CANAL BOAT HOLIDAYS ENGLAND NARROWBOAT BARGE CANAL HOLIDAYS WITH A CREW 4 to 9-days / 8-nights on fully catered cruises aboard a traditional English canal boat 2015 Highlights: Departs: Cost: The Llangollen Canal, Stratford-upon-Avon & the English Midlands. Birmingham, Great Haywood, Worcester, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick, and Banbury, Market Harborough, Coventry. See also the Llangollen Canal, Grand Union Canal & the River Severn. Prices from just $985 per person twin share for a 5-day / 4-night cruise. Single cabins may be available subject to availability with a supplement ask for details. Includes: Price includes full board breakfast, lunch and dinner each day twin share / double cabin accommodation with private or share bathroom. Support crew of skipper, mate and onboard cook. The transfers to/from the start point can arranged if required. When most people think of canal boat holidays they picture in their mind the traditional British narrowboat or barge constructed during the industrial revolution in the 1700 s to carry cargo long the narrow, shallow canal networks built to link industrial centres. Nowadays these barges are very much a part of the English countryside scene as floating accommodation that moves at a snails pace through some of the most fascinating, historical and attractive regions where canals and canalised rivers have always been important such as the Midlands and Birmingham, the Lapworth Loop, the Grand Union Canal, North Wales and the Llangollen region. Some of these narrowboats are available as self-skippered holiday options but for those interested in joining a small group holiday with a captain and crew to attend to the management of the boat, preparation of meals and explanations of the places you visit along the way our narrowboat hotel barge holiday aboard may be for you. At 70ft long and 6ft 10ins wide this is just about the biggest barge that can go through the locks on the English Canal System yet we are limited with just three cabins for passengers on each departure. The layout of the barge has been designed to provide maximum personal space and privacy. The interior, whilst narrow, is designed to offer double or twin beds, showers rooms with sink and toilet and a lounge dining area. The barge is centrally heated and has mains electric. Space is limited but there are sitting areas to enjoy the cruise and we encourage you to join in with the workings of the boat on locks and mooring. The crew certainly want you to feel as much at home as possible. Starting on a continuous series of journeys from easy to reach places such as Birmingham, Chester, Great Haywood, Worcester, Shakespeare s home of Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick with the hugely popular Warwick Castle, Marsworth, Market Harborough, Coventry with its glorious cathedral, Sawley near Nottingham, Banbury or Snarestone we offer a comprehensive choice of barging holidays. Call OUTDOOR TRAVEL on 1800 331 582 for details or reservations
LIFE ABOARD A TRADITIONAL ENGLISH NARROWBOAT.. The interior of the hotel boat is designed to make the most of the space but make you feel as near at home as possible. The hotel boat is centrally heated and has mains electric. The layout has been designed to provide maximum personal space and privacy with these features. Full width cabins each with a separate entrance, avoiding the need to walk through other guests cabins. Each cabin on the hotel boat has a wardrobe, built in drawers, reading lights and those little extras. Interior sprung mattresses are provided for your comfort. Separate shower rooms with modern full flush toilet, washbasin and power shower is available between each cabin. Every guest is provided with a full towel bundle and complimentary toiletries. The saloon has comfortable seating for relaxation and dining. A small bar is available; together with DVD equipment for home viewing should the weather prove inclement for an evening stroll to the local pub. Outside at the front of the hotel boat, the well deck provides comfortable seating in rain or shine to watch the world go by. Additional seating is provided at the back to sit with the steerer and see journey from a totally different aspect.
2014 CRUISE OPTIONS (see also CRUISE SUMMARY: DATES & PRICES on page 5) CRUISE No 1 BIRMINGHAM STRATFORD UPON AVON 6-day/5-night Weekend Break A cruise that travels the full length of the Stratford Canal linking a modern bustling city with villages and towns such as Stratford dedicated to William Shakespeare. Experience a day on the River Avon. No 2 STRATFORD UPON AVON WARWICK 5-day/4-night Mid-Week Break A cruise combining the delights of Shakespeare s birthplace and the heritage of an historic town with its famous castle and gardens. These are two of the most visited and most popular tourist destinations in England. No 3 WARWICK - BANBURY 6-day/5-night Weekend Break The trunk route of Britain's canal network, the picturesque Grand Union is the longest single canal in Britain. The Grand Union Canal was once one of the busiest in the country as the main line from London to the Midlands. This section passes through the innovative modifications completed in the 1930 s before turning onto the picturesque Oxford Canal which meanders slowly through classic scenery. No 4 BANBURY COVENTRY (HAWKESBURY Junction) 5-day/4-night Mid-Week Break A journey on the picturesque Oxford Canal meandering slowly through classic scenery and over the section adopted by the Grand Union Canal improvements from Napton to Bruanston in the early 1930 s. Journeys end is at an historic junction known to working boatman as Sutton Stop. No 5 COVENTRY (HAWKESBURY Junction) BIRMINGHAM 6-day/5-night Weekend Break Travelling the backwaters of the Heart of England canals from the Coventry Canal and Hawkesbury Junction through industrial mining heritage to a regenerated bustling city. No 6 BIRMINGHAM WORCESTER 5-day/4-night Mid-Week Break A unique opportunity to travel the full length of the Worcester - Birmingham Canal. Complete with memorable views over the Malvern Hills and the unforgettable Tardebigge flight of locks, the longest in England. No 6R WORCESTER BIRMINGHAM 5-day/4-night Mid-Week Break The reverse of Cruise No.8. A unique opportunity to travel the full length of the Worcester - Birmingham Canal. Complete with memorable views over the Malvern Hills and the unforgettable Tardebigge flight of locks, the longest in England. No 7 WARWICK BIRMINGHAM via Black Country Museum 6-day/5-night Weekend Break A cruise that starts with the Stairway to Heaven en-route to Birmingham on the Grand Union Canal. A trip out to the Black Country Museum to view the industrial heritage so closely linked to the development of the Midlands and then a return to the centre of the second city. No 8 WORCESTER BIRMINGHAM via Droitwich 6-day/5-night Weekend Break From the cathedral city of Worcester travel upstream on the Severn to the recently reopened Droitwich canals. Joining the Worcester and Birmingham canal at Hanbury Wharf complete the trip with an opportunity to climb Tardebigge, the longest lock flight in England and enjoy the Malvern views. No 9 WORCESTER STRATFORD UPON AVON 6-day/5-night Weekend Break A tranquil cruise following two rivers, the River Severn to Tewkesbury then meandering up the Warwickshire Avon to Shakespeare Country finishing at Stratford upon Avon (we suggest you plan ahead and book theatre tickets in advance if you intend taking in a play at the newly renovated Royal Shakespeare Theatre). No 10 WARWICK STOKE BRUERNE. 6-day/5-night Weekend Break Travel down the Grand Union through Braunston the home of English canals from the modernised section of canal done in the 1930 s to the original double locks finishing at another famous canal-side village No 11 STOKE BRUERNE - MARKET HARBOROUGH 5-day/4-night Mid-Week Break Take a leisurely cruise from another village famous for canal memories, through history with the Grand Union (Leicester section) canal and down the Foxton flight. No 12 MARKET HARBOROUGH SAWLEY 6-day/5-night Weekend Break The canal meanders its way through unspoilt rural surroundings, changing direction as it lazily motions you northwards, to the River Soar, once the most profitable waterway in England. The Soar is also a tranquil, meandering river navigation extending through Leicestershire to the junction with the River Trent which leads off to Shardlow the start of the Trent and Mersey Canal. No 13 SAWLEY GREAT HAYWOOD 5-day/4-night Mid-Week Break The Trent and Mersey Canal was the most ambitious plan to the principal rivers of England. Its importance was recognised by its early name of the 'Grand Trunk' Canal. It offers rural cruising through Derbyshire leading to
Staffordshire passing through the brewery town of Burton on Trent and an historical junction at Fradley with a truly boaters pub. No 14 GREAT HAYWOOD WORCESTER 6-day/5-night Weekend Break A journey down the entire length of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal linking the River Trent and the River Severn. Opened in 1772 it was the vision of James Brindley to make this canal part of the The Grand Cross linking his Trent and Mersey with the River Severn. The canal skirts the Birmingham and Black Country conurbation without becoming truly urban, making a delightful route through West Midlands countryside. No 15 BIRMINGHAM GREAT HAYWOOD 5-day/4-night Mid-Week Break A contrast in industrial heritage balanced with travel in rural surroundings over the Coventry Canal to a famous junction on the Trent and Mersey canal. The cruise finishes near Shugborough Hall, home of Lord Lichfield. L LAPWORTH LOOP 5 day/4 night Weekend Break A cruise of contrasts, see the rural Stratford Canal and the industrial trunk route that was the Grand Union Canal and fascinating flight of locks - through a regenerated city centre, an ideal spring or autumn cruise. EXPLORATORY CRUISES. HEADING TO THE LLANGOLLEN CANAL A. BIRMINGHAM - NANTWICH 6-day/5-night Weekend Break Starting from an urbanised area mixed with a wealth of industrial heritage experience the change in scenery to rolling farmland initiated by the Wolverhampton 21 flight of locks. After passing through a historic junction at Norbury, travel on through quiet Shropshire farmlands to the original wide beam terminus of the Chester canal. B. NANTWICH CHESTER 5-day/4-night Mid-Week Break A relaxed cruise on the Shropshire Union Canal passing through unspoilt countryside and through Chester on its way to the terminus at Ellesmere port where there is time to visit the boat museum. It is then a return journey back to Chester with time to explore a city which has a fine cathedral, town-crier and street theatre, but it still manages to feel friendly and on a small scale C. CHESTER - LLANGOLLEN 6-day/5-night Weekend Break Travel across the Cheshire Plain on a wide beam waterway to Britain s favourite canal. The Llangollen Canal has understated rural countryside, including the market towns of Whitchurch and Ellesmere, gives way to the majesty of the Chirk and Pontcysyllte Aqueducts - two of Britain's greatest waterway landmarks. D. LLANGOLLEN WHITCHURCH 5-day/4-night Mid-Week Break A Llangollen experience with time to explore the town and perhaps the railway or the horse drawn canal trip. Travelling back along the Llangollen canal with its famous aqueducts and stunning scenery there is the opportunity to view the start of the controversially restored Montgomery Canal. A short visit to Ellesmere is included and then continuing on to the canal centre at Whitchurch. E. WHITCHURCH - NORBURY 6-day/5-night Weekend Break Starting from the small canal centre at Whitchurch on the picturesque Llangollen Canal and travelling to Hurleston Junction to join the Shropshire Union Canal. The route then passes through rural scenery, rolling farmland and canal villages to a Historic Junction at Norbury. F. NORBURY BIRMINGHAM 5-day/4-night Mid-Week Break A journey starting at an historic junction on the Shroppie and experience the changing scenery from rolling farmland to an urbanised area mixed with a wealth of industrial heritage. The Wolverhampton 21 flight of locks initiates the changing scene. Call OUTDOOR TRAVEL on 1800 331 582 for details or reservations
2015 CRUISE SUMMARY: DATES & PRICES IN AUSTRALIAN DOLLARS DATE CRUISE SCHEDULED ROUTE Days/ Nights Start/End Days Cost per person 16/04/2015 L Lapworth Loop 5/4 Thu/Mon $985 20/04/2015 15 Birmingham to Great Haywood 5/4 Mon/Fri $985 23/04/2015 14 Great Haywood to Worcester 6/5 Thu/Tue $1180 27/04/2015 6R Worcester to Birmingham 5/4 Mon/Fri $985 30/04/2015 A Birmingham to Nantwich 6/5 Thu/Tue $1180 04/05/2015 B Nantwich to Chester 5/4 Mon/Fri $985 07/05/2015 C Chester to Llangollen 6/5 Thu/Tue $1180 11/05/2015 D Llangollen to Whitchurch 5/4 Mon/Fri $985 14/05/2015 E Whitchurch to Norbury 6/5 Thu/Tue $1180 18/05/2015 F Norbury to Birmingham 5/4 Mon/Fri $985 25/05/2015 6 Birmingham to Worcester 5/4 Mon/Fri $985 28/05/2015 9 Worcester to Stratford upon Avon 6/5 Thu/Tue $1180 01/06/2015 2 Stratford upon Avon to Warwick 5/4 Mon/Fri $985 04/06/2015 10 Warwick to Stoke Bruerne 6/5 Thu/Tue $1180 08/06/2015 11 Stoke Bruerne to Market Harborough 5/4 Mon/Fri $985 11/06/2015 12 Market Harborough to Sawley 6/5 Thu/Tue $1180 15/06/2015 13 Sawley to Great Haywood 5/4 Mon/Fri $985 18/06/2015 14 Great Haywood to Worcester 6/5 Thu/Tue $1180 22/06/2015 6R Worcester to Birmingham 5/4 Mon/Fri $985 25/06/2015 1 Birmingham to Stratford upon Avon 6/5 Thu/Tue $1180 29/06/2015 2 Stratford upon Avon to Warwick 5/4 Mon/Fri $985 02/07/2015 3 Warwick to Banbury 6/5 Thu/Tue $1180 06/07/2015 4 Banbury to Coventry 5/4 Mon/Fri $985 09/07/2015 5 Coventry to Birmingham 6/5 Thu/Tue $1180 13/07/2015 15 Birmingham to Great Haywood 5/4 Mon/Fri $985 16/07/2015 14 Great Haywood to Worcester 6/5 Thu/Tue $1180 20/07/2015 6R Worcester to Birmingham 5/4 Mon/Fri $985 23/07/2015 L Lapworth Loop 5/4 Thu/Mon $985 31/08/2015 6 Birmingham to Worcester 5/4 Mon/Fri $985 03/09/2015 9 Worcester to Stratford upon Avon 6/5 Thu/Tue $1180 07/09/2015 2 Stratford upon Avon to Warwick 5/4 Mon/Fri $985 10/09/2015 10 Warwick to Stoke Bruerne 6/5 Thu/Tue $1180 14/09/2015 11 Stoke Bruerne to Market Harborough 5/4 Mon/Fri $985 17/09/2015 12 Market Harborough to Sawley 6/5 Thu/Tue $1180 21/09/2015 13 Sawley to Great Haywood 5/4 Mon/Fri $985 24/09/2015 14 Great Haywood to Worcester 6/5 Thu/Tue $1180 28/09/2015 6R Worcester to Birmingham 5/4 Mon/Fri $985 01/10/2015 1 Birmingham to Stratford upon Avon 6/5 Thu/Tue $1180 05/10/2015 2 Stratford upon Avon to Warwick 5/4 Mon/Fri $985 08/10/2015 7 Warwick to Birmingham via Black Country Museum 6/5 Thu/Tue $1180 12/10/2015 6 Birmingham to Worcester 5/4 Mon/Fri $985 15/10/2015 8 Worcester to Birmingham via Droitwich 6/5 Thu/Tue $1180 22/10/2015 L Lapworth Loop 5/4 Thu/Mon $985 VALUE TOURS: Weekend & Midweek breaks can be combined to make a 9-day / 8-night cruise from Thursday to Friday at $1680 per person (twin share) when cabins are available ask for details Transfers from/to a local rail/coach station can be arranged - at extra cost. Call OUTDOOR TRAVEL on 1800 331 582 for details or reservations
Hotel barge cruises or self-skippered narrowboats or motor cruiser hire is available from Outdoor Travel in many other regions of England or in Scotland, Ireland, France, Germany, Holland, Belgium and Italy. Contact Outdoor Travel or your travel agent for more details, travel brochures and reservations: Call: Toll free 1800 331 582 or (03) 57551743 or Fax (03) 57501020 Email: info@outdoortravel.com.au Web: http://www.outdoortravel.com.au Mail: Outdoor Travel Pty Ltd, PO Box 286, Bright, VIC 3741, Australia