Britain's peaceful canals take narrow boaters through the countryside and into historic towns and cities.
There are villages with canalside pubs to moor up next to for the perfect rural retreat, as well as moorings close to attractions in towns and cities like Linlithgow, Llangollen and Bath. Drifters offers the choice of 500 boats from 40 locations across England, Scotland and Wales. All Drifters operators provide hirers with boat steering tuition and canal boat holidays are pet friendly.
Here's a guide to Drifters' top 8 August bank holiday weekend 2026 destinations:
1. Cruise to Gargrave, Gateway to the Yorkshire Dales
On a weekend break from Drifters canal boat hire base at Silsden on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in West Yorkshire, boaters can cruise to Gargrave 'Gateway to the Yorkshire Dales' and back. The route takes boaters through the beautiful River Aire Valley and Skipton with its medieval castle and woods. There are moorings at Gargrave and from there boaters can walk into the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Pubs to enjoy along the way include: the White Lion at Kildwick; the Slaters Arms at Bradley; and the Mason's Arms at Gargrave. The journey to Gargrave and back travels 23 miles, passing through six locks (three each way) and takes around 13 hours.
***The 56ft 'Dan's Drum' narrowboat for up to five people is currently available for a weekend break 28-31 August 2026 for £1,015. Price includes bed linen, towels, parking, tuition on arrival, Wi-Fi and first pet. A fuel deposit (£70 for a short break, £110 for a week) is extra. Fuel charges are based on use, circa £15 per day. A compulsory £50 damage waiver is extra. Second and third pets are charged at £25 each for a short break.
2. Glide through the Staffordshire countryside to Norbury
On a weekend break from Autherley near Wolverhampton, boaters can cruise along the Shropshire Union Canal to Norbury and back. The journey takes canal boaters through miles of scenic countryside, and a series of villages, including the Lesters Arms at Brewood and the Hartley Inn at Wheaton Aston. Canal features encountered along the way include Stretton Aqueduct, Cowley Tunnel and Shelmore Embankment. At Norbury, boaters can moor up to visit the Norbury Junction pub. The journey there and back travels 31 miles, through four locks (two each way) and takes around 14 hours.
***The 64ft 'Gemini' narrowboat for up to eight people is currently available from Autherley 28-31 August 2026 for £1,195. Price includes up to six adults, boat hire, damage waiver, fuel, gas, parking, tuition, buoyancy aids, bed linen and towels. Pets are extra, charged at £45 each. Extra adults are charged at £50 per person.
3. Navigate the Kennet & Avon Canal to Georgian Bath
From the base of the Caen Hill flight of locks at Devizes in Wiltshire, boaters can travel along the beautiful Kennet & Avon Canal to Bath and back. As well as 16 locks (eight each way), the journey takes boaters through a series of swing bridges and over the magnificent Bath stone Avoncliff and Dundas aqueducts. Canalside pubs to enjoy along the way include the Barge Inn at Seend, the Canal Tavern at Bradford on Avon and the Cross Guns at Avoncliff. There are places to moor alongside Sydney Gardens, and from there it's a 15-minute walk into Bath city centre, home to world famous attractions, including the Roman Baths and the Royal Crescent. The journey to Bath and back travels 38 miles, passing through 16 locks (eight each way) and takes around 20 hours.
***The 69ft 'Cunning Fox' narrowboat for up to six people is currently available 28 August to 1 September 2026 for £1,731, saving £83. Price includes diesel, gas, damage waiver, bed linen, towels, canal map, life jackets, parking and tuition. Pets are extra, charged at £35 each.
4. Travel along the Union Canal to Linlithgow
From Falkirk at the Junction of the Union and Forth & Clyde canals, boaters can cruise through the Scottish Lowlands to Linlithgow and back. This route begins with the passage through a manned lock into the canal basin, and then up the Falkirk Wheel, the world's first rotating boat lift. After that, the journey takes boaters through Roughmute Tunnel, followed by another two manned locks. Now on the Union Canal, the route travels through Falkirk Tunnel and across the massive Avon Aqueduct. After enjoying miles of peaceful countryside, boaters reach the historic town of Linlithgow, where they can visit the beautifully preserved remains of Linlithgow Palace on the shores of Linlithgow Loch, the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots. Linlithgow has some excellent eateries, including the award-winning Four Marys pub. The journey to Linlithgow passes through six locks (three each way) and back takes around eight hours.
***The luxury 48ft 'Princess' narrowboat for up to four people is currently available for a weekend break from Falkirk 28-31 August 2026 for £1,287, saving £142. Price includes boat hire, non-refundable damage waiver, gas, car parking, tuition on arrival, buoyancy aids, bed linen, towels and first pet. Fuel is charged on return based on use, circa £10-15 per day.
5. Cruise along the Grand Union Canal to Napton-on-the-Hill
On a weekend break from Weedon in Northamptonshire, boaters can cruise along the Grand Union Canal to Napton and back. This route travels through the Northamptonshire countryside, passing the New Inn at Norton Junction and the Admiral Nelson at Braunston. The journey also takes boaters through the Brauston Tunnel, which is over a mile long. At Napton-on-the-Hill, boaters will find an excellent village shop and bakery, and the Folly and King's Head pubs. The journey to Napton and back travels 31 miles, passing through 26 locks (13 each way) and takes around 15 hours.
***The 65ft 'Jimsonweed' narrowboat for up to six people is currently available for weekend break from Weedon 28-31 August 2026 for £1,550. Price includes damage waiver, parking, gas, bedding, buoyancy aids, towels and tuition. Fuel is extra, charge based on use, circa £10-15 per day. Pets are extra charged at £30 each.
6. Float across the UNESCO World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct in North Wales
On a weekend break from Chirk, canal boat holiday-makers can cruise the 11-metre section of the Llangollen Canal designated a UNESCO World Heritage site to the Eisteddfod town of Llangollen, on the edge of the Berwyn Mountains. Along the way, boaters will cross the 38-metre high Pontcysyllte Aqueduct experiencing stunning views of the Dee Valley below. On reaching Llangollen, boaters can moor up in Llangollen Basin and enjoy visiting the town's independent shops, pubs and restaurants, as well as its Steam Railway and Horseshoe Falls. Canalside pubs to visit along the way include the Aqueduct Inn at Froncysyllte and The Sun at Trevor. The journey to Llangollen and back travels 14 miles and takes around six hours.
***The luxury 65ft 'Crown' narrowboat for up to six people is currently available for a weekend break from Chirk 28-31 August 2026 for £1,632, saving £407. Price includes boat hire, non-refundable damage waiver, gas, car parking, tuition on arrival, buoyancy aids, bed linen, towels and first pet. Fuel is charged on return based on use, circa £10-15 per day.
7. Travel through the Leicestershire countryside to Stoke Golding
From Springwood Haven on the Coventry Canal, it takes around six hours to cruise to the historic village of Stoke Golding. At Marston Junction, boaters transfer onto the lock-free Ashby Canal and travel on through the Leicestershire countryside, passing through Sutton Cheney, home of the Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre & Country Park. Then on past Dadlington and the Dog & Hedgehog pub. Stoke Golding has one of the most beautiful churches in England and there's a choice of pubs, including the White Swan. Before heading out, boaters can stock up on local produce at the Poplars Farm shop and café near Nuneaton, selling fruit, vegetables, honey, local cheese, eggs, poultry and jams. The journey to Stoke Golding and back travels 27 miles and takes around 12 hours. There are no locks on this route.
***The 49ft 'Musician Wren' narrowboat for up to four people is currently available from Springwood Haven 28-31 August 2026 for £1,040, saving £260. Price includes a non-refundable damage waiver, bed linen, towels, car parking, three pets, buoyancy aids and tuition. A fuel deposit of £60 for a short break is payable with the balance of hire. Fuel costs are approx. £10-15 per day.
8. Navigate through Cannock Chase to Fradley
On a weekend break from Great Haywood on the Trent & Mersey Canal in Staffordshire, boaters can cruise to Fradley Junction and back, passing through Cannock Chase Forest along the way. Before heading out, the Canalside Farm Shop at Great Haywood is perfect for stocking-up on local produce, including sausages, fruit, vegetables, free range eggs and baked products. At Fradley, boaters can visit the Swan pub and walk along the wooded trails at Fradley Pool Nature Reserve. The journey to Fradley and back travels 25 miles, through 10 locks (five each way) and takes around 12 hours.
***The 67ft 'Pegasus' narrowboat for up to six people is currently available for a weekend break from Great Haywood 28-31 August 2026 for £1,430. Price includes bed linen, towels, parking, tuition on arrival, Wi-Fi and first pet. A fuel deposit (£70 for a short break, £110 for a week) is extra. Fuel charges are based on use, circa £15 per day. A compulsory £50 damage waiver is extra. Second and third pets are charged at £25 each for a short break.
Drifters is made up of 10 hire boat companies: ABC Boat Hire, Anglo Welsh, Black Prince, Countrywide Cruisers, Foxhangers, Grand Union Narrowboats, Kate Boats, Napton Narrowboats, Shire Cruisers and Union Canal Carriers. Between them they offer over 500 boats for hire, operating from 40 bases across England, Scotland and Wales.
2026 hire prices start at £715 for a short break, £980 for a week on a boat for up to four people. Narrowboats range from 32ft to 70ft and can accommodate up to 12 people. All Drifters operators provide hirers with life jackets and boat steering tuition.
