Enjoy your narrowboat hire at one of our 5 locations:-

The Blackwater Meadow Marina is ideally situated at the middle of the 46 mile long Llangollen Canal (now in the top 100 holiday destinations worldwide!) .

A canal experience bettered nowhere with plenty of historic structures along your route. The most spectacular is the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct built in 1805,which crosses 1000 feet over the River Dee some 130 feet below.

Other spectacles include the Chirk Aqueduct and Chirk Castle ,walk on to the Horseshoe Waterfalls at the head of the canal at Llangollen or take a trip on the steam railway. Beautiful scenery, picture postcard villages and plenty to do with a total of 21 locks including 3 staircase locks, 2 aqueducts, and 3 tunnels make Blackwater Meadow a centre for canal holidays difficult to better.

The cathedral city of Worcester occupies an idyllic position on the banks of the River Severn. The city has been delighting visitors with its particular blend of architectural heritage and natural beauty for decades. Our most convenient base for river cruising, within 25 minutes cruising (including 2 locks) you will find yourself on the magnificent River Severn.

Cruising north along the Worcs & Birmingham Canal you get to the lower end of the Tardebigge flight (of which Alvechurch is at the top), travelling north into rural Worcestershire you pass through the heart of picturesque 'Archers' country and long stretches of idyllic scenery..

* In favourable weather you can cruise by river (the Severn and the Avon) all the way to Stratford - Shakespeare country.

* A variety of short break options include cruising by canal, river, or a combination of them both.

Based near the heart of the city of Worcester in the 19th Century ' Port of Lowesmoor ', our Worcester base has excellent road links via the M5 and a railway station 800yds away

Union Wharf with its impressively refurbished canal warehouses and excellent restaurant is a hive of quality boating activity. Situated in Market Harborough, Leicestershire.

This pretty and traditional English market town dates from 1203. Enjoy delicious food and fine ales in the town's historic coaching inns or just potter about the market and the many fine family owned shops in this gem of a town.

It is just two hours cruising to the 'Leicester Line' of the Grand Union Canal from this beautiful and tastefully restored terminus of the 'Market Harborough Arm'. The friendly lock keeper at the famous Foxton Locks opens the gate to the world ahead and away you go.

Cruising from Alvechurch delves into the varied landscape of 5 Midlands counties with a rich mixture of sights and scenery - modern & historic, rural & industrial. Locks are met in majestic flights in this part of the country, so be prepared for some good bursts of activity.

The marina is at the heart of an extremely varied canal network, with a fine selection of ring routes. Features include the impressive 30 lock Tardebigge flight.

* Excellent selection of week-long cruises including Stratford & return or The Stourport Ring , and Black Country Ring

* A good area for plenty of locks

* Enjoy a short break into the centre of Birmingham - the Gas Street basin, with no locks !

* The marina itself is just 10 minutes from junction 2 of the M42, half way between the cities of Worcester and Birmingham - by road or by canal!

Alvechurch Marina has its own cosy canal-side pub 'The Weighbridge', serving real ales and bar food. 0121 445 5111 www.the-weighbridge.co.uk