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THE UK’S BEST BOAT TRIPS

Go off-road with these Blighty Boat Trips

UK road trips - ah, the colourful, static traffic views, snaking around the motorway. The exhaust fumes blowing through your hair. The thrill of molten-hot, service station pasties burning through your windpipe.

But what if you could skip the roads for a genuinely enjoyable trip across Blighty? Enter... The UK Boat Trip.

And we've selected the pick of the crop, including some dog-friendly boat trips with the bow wow factor.

Daredevil Aqueduct Adventure on the Llangollen

There’s a good reason why the Llangollen Canal is one of the most popular boating destinations. Its route takes in some world famous aqueducts, including the the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, perched precariously 126ft above the River Dee, in an iron trough no wider than your boat. Crossing it is tantamount to flying in mid-air - luckily, there is a pub at the other end for a shaky-handed drink. Celebrated as one of the most astonishing feats of waterway engineering in the world, it was awarded World Heritage site status by UNESCO in 2009. The canal takes in unspoilt agricultural countryside, numerous locks and picturesque waterside villages, as well as the timeless old town of Ellesmere and the dramatic, New Marton border, which plunges into a long tunnel. Andersen Boats

Float Up Warwickshire’s Stairway to Heaven

Climb 146 ft up Hatton Locks (known locally as the Stairway to Heaven) on a narrowboat, starting at the Black Prince base in Napton, through two miles of wildlife, from swans to badgers. You can stop off for a mooch around Shakespeare Country or the magnificent Warwick Castle, overlooking River Avon. Or jump off for a trip to the Victorian town, Royal Leamington Spa. Coast along the peaceful Ashby Canal to Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre, telling the dramatic story of the Battle of Bosworth, in which King Richard III lost his life. Then whet your whistles at the pretty, Stoke Bruerne boozers along the way. Black Prince

Climb the Pennines

Starting at the historic Sowerby Bridge base, your narrowboat climbs the Pennines, along the Rochdale Canal, past the cobbled houses of Hebden Bridge, where you can stop off to explore the former mill town’s impossibly cute, independent shops, picturesque views and the former birthplace of Ted Hughes and resting place of Sylvia Plath. Wind through forests and countryside views to Todmorden, nestled inside three deep valleys and studded with impressive, Victorian buildings. Waterways Holidays

Cruise the 60-mile Caledonian Canal

The canal cuts through the Great Glen from the East to West via four lochs. Head west to Banavie to take in the views of Ben Nevis and the famous Neptune’s Staircase. Then head back through Loch Ness, through 12 manned locks and six bridges.

Caley Cruisers

Dog Friendly Boating Trips with the Bow Wow Factor

For four-legged adventurers, Pets Pyjamas have launched new, dog-friendly boating holidays, allowing pooches to be canine captains of their own self-drive river cruiser or canal boat.

Starting at various locations around the country, from Wiltshire and Surrey to Scotland and France, these floating holidays offer water-loving pups the thrill and excitement of something new to see, sniff and wee on each day. Whether a boating first timer or a more experienced crew member, full tuition is provided at the start of every trip, along with suggested routes to ensure a smooth sailing holiday. Our picks include:

Goytre Wharf, Monmouthshire

Discover the South Wales countryside on a dog-friendly canal boat cruise, kicking off at Goytre Wharf. Meander along the gentle waterways on a comfortable berth packed with modern comforts, through the Welsh countryside. Stop off for some pawsome walking opportunities and make sure to visit fido-friendly sights along your route.. Explore the picturesque countryside views of Brecon Beacons National Park, venturing through The Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, inaccessible from any other waterway and offering 35 miles of peaceful, idyllic countryside from Brecon to Cwmbran. All ABC Boat Hire canal boats at Goytre berth two to eight. Pets Pyjamas - Goytre Wharf Boat Trip

Le Boat, Thames Benson, Oxfordshire

Escape the crowds and explore the Thames with your four-legged friend on a self-drive river cruiser through London.

The Benson base in Oxfordshire allows you to explore the best of Windsor, Oxford, Henley-on-Thames, Reading and Marlow from the river, stopping off at waterside inns. All Le Boat river cruisers range from budget to premiere sleeping from two to twelve and come equipped with all you need to enjoy a city adventure with your canine companion. Pets Pyjamas - Oxfordshire Boat Trip

Kings Orchard Marina, Staffordshire

Explore Staffordshire countryside’s hidden gems on a dog-friendly canal boat cruise, starting at Kings Orchard Marina, nestled within a beautiful rural hideaway and a gentle cruise away from Lichfield, deep in the countryside on a secluded, tree-lined, 20 acre site. All ABC Boat Hire canal boats at Kings Orchard Marina berth two to eight. Pets Pyjamas - Staffordshire Boat Trip