Count time, not miles
Locks, queues, tunnels and other boats affect your day. Canal miles are not road miles; a short distance can still take several hours.
How many locks and hours of cruising should we plan?
THE NAPTON HOLIDAY GUIDES
How many locks and hours of cruising should we plan?
The number of locks and hours depends on your route, holiday length and chosen pace. You do not have to cruise all day. Count the whole return journey and leave time for stops, queues and getting back to base.
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FIND YOUR PACE
Choose the journey, not just the destination.
A beautiful route is only a good holiday route if its pace suits your crew. Here is how to make that choice.
You do not need to cruise all day. The best itinerary balances time at the tiller, locks and the places you want to enjoy ashore. Choose a route that fits your crew and leaves a comfortable margin for returning the boat.
Count the return journey
On an out-and-back holiday you normally pass through the same locks again on your return. Check whether a route guide quotes one-way or whole-trip figures.
Leave room for a pause
Allow for a village walk, a food shop or a long lunch. A realistic plan also leaves flexibility for weather and changing navigation conditions.
MAKE IT YOUR HOLIDAY
What is your kind of cruising day?
Choose an option for a useful starting point.
Build your holiday around shorter cruising days, a manageable lock workload and time ashore. An out-and-back journey lets you adjust your turning point. Ask the base to help check a route for your dates.
Does a circular route make a better holiday?
A ring can be rewarding when your time and crew suit it, but it also commits you to completing the circuit. An out-and-back route lets you adjust your turning point and enjoy a familiar stretch from a new direction. For a first trip, that flexibility can be more useful than covering a large area.
YOUR QUESTIONS, ANSWERED
A few more questions, answered.
Can we choose a route with fewer locks?
Yes: ask for a route with a lock workload that suits your crew. The number depends on where you start, your turning point and the time available. We can help compare suitable options from both bases.
How many hours should we cruise each day?
There is no fixed number that suits every holiday. Tell us whether you want short cruising days or a more active trip. We can help check an itinerary, including time for locks, stops and the return to base.
Are the published cruising times guaranteed?
No. Route times are estimates. Queues, restrictions, weather and your pace can change them. Check current navigation notices and confirm a realistic plan with the base before departure.
YOUR NEXT CHAPTER
A little less everyday.
A little more holiday.
Find your boat, choose your dates and let the Midlands unfold around you.
Find my holiday Talk it through with our team