Ask the expert: canal holidays - the big questions

Canal boating routes fall into two types:

* There and back: this is the majority of routes, where you travel a stretch of water, turn round and come back again. It’s not as repetitious as it sounds, as scenery nearly always looks different coming from the other direction; and you can plan to stop at different places on the outward and return legs. You can cruise as far (or as little) as you want. Just make sure you turn round with time to get back.

* A ring – a journey through different, linking canals that brings you back to the starting place. Because these tend to be longer, and there are no shortcuts back, you need to allow a certain amount of time to complete. They are mostly suitable for holidays of a week or more. [They are described below as clockwise routes, but can, of course, be completed in the opposite direction. And can be started from anywhere on the ring.]

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THE AVON RING

This wonderful mix of urban and rural cruising incorporates part of our Six Men in a Boat route, on the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal.

From Tardebigge, follow the Worcester and Birmingham Canal north towards Birmingham and then east on the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal, continuing until Stratford itself. Take the River Avon through the Warwickshire countryside. At Tewkesbury turn upstream onto the imposing River Severn and then, at Diglis, join the Worcester and Birmingham Canal again. Pass Worcester and negotiate more than 50 locks to climb back up to Tardebigge.

Allow: Two weeks – which gives time to stop along the way e.g. in Stratford.

Links: There is a good section on canal holidays on The Avon Ring at Holidays in the UK. Local operators include Canalboat Holidays and KateBoats.

THE LLANGOLLEN CANAL

Frequently – and justifiably – called the most beautiful canal in the country.

Its eastern end comes out of the Shropshire Union Canal at Hurleston Junction, north of Nantwich and heads past rural scenery and the country town of Whitchurch. It crosses the border into Wales before coming to the most spectacular stretch, including the breath-taking Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, which carries the canal across a valley, 120 feet above the River Dee. The western terminus is in the town of Llangollen.

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