Your Floating Hotel

on the Canals and Rivers of the UK

Our Hotel Boat cruises for 2012.

28-Braunston Circular.### A One Centre Cruise. ###

Warwick Friday 5th September back to Warwick by Wednesday 12th September. 5nights. £510, per person.

This is a chance to experience much of what makes the canals fascinating.

We start at Warwick, a restored arm of the canal, then follow the Grand Union Canal past the old wharfs of Warwick and Leamington Spa and out into the country. For the rest of the day we then cruise through country pausing to work up individual locks and then up the four locks at Bascotte, two of them form an impressive staircase, before mooring for the night on the edge of a village with at least half a dozen pubs as well as a lovely walk along the old railway line.

On the second day we go up two flights of broad locks, one of ten locks, the other of three before lunch. The afternoon is then spent cruising through the English countryside before arriving at the canal centre of Braunston.

We will be mooring at Braunston for the night. It is still a major canal centre, with a canal shop, marina, three chandeleries, a fender maker, at least six boat builders, two dry docks, a side slip etc etc, there is lots to see. As well as the variety of boats, many of them historic working boasts which moor or pass through here.

The last two days see us retrace our steps back to Warwick. You will find that now the route has been traveled once you will note all the things you missed on the first days abroad.

We finish back at Warwick. You are welcome to let us look after your bags while you look around this historic town with its impressive castle before making your way home.

Friday night at Warwick; ; Saturday night at Long Itchington; Sunday night at Braunston; Monday night at Long Itchington ; Tuesday, Warwick.

Be collected from Warwick Parkway Railway Station at 4.30 p.m. on Friday 5th September, and returned to Warwick Parkway Railway Station by 10.00 a.m. on Wednesday 12th September.

You are of course welcome to make your own way to us at Warwick. Car Parking is available at Warwick

Highlights.

> Two Aqueducts.

> An evening to explore Braunston.

> Going up, and down the broad Staircase locks at Bascotte.

> A chance to explore Warwick either before or after your cruise..

19- Birmingham Circular. A One Centre Cruise. Unfortunately this cruise is now fully Booked.

Warwick Wednesday 12th September to Warwick by Wednesday 19th September. 7 nights. £695, per person.

Nearly 100 locks and half a dozen tunnels, city and country. A fascinating mixture as we travel up to Birmingham via Kings Norton and return via Framer's Bridge.

We start off in Warwick on the first day we go up the 21 broad locks of Hatton, and through our first tunnel. Turning at Kingswood Junction we join the Stratford upon Avon Canal to go up half a dozen narrow locks before we moor for the king.

On the second day we finish the rest of the 19 Lapworth locks, the Butty Boat being hauled on a rope in the same way that horse boats have negotiated this flight since the 18th century. We then cruise out into the country through two lift bridges before mooring for the night.

On the third day we cruise into Birmingham city centre, at first through another lift bridge and a second tunnel to reach Kings Norton Junction. Here after passing under the disused Guillotine Lock we join the Worcester and Birmingham Canal for the rest of our ride into Birmingham, on the way passing through another tunnel, this one with street lights,.. We moor for the night in the heart of this vibrant city.

On the fourth day we drop down the 13 Farmer's Bridge Locks passing right under the offices of modern Birmingham. After lunch we continue down Aston Locks squeezing through Aston Tunnel, and then finishing for the day by climbing up Camp Hill Locks to our secured moorings for the night.

On the last two days we then follow the Grand Union canal back to Warwick, traveling at first in a wooded cutting we see little of the city on this day. We go down Knowle locks before at Kings Wood Junction rejoining our route of the first day for the last day.

Wednesday night at Warwick; ; Thursday Lapworth; Friday Dickens Heath; Saturday Birmingham; Sunday Camp Hill; Monday Knowle; Tuesday Warwick.

Be collected from Warwick Parkway Railway Station at 4.30 p.m. on Wednesday 12th September, and returned to Warwick Parkway Railway Station by 10.00 a.m. on Wednesday 18th September.

You are of course welcome to make your own way to us at Warwick. Car Parking is available at Warwick

Highlights.

> Hatton Broad locks, done twice!

> Lapworth 19 narrow locks set in Warwickshire countryside.

> Farmer's bridge locks, passing under Birmingham's offices!

> Three short tunnels, one with a tunnel for the horse,

> Three lift bridges.

More information and pictures on the waterways traveled in this cruise can be found at ...

Stratford / Grand Union / Worcester & Birmingham / Brimingham & Fazley.

20 - Earl to Bard.

Warwick Wednesday 19th September to Stratford by Monday 24th Sept. 5 nights. £510, per person.

Travel from Warwick down to Stratford Upon Avon, broad locks, narrow locks, aqueducts and a short tunnel. A journey from one tourist centre to another passing through unspoiled countryside on the way.

Wednesday night at Warwick; Thursday Lapworth; Friday Wotton Waven; Saturday Wilmcote locks; Sunday Stratford.

Be collected from Warwick Parkway Railway Station at 4.30 p.m. on Wednesday 19th September, and returned to Stratford Railway Station by 10.00 a.m. on Monday 24th September.

You are of course welcome to make your own way to us at Warwick. Car Parking is available at Warwick

Highlights.

> A canal hidden away in the countryside.

> The longest aqueduct in the UK, over river, road and railway.

> Plus two more aqueducts, one the shortest in the UK.

> Narrow locks galore, plus the 21 broad locks at Hatton.

> A short tunnel, with a special horse tunnel alongside.

> Shakespeare's Stratford and Warwick with its Castle.

More information and pictures on the waterways traveled in this cruise can be found at ...

Stratford / Grand Union

21 - Bard to Earl.

Stratford Monday 24th Sept. to Warwick by Saturday 29th Sept. 5 nights. £510, per person.

Travel from Stratford Upon Avon, up to Warwick, broad locks, narrow locks, aqueducts and a short tunnel. A journey from one tourist centre to another passing through unspoiled countryside on the way.

Monday night at Stratford; Tuesday Wilmcote locks; Wednesday Wotton Waven Thursday Lapworth; Friday Warwick.

Be collected from Stratford Railway Station at 4.30 p.m. on Monday 24th September, and returned to Warwick Parkway Railway Station by 10.00 a.m. on Saturday 29th September

You are of course welcome to make your own way to us at Stratford. Car Parking is available at Warwick

Highlights.

> A canal hidden away in the countryside.

> The longest aqueduct in the UK, over river, road and railway.

> Plus two more aqueducts, one the shortest in the UK another the longest.

> Narrow locks galore, plus the 21 broad locks at Hatton.

> A short tunnel, with a special horse tunnel alongside.

> Shakespeare's Stratford and Warwick with its Castle.

More information and pictures on the waterways traveled in this cruise can be found at ...

Stratford / / Grand Union

Why not book both 20 & 21 as a One Centre Cruise?

Warwick Wednesday 19th September and back to Warwick by Saturday 29th Sept. You will also then have a full day to explore Stratford upon Avon.

22 - Locks & Tunnels Galore!

Warwick Saturday 29th September to Worcester by Saturday 6th October 7 nights. £695, per person.

Spend your first night in Warwick, why not arrive early, leave your cases on the boat and go and visit historic Warwick. We climb up Hatton broad 21 locks, then out through a tunnel before arriving at the start of the Stratford canal.

On the second day we carry on up locks, this time narrow ones, working the butty the way horse boats have been handled since the 18th century. We then cruise out into the country for the night passing through two lift bridges as we do so.

We then join the Worcester & Birmingham Canal passing through three tunnels, one is one of the longest in the UK. We then spend all the next day going slowly down the 36 locks of Tardebige set in the Worcestershire Countryside. At Hanbury Wharf we will turn down the newly, (2011) re-opened Droitwich Canal to the River Severn. Finally we will finish by cruise on the River Severn to finish at Worcester.

Saturday night at Warwick Sunday Lapworth; Monday Dickens Heath; Tuesday Tardebbigge; Wednesday Stoke Wharf; Thursday Droitwich; Friday Worcester.

Be collected from Warwick Parkway Station at 4.30 p.m. on Saturday 29th September, and returned to Worcester Railway Station by 10.00 a.m. on Saturday 6th October.

You are of course welcome to make your own way to us at Warwick. Car Parking is available at Warwick.

Highlights.

> Three major lock flights Hatton, Lapworth and Tardebigge.

> Three lift bridges.

> Six tunnels. Including one of the longest in the UK.

> The newly reopened Droitwich Canal.

> Plenty to see at both start and ending points.

More information and pictures on the waterways traveled in this cruise can be found at ...

Grand Union / Stratford / Worcester & Birmingham.

23 -Worcester to Stourport via the Droitwich Canal.

Worcester Saturday 6th Oct to Stourport by Thursday 11th October. Five nights £510 per person.

We start by climbing up through Worcester on the Birmingham and Worcester Canal, urban canal but quite relaxed in its surroundings.

On our second day we start by cruising on up the Worcester and Birmingham canal, through a tunnel then along a stretch where the tall reeds touch both sides of the boats for miles. After lunch we start down the Driotwich narrow canal which includes one of the most recent, i.e. late 20th century staircase locks in the UK.

On our third day, after mooring overnight in the heart of Droitwich we go down to the River Severn on the restored barge canal. Joining the River Severn we go back down to Worcester, mooring in a different part of Worcester.

Finally our last day is spend on the River Severn taking us up to our final moorings in the 18th century canal port of Stourport.

Saturday night at Worcester, Digglis Basin; Sun Offchurch; Mon Driotwich; Tues Worcester, by the Race course; Weds Stourport..

Be collected from Worcester Railway Station at 4.30 p.m. on Saturday 6th October, and returned to Kiderminister Railway Station by 10.00 a.m. on Thursday 11th October.

You are of course welcome to make your own way to us at Worcester. Car Parking is available at Worcester and Stourport, although not adjacent to the canal at either place.

Highlights.

> Locks, narrow, broad, river, flights, single and staircases..

> A tunnel, not too long.

> Cruising on the broad waters of the River Severn.

> The Reed Lined stretches of the canal.

> Cruising canals only reopened in 2011.

24 - Tales of the Unexpected.

Stourport Thursday 11th Oct, to Stone by Thursday 18th Oct. Seven nights. £695, per person.

Explore the whole length of the Staff and Worcester Canal from the 18th century canal Port at Stourport to its junction with the Rent and Mersey at Great Haywood. Many of its locks are unique! Bratch, staircase, rock cut lock keepers stores. Huge squat aqueducts, tunnels, overhanging red sandstone cliffs. They all combine to give e an unforgettable experience.

Then for the last day travel up the Trent and Mersey to Stone, the town where the Trent and Mersey started.

Thursday night at Stourport; Fri Wolverton; Sat Bratch; Sun Coven Heath; Mon Penkridge; Tues Great Haywood; Weds Stone.

Be collected from Kiderminister Railway Station at 4.30 p.m. on Thursday 11th October, and returned to Stone Railway Station by 10.00 a.m. on Thursday 18th October.

You are of course welcome to make your own way to us at Stourport. Car Parking available at Stone.

Highlights.

> Rock cut short tunnels.

> 'Different' locks.

>Sections of the route cut out of the Sandstone cliffs.

>Big solid aqueducts.

> Stourport, 18th century Canal Port.

25 - Fearsome Tunnel and Unusual Locks.

Stone, Thursday 18th October to Swanley marina near Nantwich by Thursday 25th October. Seven nights, £695 per person.

Starting at Stone, where the Trent and Mersey Canal was started, we climb up short flights of locks into Stock on Trent, mainly country at first.

On the summit of the Trent and Mersey we pass through Harecastle tunnel, one of the longest and lowest in the UK.

We then go down the Cheshire Locks, known to many as Heartbreak Hill. At one time these locks were so busy that duplicate locks were built alongside, traffic permitting we will work some of the pairs with both boats at the same time.

We finish by crossing over to the Shropshire Union on the beautiful rural isolated Middlewich branch.

As this is an Autumn cruise you can expect the autumn colors of the trees, swirling mists, and the beauty of sunrises and sunsets at a time you will see!

Thursday night at Stone, Fri Barlaston; Sat Stoke, Eturia Junction; Sun Church Lawrence; Mon Wilkins Bank; Tues Middlewich; Weds Swanley Marina, near Nantwich. .

Be collected from Stone Railway Station at 4.30 p.m. on Thursday 18th October and returned to Crewe Railway station by 10.30 a.m. on Thursday 25th October.

You are of course welcome to make your own way to us at Stone. Car Parking is available at Stone and Swanley Marina, near Nantwich.

Highlights.

> Harecastle Tunnel.

> Paired locks.

> Lock flights at Stone,.

> Rural isolation of the Middlewich Branch. .

26 - Two differentCanals.

Swanley Marina near Nantwich Thursday 25th October to Birmingham Thursday 1st November Seven nights. £695, per person.

We cruise two contrasting canals.

First the main line of the Shropshire Union. It has three great narrow locks flights. Several deep cuttings some of them cut through the rock, and some of them over a mile long. It has huge embankments, with the tree tops below you. The aqueducts are iron troughs taking you slowly over the speeding road traffic. Yet for all of this it is a quiet rural canal cutting across the fields of Shropshire for mile after quiet mile.

The Second Canal takes us through the 'Black Country', packed with industrial archaeology. Up the 21 Wolverhampton locks, and then weaving around what was once the major highway of comerce for the area, now often a quiet back water.

Finally we moor in Birmingham, right in the centre of this modern city which still has the canal at its heart.

Thursday night at Swanley Marina, near Nantwich, Fri Audlem, Sat Market Drayton, Sun Norbury Junction, Mon Autherley Junction, Tues Wolverhampton; Wed Birmingham.

Be collected from Crewe Station at 4.30 p.m. on Thursday 25th October, and returned to Birmingham New Street Railway Station by 10.00 a.m. on Thursday 1st November.

You are of course welcome to make your own way to us at Swanley Marina. Car Parking is available at Swanley Marina.

Highlights.

> The spectacular Rock Lined cuttings of the Shropshire Union.

> The four flights of narrow locks.

> The quiet, isolated farmland sliding by..

> Two short tunnels, one rock lined for much of it's length.

> A fascinating glimse of a variety of urban canals with their history.

27- A last Weekend Cruise.

Birmingham Thursday 1st Nov to Warwick by Monday 5th Nov. 4 nights. £415, per person.

We start moored in the centre of Birmingham, then cruise out of the city at first on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal and then on the Northern Stratford upon Avon Canal. We pass by the University and the University Hospital and turn at Kings Norton Junction under the guillotine lock. No working locks but two short tunnels. Finally we moor for the night in the country.

On the second day we cruise over to Lapworth, passing through three lift bridges and down many of the narrow locks at Lapworth.

On the final day we join the Grand Union Canal through a cutting and over an embankment before passing through a tunnel with a separate tunnel for the horse. Finally finishing with the Majestic flight of 21 locks at Hatton.

. A cruise with everything, tunnels, locks, lift bridges, locks broad and narrow even a guillotine lock! Ideal as a taster at just four nights. .

Thursday night at Birmingham; Friday Dickens Heath; Saturday Lapworth; Sunday Warwick.

Be collected from Birmingham New Street Railway Station at 4.30 p.m. on Thursday 1st Nov, and returned to Warwick Parkway Railway Station by 10.00 a.m. on Monday 5th Nov.

You are of course welcome to make your own way to us at Birmingham. Car Parking is available at Warwick.

Highlights.

> Start in the centre of Birmingham, 2nd city of the UK.

> Hatton 21 Broad locks.

> Lapworth 19 narrow locks set in Warwickshire countryside.

> Three short tunnels, one with a tunnel for the horse.

> Three lift bridges.