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
Great Haywood and its short breaks
Great Haywood sits at the junction of the Trent & Mersey Canal and the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal, which gives the boatyard here plenty of choice of direction. From this base near Stafford you can explore the Staffordshire countryside and the West Midlands canal network, and head towards the Potteries and the Peak District. There are cruising routes for beginners and for experienced boaters.
On a short break you can cruise south to Fradley Junction and back, passing through the Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Alternatively, head north along the Trent & Mersey through the wooded Trent Valley to the historic village of Stone and back, passing villages with canalside pubs. With four nights you can take the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal to Gailey Wharf and back, or cruise through the Staffordshire countryside to historic Alrewas and back.
Week-long routes and the rings
A week gives you more choice. You can cruise north up the Trent & Mersey to Etruria in Stoke on Trent, home of the Potteries. You can also go to Stoke on Trent and turn onto the Caldon Canal to Leek and back. Other week-long options are the historic village of Brewood and back, the market town of Market Drayton (home of the gingerbread man) and back, or moorings on the Coventry Canal close to Drayton Manor Theme Park and back.
With longer, you can complete a ring. The Black Country Ring takes 10 days or two weeks and covers 75 miles and 79 locks in around 43 cruising hours. The Four Counties Ring can be done on a 7, 10, 11 or 14-night break and covers 110 miles and 94 locks in around 60 cruising hours. You can also connect from Great Haywood to the Stourport Ring. It takes in sections of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire, Worcester & Birmingham, Birmingham Main Line and Stourbridge canals, plus a short stretch of the River Severn. For experienced boaters, a circuit that criss-crosses the Pennines covers 73 miles and 197 locks and takes around three weeks from Great Haywood.
Highlights listed along the way include the Swan at Stone, World of Wedgwood, Harecastle Tunnel, Heartbreak Hill with views of the Cheshire Plain, Nantwich Aqueduct, Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker, the Shroppie Fly pub at Audlem, Norbury Junction, Penkridge and Tixall Wide.
Boats at Great Haywood
The fleet includes Luxury, Premium and Standard narrowboats from 48ft to 69ft. Between them they sleep from two to 12 people. There's plenty of storage on board, and the operator offers advice on what to pack. If you'd rather spend a single day on the water, there are two day boats, each with room for up to 10 people. They welcome families and pets.
The boatyard is on Mill Lane, Great Haywood, Staffordshire ST18 0RJ.
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.
