Boating Holidays

Boating Holidaysabclg2019-01-26T14:52:40+00:00

Check out our excellent reviews online. Read our reviews

Check out our excellent reviews online. Read our reviews

Holidays with ABC

The canals and rivers of England, Scotland and Wales stretch for over 2000 miles through some of the finest countryside imaginable.

At ABC Boat Hire we have 16 start locations throughout the waterway network, from Falkirk in Scotland to Hilperton in Wiltshire, offering the widest choice of self-drive boat hire and narrowboat holidays..

Berths Available: 2 – 12

Request one of our brochures

200 boats & 16 locations

We have a huge range of fleet boats of varying sizes from a 45 feet four berth right up to a 70 feet 12 berth narrow boat. We also have wide beam boats for those of you who want that little bit extra!

We have 16 bases around the UK where you can start your canal boat holidays from, giving you a huge a mount of choice with the canals you can cruise on.

Find out more and book online

Connect with us online

Keep in touch with us on social media to stay up to date with our offers and competitions.

Use hashtag #abcboathire and share your boating photos with us!

ABC Boat Hire on Instagram

#DidYouKnow that the Stratford Canal was built aft

#DidYouKnow that the Stratford Canal was built after business men from the town realised the new Warwick & Birmingham and Warwick & Napton Canals (now part of the Grand Union Main Line) were projected to pass north of Stratford leaving the town disconnected from the canal network.

In 1803 the Stratford Canal opened from King’s Norton Junction as far Kingswood Junction where it met with the Warwick & Birmingham Canal. It wasn’t until 1815 that the canal was completed and the route to Stratford was navigable.

Kingswood junction consists of a 250-metre linking arm with two branches at the (western) Stratford Canal end and a simple junction with the Grand Union at the eastern end. One of the branches descends through a lock to the connecting arm. The other branch is taken from the Stratford canal below another lock.

Cruise from Alvechurch Marina on the Stratford Canal to Stratford during a 7 night break.
#AlvechurchMarina #Stratford #Shakespeare

Take a moment to enjoy this beautiful scene on the

Take a moment to enjoy this beautiful scene on the Llangollen Canal. Who would like to be here right now?
#WaterwaysWednesday #Staycation #NarrowboatHoliday

Take a look inside our Wren Class, with our new ad

Take a look inside our Wren Class, with our new additional features she really is a home from home!
#Narrowboat #LifesBetterByWater

It's #MoorUpMonday Skipton is probably the most ha

It's #MoorUpMonday
Skipton is probably the most handsome town to be found along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. Surrounded by historic architecture the canal meanders through Skipton, offering excellent moorings just a minute's walk from the centre of the town.
Arriving at Skipton from the west, Springs Branch can be found to the left of the canal and is well worth exploring by foot. The branch was built by the Earl of Thanet, the owner of Skipton Castle, to carry limestone away from his nearby quarry. The limestone was carried by horse tramway to the castle where it was then dropped into boats and transported.
After exploring the Castle, enjoy a walk around the stunning Castle Woods before relaxing at the welcoming Yorkshire Rose.
Cruise from Reedley Marina to Skipton & return during a 4 night midweek break.
#ReedleyMarina #Skipton #CanalHistory

Grab your Captain's hat and take the family on a d

Grab your Captain's hat and take the family on a day out to remember! We still have some availability on our day hire boats at Blackwater Meadow and Whitchurch Marina on the Llangollen Canal this half term. For more information call our friendly Booking Office team on 0330 3330590 (local rate) or visit our day hire website (link in bio)
#DayboatHire #FebruaryHalfTerm #FamilyTime

Happy Valentine's day 😍 Is anyone spending the

Happy Valentine's day 😍
Is anyone spending the weekend on or near the canal?
#valentines #Canal #LifesBetterByWater

Visit the picturesque market town of Newbury durin

Visit the picturesque market town of Newbury during a weekend break from Aldermaston Wharf. Moor up alongside the pretty waterside path, explore the town and then relax in one of the canalside restaurants such as The Lock Stock & Barrel
#ThirstyThursday #CityBreak #AldermastonWharf

Gailey Wharf is located on the Staffs & Worcs Cana

Gailey Wharf is located on the Staffs & Worcs Canal and perfectly positioned to cruise the Black Country Ring. The ring route offers plenty of locks, history, scenery and access to a variety of attractions in the heart of Birmingham.
Cruising anti clockwise from Gailey and after the excitement of Birmingham moor up in this pretty spot between the tree lined village of Curdworth and Curdworth Lock Flight.
#WaterwaysWednesday #BlackCountryRing #GaileyWharf #CityBreak

Have you booked your 2020 Easter break yet? Our hi

Have you booked your 2020 Easter break yet? Our hire boats can accommodate from 2 to 12 people at 16 different start locations across the UK. Call our friendly Booking Office team for route advice and availability on 0330 3330590 (local rate) or visit our website (link in bio)
#EasterBreak #NarrowboatHoliday #Staycation

It's #MoorUpMonday! Moor Up in this idyllic spot l

It's #MoorUpMonday!
Moor Up in this idyllic spot located on the outskirts of Hungerford, just west of Hungerford Swing Bridge and a short walk into the historic market town itself. After exploring Hungerford's tranquil High Street, dotted with antique shops and vintage stores why not frequent one (or more!) of it's many traditional pubs - The Hungerford Arms, The Railway Tavern, or John O'Gaunt Freehouse Hungerford
Cruise east from Hilperton Marina during a 7 night holiday to Hungerford and return or from Aldermaston Wharf cruise west during a mid week break or take a more leisurely weeks holiday.
https://www.abcboathire.com/our-locations/hilperton-marina
https://www.abcboathire.com/our-locations/aldermaston-wharf
#HilpertonMarina #AldermastonWharf #Staycation #NarrowboatHoliday

#DidYouKnow that Leicester is one of the UK's olde

#DidYouKnow that Leicester is one of the UK's oldest cities? Leicester’s history stretches back over 2,000 years with experts concluding that the modern English language, spoken by over 1 billion people, originated here.
Throughout the year Leicester buzzes with festivals, events and shows as well as offering an array of places to visit.
Cruise from Union Wharf into the heart of the city, mooring up in Castle Gardens and take time explore a few of these fantastic attractions!
National Space Centre, CURVE theatre, Belgrave Hall and Gardens, Abbey Pumping Station and King Richard III Visitor Centre
#LeicesterCity #UnionWharf #citybreaks

ABC's Big Boating Bonanza! Have you always dreamt

ABC's Big Boating Bonanza!
Have you always dreamt of cruising on our beautiful canals? Here is your chance!
We are giving away a day hire from one of our 9 UK locations on the first Friday of every month.
Pop over to our Facebook Page to enter!
The lucky winner will be announced on our Facebook page on Monday! Go Go Go!!!
#Competition #Giveaway

Meet Cherry, she is a member of our small but perf

Meet Cherry, she is a member of our small but perfectly formed Booking office Team!
Cherry is a font of valuable information and always happy to advise customers on their ideal holiday location.

Cherry says:
"I've been with ABC since 2015 and love my job! Holidays are really precious to people and it's great to be able to help our customers find their ideal boat and perfect cruise, whather that's a relaxing weekend with no locks to tackle, or the ambitious Grand Ring on the River Thames. I go boating on the canals every year with my husband and so far we've been on the Llangollen (breathtaking), the Bridgewater (historic), the Mon & Brec (beautiful) and the peaceful Shropshire Union, amongst others.

In my spare time I like to practise yoga and tai chi, dancing, visit the cinema and theatre and have a riveting book to read. It's wonderful to be able to lose yourself in a good yarn whilst gently drifting along the canal accompanied by birdsong and the rustle of the trees!" You can read about Cherry's boating experiences on our blog page - http://bit.ly/RouteBlog

The Macclesfield Canal links the Trent & Mersey Ca

The Macclesfield Canal links the Trent & Mersey Canal at Kidsgrove to the Peak Forest Canal at Marple. Designed by Thomas Telford the 28-mile canal created a direct line from Manchester, through the manufacturing town of Macclesfield to the Midlands.
Cruise from Anderton Marina to Bollington during a 7 night holiday and Moor Up alongside Clarence Mill, a once thriving textile mill. From Kerridge Bridge follow the path to 'The White Nancy', a monument built in 1817 to commemorate the victory at the Battle of Waterloo.

After all of that fresh air, relax in one of Bollington's two pubs which are in close proximity to the canal The Dog and Partridge, Charnock Richard and The Vale Inn, Bollington
https://www.abcboathire.com/our-locations/anderton-marina
#MoorUpMonday #Bollington #AndertonMarina #MacclesfieldCanal

And relax ..... #makingmemories #bucketlist #inlan

And relax .....
#makingmemories #bucketlist #inlandwaterways #narrowboat #canalboat #boating #moorupmonday #wanderlust #instatravel #shortbreak #petfriendly #visitwales #visitengland