Bring the right gear
Bring a sensible selection of informal clothing, but bear in mind that storage space is not unlimited!
Non-slip shoes, boots and a set of waterproofs are essential.
Towpaths can be dark at night, so we advise you to bring a torch.
At any time during the cruising season the weather could alternate between brilliant sunshine and rain, warm and cold, so come prepared Boating is an activity that is enjoyable in a wide range of weather conditions, but you do need protection for the extremes of climate. However, we are pleased to say that most of the time the English weather is not too unkind to holidaymakers.

Bring your dogs, cats and bicycles.
You are more than welcome to bring no more than two bicycles. Please bring a mat, as they will need to be stored on the roof. 
Pets are also welcome on many of our boats; we do however make a charge of £25 per pet. We do ask that you keep your pets off the seats and beds.

Towels
Please bring your own towels.
We can supply towels at a small fee if you forget them.
Towels are provided free of charge for our overseas visitors.

Prices are inclusive
Our holiday prices include bedding, fuel, gas, VAT and car parking.
All you will need is spending money. 
The options for pets and towels are extra.
Please note that we provide towels free of charge for overseas visitors.

Operating the boat and the locks
This is an activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. At least one member of the crew needs to be fit enough to get on and off the boat, do some walking and operate the lock’s paddle gear; which can sometimes be heavy.
From our base it is possible to cruise for a week negotiating only one lock, although there are lots of more energetic routes!
The steerer does not need to be active.
Controlling the boat comes easily after some practice: if you drive a car then steering a narrowboat should not be a problem. Click to see our Access Statement.
Our experienced staff give you as much instruction as you require before you set “sail”.
There is a short film which you should watch on our website. (View Film)

Groceries
You can arrange with most supermarkets to have your groceries delivered to our boatyard on the day you are scheduled to collect your boat.
If you are cruising South there is a Co-op store in 1.5 hours by boat and a Tesco store in 2 hours time.
There are no shop facilities going North within a short distance of our base.

Books etc.
Books, Canal Guides, Postcards, Souvenirs etc are available from our canal side shop

Electrical/Electronic Equipment.
All boats have a colour TV with DVD player, radio/CD player, shaver socket and a small 12 volt hair dryer.
There is also a 12 volt cigar type socket as well as USB ports for charging mobile phones etc.
All boats have limited 230-volt power.
Please see individual boats for the equipment provided on that boat.
Please let us know if you need to bring specialised equipment so we can make sure your boat is suitable.

Equipment on your Boat
All of our Narrowboats are very well equipped with everything you need for your holiday but please check out our What’s on our Boats page.

Bicycles/Canoes.
Please limit to a maximum of two bicycles or one canoe, since they can be vulnerable on the roof and make navigation more difficult.
Please also bring some matting (to protect the roof paint) and retaining straps.

 Booking your Holiday
Simply use our Availability panels on each boat’s page or email enquiries@rose-narrowboats.co.uk or telephone to check on availability, then complete the Booking Form and send it to us with the initial deposit.
Or use our Availability and Booking Facility. Provisional reservations will be held for a few days awaiting your confirmation. We accept all the major credit cards.

Picking up your Boat
We will expect you at the scheduled start time. Your boat will not normally be ready before this time. If you’re early for a 2.30pm boat, you can lunch in Brinklow. If you are unexpectedly late, it is imperative that you contact us.

Choosing your Cruising Route
​If you are not sure which route to take check out our list of possible routes with approximate timings for each one
If you know your route, check for any possible problems in the Canal and River Trust Stoppages listings. Extra Licences are needed for the River Thames, Avon or Nene.

how to find us

overseas visitors