Longer Narrowboat Holidays

White Lock keepers cottage on the Marsworth flight, Grand Union canal

We offer weekly narrowboat hire and longer trips of up to 14 nights. With a choice of boats to rent and the UK's longest canal to explore, we can help you plan your narrowboat holiday right here!

For a real boating adventure, hiring a narrowboat for a week or more gives you plenty of opportunity to really explore the area and have the full experience of life on the UK canals.

So if you are looking for a holiday where the whole family can get involved and make special holiday memories together, or you're after a unique way to explore the history and culture of the heart of England, a 1 or 2 week narrowboat holiday on the Grand Union canal is the perfect choice.

Our narrowboat holidays start on either a Monday or Friday and can be booked for 7 nights, 10 nights, 11 nights or 14 nights.

Your narrowboat will be prepared for you to collect at 2pm, and following an introductory session with our qualified team who will take you through everything you need to know, you'll then set off for your narrowboat adventure. The boat is to be returned at 10am on the final day of your holiday.

7 Night Narrowboat Holiday Routes

Cowroast Marina > Wendover Arm > Leighton Buzzard

This route travels for 24 miles, through 36 locks - Best for Countryside Views

Day 1: Spend your first few hours acquainting yourself with narrowboat driving with some lock-free cruising along the length of the Tring summit. When you reach Bulbourne juntion, turn left under the bridge and cruise to the end of the Wendover Arm where you'll find plenty of peaceful mooring spots.
Day 2: Head back along the Wendover Arm and turn left on to the main Grand Union. Here you'll reach the start of the Marsworth flight, which is often manned by CRT volunteers who will help you through the 7 locks. At Marsworth junction, continue northwards on the main Grand Union and you'll pass through 2 more locks before you reach a swing bridge. Moor up around Seabrook locks and enjoy a short stroll into the villages of Pitstone and Ivinghoe.
Day 3: Continue northwards and enjoy the stunning views of Ivinghoe Beacon in the distance. If you are looking for a great place to stop for the night, try Grove Lock marina where you can meet other boaters and enjoy a night in their canalside pub and restaurant.
Day 4: Head on to Leighton Buzzard and take a pit-stop in the town centre to stock up on supplies in the canalside supermarket. There are several turning circles along this section where you can turn the boat around before spending the night exploring the local town.
Day 5: Head southwards out of Leighton Buzzard, and enjoy a scenic countryside cruise back to Tring Reservoirs. For a night of traditional countryside food, head to the Red Lion or the Anglers Retreat in Marsworth.
Day 6: Continue to Marsworth and head back up the 7 lock flight. Cruise along the final Tring summit and if you have a bit of time to spare, take a walk into Aldbury village or around College Lake.
Day 7: Just a short lock-free cruise on your final morning will return you to Cowroast Marina.

Cowroast Marina > Wendover Arm > Grove > Berkhamsted

This route travels for 29 miles, through 48 locks - Best for Town & Countryside

Day 1: Spend your first few hours acquainting yourself with narrowboat driving with some lock-free cruising along the length of the Tring summit. When you reach Bulbourne juntion, turn left under the bridge and cruise to the end of the Wendover Arm where you'll find plenty of peaceful mooring spots.
Day 2: Head back along the Wendover Arm and turn left on to the main Grand Union. Here you'll reach the start of the Marsworth flight, which is often manned by CRT volunteers who will help you through the 7 locks. At Marsworth junction, continue northwards on the main Grand Union and you'll pass through 2 more locks before you reach a swing bridge. Moor up around Seabrook locks and enjoy a short stroll into the villages of Pitstone and Ivinghoe.
Day 3: Continue northwards and enjoy the stunning views of Ivinghoe Beacon in the distance. If you are looking for a great place to stop for the night, try Grove Lock marina where you can meet other boaters and enjoy a night in their canalside pub and restaurant.
Day 4: Turn the boat around at Grove Lock and enjoy a scenic cruise back to Tring Reservoirs and start to make your way back up the flight. For a great night out, try the Grand Junction Arms, located at the top of the flight of locks.
Day 5: Cruise the length of the Tring Summit and continue past Cowroast to descend the 7 locks into Berkhamsted town centre. Moor up for the night and enjoy the nightlife of this historic market town.
Day 6: Turn the boat around below lock 53 and head northwards, stopping for the night in Dudswell above lock 47.
Day 7: Continue northwards through lock 46 and you'll be back at Cowroast Marina.

Cowroast Marina > Soulbury

This route travels for 32 miles, through 42 locks - Best for Experienced Boaters

Day 1: Spend your first few hours with some lock-free cruising along the length of the Tring summit. When you reach Bulbourne juntion, continue northwards and begin to descend the Marwsorth flight of locks.
Day 2: Complete the 7 locks at Marsworth and continue northwards on a scenic cruise through the foothills of the Chilterns AONB. Stop for the night at Grove Lock marina to meet other boaters and get a feel for marina life.
Day 3: Continue northwards through Leighton Buzzard until you reach Soulbury. The Three Locks pub located here is a popular local eatery and you can moor up right outside.
Day 4: Turn the boat around below lock 26 and head back to Lighton Buzzard, where you moor up in the centre of town and stock up on supplies in the canalside supermarket and explore this beautiful historic town.
Day 5: Head southwards out of Leighton Buzzard, and enjoy a scenic countryside cruise back to Tring Reservoirs. For a night of traditional countryside food, head to the Red Lion or the Anglers Retreat in Marsworth.
Day 6: Continue to Marsworth and head back up the 7 lock flight. Cruise along the final Tring summit and if you have a bit of time to spare, take a walk into Aldbury village or around College Lake.
Day 7: Just a short lock-free cruise on your final morning will return you to Cowroast Marina.

Canal Boats moored on canal beneath wooden bridge in Berkhamsted

View across a lock to old lockkeepers houses

Longer Narrowboat Holiday Routes

Cowroast Marina > Wendover Arm > Milton Keynes (South)

This route travels for 49 miles, through 48 locks - Best for Town & Entertainment

Day 1: Spend your first few hours acquainting yourself with narrowboat driving with some lock-free cruising along the length of the Tring summit. When you reach Bulbourne juntion, turn left under the bridge and cruise to the end of the Wendover Arm where you'll find plenty of peaceful mooring spots.
Day 2: Head back along the Wendover Arm and turn left on to the main Grand Union. Here you'll reach the start of the Marsworth flight, which is often manned by CRT volunteers who will help you through the 7 locks. From the bottom of the flight, continue northwards on a scenic cruise through the foothills of the Chilterns AONB.
Day 3: Head on to Leighton Buzzard to take a pit-stop in the town centre where you can stock up on supplies in the canalside supermarket and spend the night exploring this historic market town.
Day 4: Continue northwards out of Leighton Buzzard and enjoy a scenic cruise through the heart of the english countryside via the Three Locks and up to Fenny Stratford.
Day 5: Enjoy a day of lock free cruising to Campbell Wharf where you can spend the night in this stunning new marina.
Day 6: Spend the day exploring the vast array of activities that Milton Keynes has to offer such as Gulliver's Land, go-karting, shopping and loads more.
Day 7: Turning around at Campbell Wharf, cruise southwards back to Soulbury and spend the night near the Three Locks pub.
Day 8: Continue southwards through Leighton Buzzard and aim to get to Grove Lock Marina.
Day 9: Return to Tring Reservoirs.
Day 10: Ascend the Marsworth flight and head back along the summit.
Day 11: A short lock-free cruise will return you to Cowroast Marina.

Cowroast Marina > Wendover Arm > Milton Keynes (North)

This route travels for 49 miles, through 48 locks - Best for a Little Bit of Everything!

Day 1: Spend your first few hours acquainting yourself with narrowboat driving with some lock-free cruising along the length of the Tring summit. When you reach Bulbourne juntion, turn left under the bridge and cruise to the end of the Wendover Arm where you'll find plenty of peaceful mooring spots.
Day 2: Head back along the Wendover Arm and turn left on to the main Grand Union. Here you'll reach the start of the Marsworth flight, which is often manned by CRT volunteers who will help you through the 7 locks. From the bottom of the flight, continue northwards on a scenic cruise through the foothills of the Chilterns AONB.
Day 3: Head on to Leighton Buzzard to take a pit-stop in the town centre where you can stock up on supplies in the canalside supermarket and spend the night exploring this historic market town.
Day 4: Continue northwards out of Leighton Buzzard and enjoy a scenic cruise through the heart of the english countryside via the Three Locks and up to Fenny Stratford.
Day 5: Enjoy a day of lock free cruising to Campbell Wharf where you can spend the night in this stunning new marina.
Day 6: Spend the day exploring the vast array of activities that Milton Keynes has to offer such as Gulliver's Land, go-karting, lakeside walks, shopping and loads more.
Day 7: Enjoy another day of lock-free cruising as you continue exploring northwards through Milton Keynes.
Day 8: Today you can enjoy the views below as you cruise across the Great Ouse aqueduct and then turn the boat around at Cosgrove marina, and begin your journey southwards.
Day 9: Head back through Milton Keynes with more lock free cruising.
Day 10: Cruise southwards back to Soulbury and spend the night near the Three Locks pub.
Day 11: Continue through Leighton Buzzard and spend the night at the Grove Lock Marina.
Day 12: Return to Tring Reservoirs.
Day 13: Ascend the Marsworth flight and head back along the summit.
Day 14: A short lock-free cruise will return you to Cowroast Marina.

Want to know more? Click below to look at our favourite things to do and places to visit in the Chilterns.

Explore the Chilterns