Anyone been on canal boat holiday?

[squirtle]

Hi

we have been on the norfolk broads previously and the thames but this time we are going on a canal boat down near stratford on avon. We are taking the pooch as we think he'll love it.

Any recommendations of what to see and where to go, we are getting on the boat in a place called Wootton Wawen, which is a fantastic name.

[squirtle]

actually think that was up in scotland but thanks for your informative input............

[wendilla]

Every morning on the Good Morning thread in chatterbank you will find Waterboatman he does the good morning early birds thread anytime from 5 am till about 9 .He works on the canals and knows everything there is to know and I do beleive he is not too far from there.I know he will be able to tell you what you want to know. Hope this helps.

[squirtle]

latina lover...........i forgive you as I thought you were being one of those pretentious ass's that usually butt in on questions they really don' t know the answer to...........hopefully it will just be a week of pure relaxation, and not getting stressed from fishing the dog out of the canal every 5 minutes.....

[squirtle]

thanks wendilla i didn't know that, i will have a look out for him then.

[wendilla]

If you scroll back on todays thread you will see what I mean on chatterbank .He takes people out on trips and has lots to do with Heritage.You will see him every morning.

[VHG]

I live fairly near Wootton Wawen and know the local canals very well.

If you are going on a canal boat holiday from Wootton Wawen then you are on the Stratford Upon Avon canal.

Heading South you get to the River Avon at Stratford Upon Avon (after going through LOTS of locks).

Heading North you get to Kingswood Junction where the Stratford Upon Avon canal meets the Grand Union canal.

The usual thing with canal holidays is to do a "ring" which takes you on a circular route round a canal system and back to where you started.

You dont say how long your holiday is, so you need to plan to do a ring that takes a week or 2 weeks etc depending on the length of your holiday.

The people you booked the boat off will give advice on the best "ring" to do from Wootton Wawen.

In my next append I will give you some useful links to local web sites

[VHG]

Wootton Wawen link (there is a lovely old church there).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wootton_Wawen

Stratford Upon avon canal links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratford-upon-Av on_Canal

http://www.stratfordcanalsociety.org.uk/

http://www.waterscape.com/canals-and-rivers/st ratford-upon-avon-canal

http://www.canaljunction.com/canal/stratford.h tm

Kingwood junction links

http://www.waterscape.com/in-your-area/warwick shire/places-to-go/262/lapworth-and-kingswood- junction

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingswood_Junctio n

[VHG]

One "ring" you could do is the Avon Ring.

One web site says it takes 10/11 days

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avon_Ring

http://www.holidayuk.co.uk/canals/routes/avonr ing/index.htm

[VHG]

While you are cruising the Stratford upon avon Canal please spare a few moments to remember the people who saved it.

Without them the canal would have gone years ago.

The canal was never profitable, and soon fell into disuse. It soon silted up and was full of weeds. The locks no longer worked. By the 1940s it was unusable.

The local council had to replace a bridge over the canal, and wanted to save money and built it "flat" so boats could no longer go under it.

This would have been the end of the canal and it would have been abandoned.

Local people and canal fans rallied round and gave up their spare time to clear out the canal and mend the locks.

After years of work part of the canal was opened up in 1964. the Queen Mother coming to Stratford upon Avon to open in.

Eventualy it was all opened and now it is used by canal boats, walkers, fishermen, cyclists, runners, and nature lovers.

All thanks to those men and women who gave up their time in the 1950s and 1960s.

More here:

http://www.waterways.org.uk/Ourwork/AHistoryof IWA/HistoricCampaigns/Stratford-upon-AvonCanal

[VHG]

You ask for things to see and do.

The most obvious is Stratford upon Avon.

Home to William Shakespeare it is a town full of history and lovely old buildings. It has both the canal AND the River Avon running through it so it is very attractive.

It can get full of tourists so can be a bit overpowering, but because of that there are plenty of things to see and do, loads of bars, restaurants and shops.

As well as Shakespeare's parents house which is open, you can also visit Mary Ardens house (his mothers) and Anne Hathaways cottage (his wife) and other houses linked to Shakespeare.

There is also the theatre in the town where you can see his plays (the main theatre is being renovated but they do have a temporary theatre).

There is a basin for canal boats in the centre of Stratford but I guess it can get very busy in the summer.

Shakespeare buildings

http://www.shakespeare.org.uk/

Stratford web site

http://www.stratford-upon-avon.co.uk/index.htm

[sddsddean]

Angel...they are not barges, they are narrowboats!

We used to have our own boat on the cut. Great way to relax (even with the locks) and heartily recommend the Avon ring..not too hard, not too easy, but great countryside (which is the great thing about a relaxing canal holiday). Just one thing regarding the dog. Make sure he/she/it is wearing a collar (a choke chain will not do!). If he/she /it falls in the canal, they are not easy for the dog to get out of(especially round locks and bridges which have high masonry sides) and you (or someone) will have to pull it out. Did this once with an Alsatian at Hillmorton. He had a choke chain on, which I grabbed and it just came straight over his head, so managed to grab the scruff of his neck to get him out. You will all enjoy the holiday, even if it rains a bit...and the best part is you can navigate by pub!!

[sddsddean]

I'm sure you won't!!

[brenda]

Had a narrow boat holiday on the canals around Birmingham.Absolutely brilliant, with 2 kids, 2 dogs and parents. 2 weeks of heaven ,even with my dad falling in the canal on his way home from a pub along the tow path.!!!!

[squirtle]

VHG You have been fantastic with your replies and i shall be sharing your information with my parents who are coming with us and i am sure we will all enjoy it thoroughly, Stratford Upon Avon sounds good to me once you mentioned bars, shops and restaurants.

Very interesting too what you said about the Canal and how it was left to ruin and then re furbished so to speak by the locals.

Its our first time on a canal and we may not get enough cruising hours in to do a ring route so may have to do an out and back. We are going for a week.

[squirtle]

Thanks to everyone for their input.

[VHG]

You will find this book useful

J M Pearson Canal River Companion - Severn and Avon.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pearsons-Canal-Compani on-Severn-Avon/dp/0954911652/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UT F8&s=books&qid=1246292333&sr=1-11

It is a fully detailed plan of all the canals in the area (including Stratford Upon Avon) and shows every lock, every bridge, every pub and shop en route, plus details of things to do either side of the canal.

There is a whole series of these books for all the UK canals.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=sear ch-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=michael+p earson+canal