About this trip.
Planning the route? Read our Four Counties Ring guide. Weighing up hire firms? UK narrowboat hire, compared lists 32 firms by canal, dog fees and fuel.
Before you book: Canal du Midi vs UK narrowboating — same week, different country, very different holiday · How we vet operators — and the questions you should ask any small-group operator yourself
Bunbury sits on the Shropshire Union Canal near Tarporley in Cheshire. Routes run in several directions from the base, through farmland and countryside to market towns, canal junctions and the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It suits newcomers to boating as well as people who have done it before.
Short breaks from Bunbury
On a short break you can cruise the Shropshire Union Canal through the Cheshire countryside to the ancient City of Chester and back. Chester is known for its Roman walls and medieval architecture. Another short break follows the Shropshire Union and the Middlewich Branch to the market town of Middlewich. A third crosses Nantwich Aqueduct on the way to the historic village of Audlem. Stops along that route include Barbridge Junction and the Old Barbridge Inn, the Farmers Arms at Ravensmoor and the Dusty Miller at Wrenbury.
Four-night breaks give you more choice. One route goes along the Shropshire Union and onto the Trent & Mersey Canal to the Anderton Boat Lift, one of the Seven Wonders of the Waterways. Another passes through Chester and continues to the Canal & River Trust's National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port. There are mid-week routes to the historic market towns of Whitchurch, on the Llangollen Canal, and Market Drayton.
Week-long holidays and the canal rings
With a week, you can cruise through the Cheshire and Shropshire countryside to Norbury Junction and back. You could also take the Llangollen Canal through the Shropshire Lake District and across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, often called the "stream in the sky", to Llangollen.
With 10 days or two weeks you can complete a full ring. The Four Counties Ring covers 115 miles and 104 locks. The Cheshire Ring covers 122 miles and 104 locks. Both take around 65 cruising hours.
Several routes are currently affected by problems on the network. The Anderton Boat Lift is closed, though its visitor centre is open. The operator also lists a breach on the Llangollen Canal at Whitchurch, a closure on the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal at Penkridge and a breach on the Bridgewater Canal. Check which routes are open when you book.
Boats and day hire
The fleet sleeps from two to 12 people. There are 48ft boats for two or four and 69ft boats for up to 12. Boats come in Standard, Premium and Luxury grades, across classes including Constellation, Bond, Weir, Stream, Trent, Ocean and Emperor. There is plenty of storage on board, and the base gives advice on what to pack.
If you just want a day on the water, the day boat Bella takes up to 10 people and is family and pet friendly.
The shape of the trip.
Everything you might be wondering.
Q1Do I need a licence?
No. The hire base gives you a short handover covering steering, locks, and safety before you set off. Speed limit is 4 mph on UK narrowboats — slower than a walking pace. If you can drive a car, you can drive a canal boat.
Q2How many locks will I do?
Depends on the route. The Llangollen has about 20 over a week — leisurely. The Caen Hill flight on the Kennet & Avon has 29 in one stretch — a full day's work. Some European routes (Canal du Midi, Camargue) have almost none. The operator's map shows lock counts per day so you can pace yourself.
Q3Can I travel solo?
Most hire companies require two adults on board, mainly so one person can work locks while the other steers. A few allow solo hire on quieter routes — ask the operator before booking.
Q4What's included?
Typically the boat, fuel for the engine, a handover briefing, mooring ropes, fenders and a starter pack (tea, coffee, washing-up kit). Bedding is sometimes included, sometimes £10-20 extra. Food is your own, shopped from towpath-side villages.
Q5What if something breaks?
The hire base has a 24/7 support line. A fitter will usually come out within a few hours. Engines are robust and well-maintained — the most common failures are blocked weed hatches (clearable yourself) and flat domestic batteries.
Q6Is it good for kids?
Yes — lifejackets are provided and kids love working locks. Older children (6+) can help steer under supervision. Toddlers need constant watching near open decks. A reinforced guard rail helps.
Q7Can I bring my dog?
Most hire companies allow one or two dogs for a small supplement (£20-30 per dog per week). They love the towpath walks. The boat will lose its deposit if the dog damages upholstery — bring a blanket.
Q8What about cancellation?
Typically a 25% deposit at booking, balance 8-12 weeks before departure. Each operator has its own cancellation ladder (steeper close to departure). Travel insurance with cruise cover is recommended.
Three canal holidays, side-by-side.
The two closest canal holidays on Mooch, both in England. Prices are the operators' own, per boat.
