NIGEL THOMPSON MARJORIE YUE It’s moor the merrier in canalside festivals
Britain’s 2,000 miles of canals are a tranquil legacy of the Industrial Revolution that are usually discovered at a sedate 4mph or so.
There are more than 80 start points for narrowboat holidays on a network of aquatic arteries that takes in beautiful countryside and city centres – and offers plenty of cosy pubs to moor up beside. But it’s not always quite that quiet!
This summer, there’s a feast of family-friendly fun to be found by the towpaths. We’ve teamed up with top boating breaks firm Waterways Holidays to bring you five of the best: 1 Blisworth Canal Festival (August 12-13) Head to the mighty Grand Union Canal in the heart of Northamptonshire for a free event offering fairground rides, live music, vintage vehicles, rural crafts, food and drink and plenty of narrowboats to admire. blisworthcanalfestival.co.uk 2 Brighouse Summer Festival (August 19-20) The West Yorkshire town is where the River Calder has been canalised and there will be a bounty of boats in the Canal Basin. Get free boat trips and enjoy live music, a street market and funfair. brighousesummerfestival.co.uk 3 Festival of Water (August 26-28) An annual event organised by the Inland Waterways Association, this year’s venue is at the Erewash Canal in Ilkeston, Derbyshire. More than 100 boats are expected and free entertainment ranges from jazz and folk music to kids’ activities and a market. 4 East London Waterways Festival (August 28). Right in the heart of the superb Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park at Stratford, this great event is organised by the Canal and River Trust – the charity responsible for our canal system – and will feature a flotilla and dragon-boat racing. queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk 5 Vintage Foxton Festival (September 16-17) Another Canal and River Trust project, this is at Foxton Locks on the Grand Union Canal near Market Harborough, Leics. The focus will be on historic working boats and steam-driven engines. £12 per car at
Narrowboat hire this summer starts at £572 for three nights. See waterwaysholidays.com cockburns.com kidzania.co.uk RiutBag Crush daypack, £39, riut.co.uk.
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