Canal boat holidays from the heart of the Midlands
Excellent 5.0
Choose your dates and check live availability for narrowboat holidays from Autherley Junction.
Tip: Select your dates to see available boats across Explorer, Discovery and Elite ranges.
Explorer Boats
Discovery
Elite Boats
Each range has a different feel, from great-value traditional boats to our most premium holiday experience.
Traditional, practical and easy to enjoy.
Ideal for classic canal holidays without paying for premium extras.
Comfortable, flexible and family friendly.
A great middle-ground for guests wanting extra comfort and flexibility.
Our most refined narrowboat experience.
Best for guests wanting a more premium, memorable and upgraded escape.
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3-Day Route
5 Day Route
7 Day Route
10/11 Days Route
3-Day Route
A relaxed short break from Autherley, heading north onto the beautiful Shropshire Union Canal. This is one of the best starter routes because it gives customers pretty villages, canal pubs, countryside cruising and very few locks.
⏱ Suggested duration: 3 days / short break
🔐 Locks: Very low-lock route
✅ Best for: First-timers, couples, families & relaxed crews
⭐ Highlights: Brewood • Gnosall • Norbury Junction • Canal pubs • Countryside cruising
DayRouteOvernight suggestionDay 1Autherley → BrewoodBrewoodDay 2Brewood → Gnosall / NorburyGnosall or Norbury JunctionDay 3Cruise back towards AutherleyReturn to base
3-Day Route
A relaxed short break from Autherley, heading north onto the beautiful Shropshire Union Canal. This is one of the best starter routes because it gives customers pretty villages, canal pubs, countryside cruising and very few locks.
⏱ Suggested duration: 3 days / short break
🔐 Locks: Very low-lock route
✅ Best for: First-timers, couples, families & relaxed crews
⭐ Highlights: Brewood • Gnosall • Norbury Junction • Canal pubs • Countryside cruising
DayRouteOvernight suggestionDay 1Autherley → BrewoodBrewoodDay 2Brewood → Gnosall / NorburyGnosall or Norbury JunctionDay 3Cruise back towards AutherleyReturn to base
5 Day Route
A scenic 5-day route from Autherley towards Market Drayton, with peaceful countryside, classic canal villages and welcoming pub stops along the way.
⏱ Duration: 5 days
✅ Best for: Confident beginners, relaxed crews & longer short breaks
⭐ Highlights: Brewood, Gnosall, Norbury Junction, Goldstone Wharf, Market Drayto
5 Day Route
A scenic 5-day route from Autherley towards Market Drayton, with peaceful countryside, classic canal villages and welcoming pub stops along the way.
⏱ Duration: 5 days
✅ Best for: Confident beginners, relaxed crews & longer short breaks
⭐ Highlights: Brewood, Gnosall, Norbury Junction, Goldstone Wharf, Market Drayto
7 Day Route
A full-week narrowboat adventure with peaceful countryside villages, historic canal basins, big lock flights, Netherton Tunnel, Merry Hill and the famous Wolverhampton 21.
Perfect for crews who want a proper cruising holiday with plenty to see, do and explore along the way.
⏱ Approx. cruising: 40 hours
🔐 Locks: 93
👨👩👧👦 Best for: Active crews, repeat boaters & families with older children
⭐ Highlights: Kinver, Stourport Basin, Merry Hill, Netherton Tunnel & Wolverhampton 21
7 Day Route
A full-week narrowboat adventure with peaceful countryside villages, historic canal basins, big lock flights, Netherton Tunnel, Merry Hill and the famous Wolverhampton 21.
Perfect for crews who want a proper cruising holiday with plenty to see, do and explore along the way.
⏱ Approx. cruising: 40 hours
🔐 Locks: 93
👨👩👧👦 Best for: Active crews, repeat boaters & families with older children
⭐ Highlights: Kinver, Stourport Basin, Merry Hill, Netherton Tunnel & Wolverhampton 21
10/11 Days Route
A scenic 10/11-day extended route from Autherley, following the beautiful Shropshire Union Canal and the Llangollen Canal as far as Wrenbury. Expect charming canal villages, historic market towns, traditional pubs, countryside cruising and memorable lock flights.
⏱ Approx. cruising: 88 hours
🔐 Locks: 98
📏 Miles: 170
🗓 Duration: 10/11 days
✅ Best for: Active crews, confident boaters & repeat hirers
⭐ Highlights: Brewood, Gnosall, Audlem, Nantwich, Wrenbury & Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker
⚠️ Important: Due to the current breach beyond Wrenbury, boats must turn at Thomason’s Winding Hole near Bridge 22.
10/11 Days Route
A scenic 10/11-day extended route from Autherley, following the beautiful Shropshire Union Canal and the Llangollen Canal as far as Wrenbury. Expect charming canal villages, historic market towns, traditional pubs, countryside cruising and memorable lock flights.
⏱ Approx. cruising: 88 hours
🔐 Locks: 98
📏 Miles: 170
🗓 Duration: 10/11 days
✅ Best for: Active crews, confident boaters & repeat hirers
⭐ Highlights: Brewood, Gnosall, Audlem, Nantwich, Wrenbury & Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker
⚠️ Important: Due to the current breach beyond Wrenbury, boats must turn at Thomason’s Winding Hole near Bridge 22.
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Would Definitely use this narrow boat rental service again. We (6 of us) rented a 65ft boat as our first canal adventure. They made it easy for us to learn how to navigate, operate and have a stress free journey on the Oxford Canal.
NBHire
First time on the canal and we made the right choice.We will definitely be going again. A great experience for myself, the wife, daughter, 2 grandchildren and a dog. Thank you for a memorable Easter weekend.
NBhire
Hired Josephine an 8+2 boat for 7of us and had the best weekend! Lots of communication with the boat company beforehand
