Longer Narrowboat Holidays
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, giving you plenty of time to explore the local area and travel further afar to Leighton Buzzard, Milton Keynes and Stoke Bruerne.
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.
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7 Night Narrowboat Holiday Routes
Cowroast Marina > Wendover Arm > Leighton Buzzard
This route travels for 24 miles, through 36 locks - Best for Beginners
- 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 junction, 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 Cooks Wharf. For a night of traditional countryside food, moor near Cooks Wharf and enjoy an evening meal at the Old Swan in Cheddington, just a 10 minute walk away.
- Day 3: Continue northwards and enjoy the stunning views of Ivinghoe Beacon in the distance. When you reach Slapton, moor up and enjoy a peaceful evening with beautiful countryside views.
- Day 4: Continue to Leighton Buzzard where you can take a pit-stop in the town centre to stock up on supplies in the canalside supermarket before spending the night exploring the local town.
- Day 5: Turn around at one of the winding holes in the town and head southwards. If you are looking for somewhere to stop for a spot of lunch on route, try the Grove Lock where you can meet other boaters and enjoy a bite to eat in their canalside pub and restaurant. As you reach Ivinghoe, moor up around Seabrook locks and enjoy a short stroll into the village.
- Day 6: Continuing your return journey southwards, you can enjoy a scenic countryside cruise back to Marsworth. We recommend spending an evening at Tring Reservoirs (you can moor between the bottom 2 locks of the flight) where you can watch the sunset over the reservoirs and enjoy the hustle and bustle of this popular mooring spot.
- Day 7: Complete your journey up the lock flight at Marsworth and cruise along the final Tring summit back towards Cowroast. If you have a bit of time to spare, we recommend taking a walk into Aldbury village or around College Lake.
- Day 8: Just a short lock-free cruise on your final morning will return you to Cowroast Marina.
Cowroast Marina > Wendover Arm > Slapton > 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 moor up at Cooks Wharf (though not opposite the marinas!). The Old Swan in Cheddington is just short walk away and their food is fantastic!
- Day 3: Continue northwards and enjoy the stunning views of Ivinghoe Beacon in the distance. Aim for Slapton and enjoy a tranquil evening in the countryside.
- Day 4: Turn the boat around at Slapton and enjoy a scenic cruise back to Marsworth and spend an evening moored at Tring Reservoirs.
- Day 5: Make your way up the flight of 7 locks at Marsworth and moor up when you reach Bulbourne. The Grand Junction Arms is located near the bridge and offers a great menu and a canalside pub garden.
- Day 6: 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 at Canal Fields and enjoy the nightlife of this historic market town.
- Day 7: Turn the boat around below lock 53 and head northwards, stopping for the night in Dudswell above lock 47.
- Day 8: 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 & 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: 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 near Seabrook locks near Ivinghoe.
- Day 3: Continue northwards through Slapton and onto Leighton Buzzard. Mooring spots are available in the centre of town, so you can stock up on supplies in the and spending the evening exploring the local town.
- Day 4: Head through Old Linslade and enjoy the countryside views as you approach Soulbury. There are a few winding holes along this stretch to turn your narrowboat around, and you can enjoy great food a a peaceful mooring at either the historic Globe Inn in Old Linslade or the Three Locks at Soulbury both popular local canalside pubs with visitor moorings close by.
- Day 5: Head southwards back through Leighton Buzzard and stop for the night near Grove Lock Marina. For a night of traditional canal atmosphere and great food, head to the Grove Lock pub.
- Day 6: Continue towards Marsworth and moor up at Cooks Wharf (though not opposite the marinas!). The Old Swan in Cheddington is just short walk away and their food is fantastic!
- Day 7: Head back up the 7 lock flight at Marsworth. If you need some brunch to prepare for the flight, pop in to the Waterside Cafe. Once you've reached the top, 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 8: Just a short lock-free cruise on your final morning will return you to Cowroast Marina.
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Longer Narrowboat Holiday Routes
Cowroast Marina > Leighton Buzzard > Milton Keynes
This route travels for 49 miles, through 48 locks - Best for Experienced Skippers
- 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 and moor near Cooks Wharf and The Old Swan in Cheddington.
- Day 3: Continue northwards on a scenic cruise through the foothills of the Chiltern Hills and aim for Slapton.
- Day 4: 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 5: Continue northwards out of Leighton Buzzard and enjoy a scenic cruise through the heart of the english countryside to Bletchley.
- Day 6: Enjoy a relaxing cruise into Milton Keynes and spend the rest of your day exploring the vast array of activities this city has to offer such as Gulliver's Land, go-karting, watersports, shopping and loads more.
- Day 7: Turn the narrowboat around and cruise southwards back to Soulbury and spend the night near the Three Locks pub.
- Day 8: Continue through Leighton Buzzard and aim to get to Grove Lock Marina.
- Day 9: Continue your return journey southwards on the Grand Union canal until you reach Ivinghoe.
- Day 10: Head to Marsworth and and spend a night moored at Tring Reservoirs.
- Day 11: Ascend the flight of 7 locks at Marsworth and enjoy a short lock-free cruise along the summit back towards Cowroast.
- Day 12: A final short cruise will return you to Cowroast Marina.
Cowroast Marina > Wendover Arm > Milton Keynes
This route travels for 49 miles, through 48 locks - Best for Family Fun!
- 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 to Cooks Wharf. For a delicious evening meal out, take a short stroll to the Old Swan in Cheddington.
- Day 3: Enjoy a scenic cruise through the foothills of the Chilterns AONB as you head northwards to Slapton where there some tranquil countryside moorings with stunning views!
- Day 4: 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 5: 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 Bletchley.
- Day 6: Enjoy a day cruising towards the lock free stretch of canal through Milton Keynes.
- 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 to Cosgrove where you can enjoy the views below as you cruise across the Great Ouse aqueduct and then turn the boat around at Cosgrove marina to start your return journey.
- Day 8: Head back through Milton Keynes with more lock free cruising.
- Day 9: 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: Head further southwards to Ivinghoe.
- Day 13: Return to Tring Reservoirs at Marsworth.
- Day 13: Ascend the Marsworth flight and head back along the Tring 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.
Customer Reviews
Amazing, amazing, amazing! Have just had the most awesome week with my hubby and friend on Narrow Escape. Would highly recommend, a stunning boat and such a relaxing way to spend time with family.
J Roberts
We had a fantastic week on the boat, and would highly recommend it. The owners are really lovely and gave us training as we were first timers! The boat was really nicely decorated and well equipped, and had everything you could possibly need. This will definitely not be our last boating holiday!
Sally & Simon
We had a great time in the 'Narrow Escape' 5 berth boat. The boat was clean and in good order, and we got good instruction on how to use it, do the locks, etc, as well as good advice on where to go. Highly recommended if you want to enjoy a slower pace in beautiful countryside!
John Harbour