handover was just the right amount to boost confidence on the waterway without too much information overload.
06 Aug 2025
Thank you so much for your thoughtful review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your time aboard and appreciated the blend of traditional charm and modern comfort in the boat's layout. It’s great to know the handover and tuition helped build your confidence without overwhelming you—striking that balance is something we aim for with every guest. The Ellesmere to Llangollen route truly is a gem, and we’re so glad you got to experience the stunning scenery and impressive canal engineering through the Welsh mountains. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon—perhaps exploring a new route next time? Warm regards, The ABC Boat Hire Team
07 Aug 2025
The route from Ellesmere to Llangollen although busy in places is a beautiful route taking in the best of the English waterways with the incredible engineering taking the canal through the rugged Welsh mountain landscape.
06 Aug 2025
Thank you so much for your thoughtful review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your time aboard and appreciated the blend of traditional charm and modern comfort in the boat's layout. It’s great to know the handover and tuition helped build your confidence without overwhelming you—striking that balance is something we aim for with every guest. The Ellesmere to Llangollen route truly is a gem, and we’re so glad you got to experience the stunning scenery and impressive canal engineering through the Welsh mountains. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon—perhaps exploring a new route next time? Warm regards, The ABC Boat Hire Team
07 Aug 2025
We just loved everything about it!
06 Aug 2025
Thank you so much for your lovely review and for choosing ABC Boat Hire for your second canal boat adventure! We're thrilled to hear that your trip from Alvechurch to Stratford was just as enjoyable as your first experience with us. It’s great to know the boat met your needs and helped make your week on the water comfortable and memorable. We really appreciate your feedback about the pillows—your suggestion is noted and will be passed along to our team as we’re always looking for ways to improve our guests’ comfort. Thank you again for your kind words and recommendation. We hope to welcome you back for another journey soon—perhaps a new route next time? Warm regards, The ABC Boat Hire Team
07 Aug 2025
We chose to do our second canal boat trip with ABC Boat Hire again, because we were so satisfied the first time. We had a bigger boat and a new route this time. Just as satisfied as last time! The boat was clean and nice, with everything we needed for the week that we spent on the boat. I would recommend the company to change two of the four big pillows in each double bed for smaller ones though. The big pillows are not the best. But this is my only complaint. We went from Alvechurch to Stratford and back, a really beautiful route. I give ABC Boat Hire my full recommendations to other travellers!
06 Aug 2025
Thank you so much for your lovely review and for choosing ABC Boat Hire for your second canal boat adventure! We're thrilled to hear that your trip from Alvechurch to Stratford was just as enjoyable as your first experience with us. It’s great to know the boat met your needs and helped make your week on the water comfortable and memorable. We really appreciate your feedback about the pillows—your suggestion is noted and will be passed along to our team as we’re always looking for ways to improve our guests’ comfort. Thank you again for your kind words and recommendation. We hope to welcome you back for another journey soon—perhaps a new route next time? Warm regards, The ABC Boat Hire Team
07 Aug 2025
Lovely boat, clean and tidy throughout. We collected the boat from Gailey and had our tuition before setting sail on our own. It was our second time of hiring a boat from ABC and definitely recommend them. The staff at Gailey are very friendly and knowledgeable and put you at ease.
05 Aug 2025
Thank you so much for your lovely feedback! We're delighted to hear you had a great holiday and that everything—from the boat to the staff at Gailey—made your experience smooth and enjoyable. It’s wonderful to know the boat was clean, tidy, and well-prepared, and that the tuition helped you feel confident before setting off. We’re especially pleased to hear this was your second time hiring with ABC and that you’d recommend us—your continued support means a lot! We hope to welcome you back again soon for another relaxing adventure on the water. Warm regards, The ABC Boat Hire Team
07 Aug 2025
Fabulous experience from start to finish. Richard was great showing us around our narrow boat and explaining how to operate it safely. Our narrow boat Sooty Swift was well appointed and lovely and clean. Thanks to the lady in the office (sorry I didn’t catch her name) for her recommendations for breakfast on the bay we returned the boat. We had a fabulous week
05 Aug 2025
Thank you so much for your fabulous feedback! We're thrilled to hear you had a fantastic week aboard Sooty Swift with your dog and teenage kids—what a wonderful way to spend time together. It’s great to know Richard made the handover clear and helpful, and that the boat was clean, well-appointed, and ready for your adventure. We’ll also pass on your thanks to the lovely lady in the office—she’ll be delighted to hear her breakfast recommendation was appreciated! We hope to welcome you back again soon for another relaxing and memorable canal holiday. Warm regards, The ABC Boat Hire Team
07 Aug 2025
Efficient reception and briefing on the boat. Very happy to use ABC again though probably not Anderton next time as we go from different places each year.
05 Aug 2025
Thank you so much for your continued support and lovely feedback! We're delighted to hear you had another enjoyable week with ABC Boat Hire. It’s great to know the reception and briefing were efficient and helped set you up for a smooth journey. We appreciate your understanding regarding the limited route options due to canal faults and water shortages—while these are unfortunately beyond our control, we’re glad they didn’t take away from your overall experience. We hope your next adventure from a new location brings even more memorable moments! Looking forward to welcoming you back again soon. Warm regards, The ABC Boat Hire Team
07 Aug 2025
Not ABC's fault but choice of trip limited by canal faults and water shortages
05 Aug 2025
Thank you so much for your continued support and lovely feedback! We're delighted to hear you had another enjoyable week with ABC Boat Hire. It’s great to know the reception and briefing were efficient and helped set you up for a smooth journey. We appreciate your understanding regarding the limited route options due to canal faults and water shortages—while these are unfortunately beyond our control, we’re glad they didn’t take away from your overall experience. We hope your next adventure from a new location brings even more memorable moments! Looking forward to welcoming you back again soon. Warm regards, The ABC Boat Hire Team
07 Aug 2025
The weather was perfect and so was the boat
05 Aug 2025
Thank you so much for your lovely feedback! We're delighted to hear you had a great holiday and that everything—from the boat to the staff at Gailey—made your experience smooth and enjoyable. It’s wonderful to know the boat was clean, tidy, and well-prepared, and that the tuition helped you feel confident before setting off. We’re especially pleased to hear this was your second time hiring with ABC and that you’d recommend us—your continued support means a lot! We hope to welcome you back again soon for another relaxing adventure on the water. Warm regards, The ABC Boat Hire Team
07 Aug 2025
We had a fantastic week. With our dog and two teenage kids
05 Aug 2025
Thank you so much for your fabulous feedback! We're thrilled to hear you had a fantastic week aboard Sooty Swift with your dog and teenage kids—what a wonderful way to spend time together. It’s great to know Richard made the handover clear and helpful, and that the boat was clean, well-appointed, and ready for your adventure. We’ll also pass on your thanks to the lovely lady in the office—she’ll be delighted to hear her breakfast recommendation was appreciated! We hope to welcome you back again soon for another relaxing and memorable canal holiday. Warm regards, The ABC Boat Hire Team
07 Aug 2025
Excellent service from point of booking onwards. There is a free app but I didn't find it particularly helpful except for the countdown to the holiday. Simple check-in followed by some basic training,a walk through the boat and a short supervised motoring to ensure we were safe to take the boat on the canal. The boat was clean and had everything we needed. We were given information about changes to the canal due to water levels but this didn't impact our holiday. Check out was also simple. I would highly recommend ABC
05 Aug 2025
Thank you so much for your thoughtful and honest feedback! We're delighted to hear that your experience felt like a true adventure and that our service—from booking to check-out—met your expectations. It’s great to know the boat was clean, well-equipped, and reliable throughout your journey. We appreciate your comments about the app and will take that on board as we continue to improve its usefulness. We're also glad the training and handover process helped you feel confident and safe before setting off. Thank you for highlighting the water level updates—we’re pleased they didn’t impact your holiday, and we’re grateful for your understanding of the challenges that can come with canal conditions. We hope to welcome you back again soon for another peaceful and memorable trip on the water! Warm regards, The ABC Boat Hire Team
07 Aug 2025
