Guide to Canal Tours

Horse-drawn carts were the only mode of transport for large volumes of cargo until the 3rd Duke of Bridgewater had a canal built in 1761 to take his coal to Manchester. A canal barge with thirty tons of cargo could be towed by just one horse walking on the towpath. This was ten times more than a horse could haul using a cart.

Seeing the success of the Bridgewater Canal, industrialists in other parts of the country soon built more canals. A number of these canals still exist and a canal tour can be a very relaxing and serene holiday.

The Avon Ring is a 109-mile long circuit with more than 130 canal locks that will take you through some of the most beautiful English countryside and historical places like Stratford upon Avon and Tewkesbury town. The canal passes through a mile long tunnel and over ‘Edstone’ the longest aqueduct on the canals. The whole circuit takes about 2 weeks but you can choose to do just a part of it.

The Llangollen Canal cruise is weeklong time out from the modern world. The pace suddenly slows and so will you. You and your canal barge will coast over two aqueducts, rise with the help of 26 locks that will take you to Llangollen. At one point the canal is a metal waterway aqueduct with no barrier to one side. The canal flows across another aqueduct (Pontcysyllte) to cross the river Dee at 126 ft.

The Lancaster Canal offers 42 miles of canal cruising without locks. In some places, it hugs the coast so closely (Morecambe Bay) that waders can be seen enjoying the waves. This pretty and tranquil canal has the Lake District Fells as a backdrop for much of the way as it winds along through pastureland from Tewitfield to Preston in Lancashire.

Kennet & Avon Waterway in south England has ‘Topsy’ a wide beam narrow boat offering more spacious accommodation for this canal cruise, including a full sized spa bath. The Kennet & Avon Canal is 87 miles long and connects the Bristol Channel to London.

A canal barge or boat is a narrow vessel and in former times was towed by a horse that walked on a towpath. Today’s boats are mostly diesel or electric powered and travel at 4 miles/hour. A canal lock is an enclosed chamber with gates at each end and the water level is raised or lowered to let the boat proceed to the next level.

Helpful links for more information on Canal Tours

http://www.canalholidays.com/avon-ring.aspx

http://www.canaltrip.co.uk

http://www.crabtreenarrowboathire.com

http://www.canaljunction.com/canal/kennet_avon.htm

A canal cruise is just the thing for relaxing but you will need to book well in advance as they are hugely popular. Booking early will bring many more benefits such as early bird discounts and cheaper rates. For all your foreign exchange needs, visit www.buyforex.com and get the most competitive forex rates and your EbixCash World Money multi-currency card delivered to your home. Do not forget to buy travel insurance as well.