Help from expert Canal Long Boat enthusiasts

Omega_1

Am trying to arrange a 3 day family long weekend for 3 novice couples (parents and sons) over the Mayday B/H weekend preferably on longboat on a canal somewhere with interesting scenery. Conscious of brevity and a 1 1/2 day travel before returning would also prefer to have two overnight stays close to a couple of good hostelries (pubs with good food) and would appreciate any suggestions as to where we should think of starting from/to - anywhere between Midlands and London OK.
We not fully confined to a canal break - a river of even the Broads experience could be considered if anyone has any fantastic suggestions to offer. Any suggestioins/assistance you can offfer gratefully received. Thanks

The_mangler

My husband is a canal enthusiast (or canalorak as I like to call him ) and he thinks that to go anywhere on the canals for just three days is not really going to be worth it. For instance, if you are starting off from Birmingham then in order to return to base within three days you can realistically be looking at reaching Coventry. A run out to Stratford is nice but you would probably need a hire base nearer than Birmingham in order to achieve that.

Ill ask him to post some links later that may be of help.

The_mangler

Hi Manglers husband here, Ive had a think and if its interesting rather than green scenery you are interested in then a three day jaunt around Birmingham might be something youd consider. Admittedly a holiday in a city isnt everyones cup of tea but there is plenty to see and you only have to be as physically active as you want to be owing to the hundreds of miles of canals available within your time span.
Another 'greener' option is to start somewhere further south on the Grand Union canal which runs from Birmingham to London and have a few lazy days cruising either way and returning, most canals are well blessed with hostelries and, especially on the Grand Union, most are very welcoming to canal boaters.

The_mangler

Some links

ww.narrowboathire.com/contents.htm

ww.narrowboathire.com/alvechurch.htm - for birmingham

ww.narrowboathire.com/gayton.htm - Grand Union

add a w at the beginning to make the links work.

redpete

Bradford-on-Avon might be too far from where you want to start, but if not starting there and heading towards Bath might be worth looking at. Stopping near the Cross Guns at Avoncliff Aquaduct would be a good place for one night.

One other tip, they are narrowboats not longboats, the latter are what the Vikings crossed the North Sea in.

Omega_1

Thank you one and all - I did mention we were novices and the 'long-boat' clanger rather emphasises this -sorry to all the narrowboat enthusiasts. The information however is most welcome despite my clangers. Thanks to you all.