Beginner Friendly Canal Boating Holidays
Your first canal holiday, step by step
No previous boating experience is needed. Wyvern includes a tuition cruise with an instructor and takes you through a lock at the start of your holiday.
1. Check your crew and access needs
At least two adults over 18 are required when navigating. The published skipper minimum is 21 for 2–5 berth boats and 25 for 6–8 berth boats. Additional conditions apply to single-sex and multi-boat groups.
At least two crew members need to be able, with instruction, to steer and operate locks. Access involves steps and narrow passageways; speak to the office about individual access needs before choosing a boat.
Read the full skipper, crew and access conditions2. Learn before you set off
Your instructor explains handling and takes you through a lock. Ask questions about locks, mooring and your planned day during the handover. Read the full safety guidance before travelling.
Read the safety guidance3. Plan a comfortable day
Allow time for cruising, locks, stops and returning to the boatyard. You do not need to reach the furthest destination in the route guide to enjoy your holiday.
The boat inventory includes bedding, kitchen equipment, mooring ropes, a boat manual and an entertainment guide. The published packing advice is to bring your food and towels; check your chosen boat for its specific layout and facilities.
See what is provided on board4. Choose a route and a boat
Compare the northern short-break route to Stoke Bruerne with the other options. Cruising hours are approximate; compare locks as well as distance and leave time for the return journey.
Explore the short-break routes · Compare all routesNarrowboat Holidays - An Enjoyable Experience for Beginners
Over the past 60 years, many thousands of customers have found the fastest way of slowing down is to have a relaxing canal boat holiday with Wyvern Shipping. Last year, we were delighted to welcome back previous customers who have returned time and time again, many of them started out their love for canal boating with Wyvern Shipping and have some wonderful tales to tell.
A large number of our customers have never taken a canal boat before and the Grand Union Canal is an ideal canal to learn the ropes and start enjoying the delights of narrowboat adventures.
No Experience Required
Even if you have no previous narrow boat hire experience, you will be surprised by just how easy it is to become a confident skipper of your canal boat. Some people call them 'barges', 'narrow boats', 'long boats' or 'charter boats'.
Expert Tuition & Instruction Provided
All of our narrow boats are purpose built by us, for easy and responsive handling and if you have any questions, over any aspect of the waterways, canal or river cruising, we can assist you. At the start of your canal barge holiday as a novice or even if you would like a refresher, our experienced instructors will take you for a free tuition boat trip and show you through a lock. Your instructions will continue until you are confident of how to handle your canal hire boat while enjoying your holiday.
More information about boating can be found on The Canal & River Trust website, you can download the PDF of their Boater's Handbook or you can watch the accompanying Boater's DVD on YouTube.
Where to Go
Wyvern Shipping is based in Linslade, Leighton Buzzard, just an hour’s drive or train journey from London. From here you can take a boat to explore the beautiful surrounding countryside of Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire, as well as the nearby village of Stoke Bruerne, and towns and cities of Milton Keynes, Aylesbury and Northampton. On longer canal holidays you can even explore Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon, Leicester, Warwick and go over the Chiltern Hills to Berkhamsted, Hemel Hempstead, Watford, London and the River Thames.
