Free canal boat holiday taster sessions are being offered by Drifters Waterway Holidays and the Canal and River Trust charity at two Cheshire boating centres on Sunday, April 7.

ABC Boat Hire at Anderton Marina on the Trent and Mersey Canal, near Northwich, and Anglo Welsh on the Shropshire Union Canal at Bunbury Lock, near Tarporley, will both be offering free boat trips between 11am and 4pm.

Visitors will be able to enjoy free short trips on skippered narrowboats, as well as boat tours and holiday discounts. All ages are encouraged to take part and no advanced booking is required.

The two centres are part of a national boating open day taking place in 17 locations across England and Wales on the same day.

Nigel Stevens, director of Drifters Waterway Holidays, said: “Travelling at just 4mph through peaceful countryside, sleepy villages and vibrant waterside towns and cities, canal boat holidays are often described as ‘the fastest way to slow down’.

“Each year around 352,000 people enjoy holidaying on Britain’s canal network and last year, around 3,000 people got afloat at our one of our national open day events.

“We look forward to welcoming thousands more visitors this year for the chance to find out what makes canal boat holidays so special.”

Free canal boat holiday taster sessions are being offered by Drifters Waterway Holidays and the Canal & River Trust charity
Free canal boat holiday taster sessions are being offered by Drifters Waterway Holidays and the Canal & River Trust charity

Gareth Stephens, national boating business manager at the Canal and River Trust, said: “We believe that waterways have the power to make a real difference to people’s lives.

“Spending time by water makes us all healthier and happier and early research is showing evidence of this.

“Thousands of people already enjoy boating holidays on our beautiful 2,000-mile network of inland waterways, and these free canal boat taster sessions are a great way to see if this sort of holiday could be for you.”

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Further details of the open days and visiting the canal network can be found at www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/trycanalboating

For more information about canal boat holidays, go to www.drifters.co.uk

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