Boat trips

A mixture of fun, adventure and tranquillity

Enjoy the company of the rest of your group, absorbing the peace and calm of a canal boat gliding, in leisurely fashion, along the beautiful Grand Union Canal.

We offer daytime trips year-round aboard our three fully accessible spacious boats based at Nash Mills just to the south of Hemel Hempstead on the rural Grand Union Canal.

Each summer we also operate a small number of highly interactive residential trips for two special and separate groups of young people:

  • Those who year-round have to act as carers for another member of their family
  • Those with learning difficulties or other disadvantages including limited physical mobility.

Experience

Have a go at steering the boat and helping to work the locks – the friendly volunteer skipper and crew will show you how, and make sure you do things safely.

It’s up to you how much you wish to engage with the crew.  If you’d like to help with the steering or working the locks, our friendly volunteer crew members are always happy to share the tasks, with appropriate support and guidance of course!

The skipper and crew are responsible for the safe navigation of your boat.  They are all volunteers receiving no reward other than the satisfaction of helping you enjoy your experience.  Our terms and conditions are clear that you as hirer of the boat are responsible for the safety of any children in your group and for clearing up the kitchen and cabin areas before disembarking.  

How to book

We are open for business throughout the year, but please contact us at least one month ahead of your proposed trip date. Late Spring and Summer dates book fast, so we recommend even earlier reservations for these to be sure of getting your preferred date. Don’t miss out, book today! Please call our friendly bookings team on 01923 723819 (option 1) or complete the booking enquiry form.

*** Booking Availability Update ***

We hope we can find you a date for your trip but we are extremely busy this year.

Sheldrake 3, which takes up to 35 passengers, has a few evenings in June and July then days available from October onwards. The only weekend days available are in November and December.

Our smaller boats, which take up to 12 passengers, have a few days available in the summer but plenty from September onwards.

Christmas festive trips are available on all boats in December

Note: You need to book at least one month before the date of your trip.

Bookings for 2025 will open on 1/8/24