OF THE BEST... canal stretches for a weekend away

Chug down mirror-like waterways on a houseboat MONMOUTHSHIRE AND BRECON WINDING THROUGH THE BRECON BEACONS, THIS STRETCH HAS FIVE OF ITS SIX LOCKS IN THE PRETTY VILLAGE OF LLANGYNIDR.

LANCASTER PLOUGH 41 MILES OF LOCK-FREE WATERS FROM LANCASTER TO PRESTON, TAKING IN VIEWS OF THE SILVERDALE COAST AND FOREST OF BOWLAND.

LLANGOLLEN SLOW TRAVEL WITH LOFTY AMBITIONS OVER THE UK’S HIGHEST AQUEDUCT, UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE PONTCYSYLLTE.

OXFORD A PRETTY RIBBON OF WATER RUNS FROM OXFORD TO BEDWORTH, PAST WARM STONE VILLAGES AND WATERSIDE PUBS. ASHBY HERONS AND KINGFISHERS STUD HEDGEROWS AND REEDS ALONG A PEACEFUL CUT OF WARWICKSHIRE WATER (RIGHT).

Find out more at canalrivertrust.org.uk.

2,500of The number varieties of snowdrops, nature’s earliest herald of warmer weather on the way