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
Brewood on the Shropshire Union Canal
The Wharf at Brewood in Staffordshire is the base for this narrowboat hire company on the Shropshire Union Canal. The operator offers maps and routes for several cruises: the Avon Ring, the Chester Run, the Four Counties, Llangollen and the Stourport ring.
The fleet is made up of boats that all carry a "Sir" name: Sir Ironside, Sir Fergus, Sir Cador, Sir Belin, Sir Melleaus, Sir Ulfius, Sir Galleron, Sir Bruin, Sir Blamor, Sir Valadon and Sir Menaduke.
Life at boating pace
Days on board settle into a gentle rhythm of steering, working the locks and opening swing bridges. Along the way you can stop to explore historic towns and picturesque villages, visit canalside attractions and set off on foot for a walk. The operator describes the views as the beautiful countryside of the England and Wales borderlands.
A network built for the Industrial Revolution
Britain has 2000 miles of navigable inland rivers and canals, most of them inherited from the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. At that time water transport was the mainstay of the Industrial Revolution. Heavy horses pulled boats carrying essential goods around the country, and whole families lived on board, forming a community of boat people with their own canal culture.
The railways and the steam train brought commercial canal traffic to an end, but the waterways remain. They wind through towns and meadows, moors and forests, and through hills and high over deep valleys. Today they give you a chance to follow the routes of the old working boats and imagine life aboard for the families who once lived on them.
Contact details
Countrywide Cruisers (Brewood) Ltd, The Wharf, Brewood, Staffordshire ST19 9BG. Telephone +44 (0)1902 850166 or email office@countrywide-cruisers.co.uk.
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.
