Narrowboating for Novices

John and Annie Henshaw took their first narrowboat holiday in 2002. Now, in Narrowboating for Novices they share all the knowledge they have acquired over the years - and which they wish they'd had when they were just beginning!

Aimed at both the complete newcomer and those with limited experience of narrowboating, this is a combination of guide book and instruction manual, which will help readers to:

• choose which canal to explore (they're not all the same!)
• find the best maps and guides
• discover interesting places to visit near the canal
• pack everything that's necessary for the trip (and leave out things that aren't)
• become confident in steering the boat, turning it around & mooring it
• negotiate bends, bridges & tunnels
• work locks efficiently, confidently & safely
• and enjoy their holiday to the full
  Thirty eight canals are described. As well as the description of the course of each canal, its locks and tunnels, and its ease or difficulty of navigation, there is a list of places of note that can be seen from the canal (such as lock keepers cottages and other waterside buildings, and unusual locks, bridges and aqueducts) and a list of interesting places to visit, which are local to the canal. Each place is described and addresses (both physical and of websites) are given. Over the whole canal network, more than 400 places are listed including 11 heritage railways, 27 nature reserves, 38 castles and other places of historic interest, 40 historic houses and buildings, and 12 zoos and wildlife centres, together with museums, art galleries, cathedrals, ancient churches, interesting towns and villages and much more.

Forty three sketch maps show the courses of all the canals, together with the locations of notable flights of locks, aqueducts, tunnels and local attractions.

The instruction-manual section, which is written in a clear, readable and often humorous way, includes anecdotes of the authors' own experiences on the canals.

An interesting and invaluable guide for anyone considering a holiday on the UK canal network.

Contenu

PART ONE: DECIDING WHERE TO GO

Maps & guides

PART TWO: CHOOSING A CANAL Aire & Calder Navigation

Ashby-de-la-Zouch Canal

Birmingham Canal Navigations

• BCN Main Line
• Birmingham & Fazeley Canal
• Netherton Tunnel & Dudley Canals
• Walsall Canal
• Wyrley & Essington & Cannock Extension Canals
• Tame Valley, Daw End & Rushall Canals
  Bridgewater Canal

Calder & Hebble Navigation

Caldon Canal

Coventry Canal

Forth & Clyde Canal

Grand Union Canal

Huddersfield Broad Canal

Huddersfield Narrow Canal

Kennet & Avon Canal

Lancaster Canal

Leeds & Liverpool Canal

Llangollen Canal

Macclesfield Canal

Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal

Montgomery Canal

Oxford Canal

Peak Forest Canal

Rochdale Canal

Shropshire Union Canal

Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal

Stourbridge Canal

Stratford-upon-Avon Canal

Trent & Mersey Canal

Union Canal

Worcester & Birmingham Canal

PART THREE: ONTO THE CANAL

What to pack

• Clothes
• Provisions
• Other stuff
• Technology
• Bicycles
  At the marina

Cruising

• Setting off & steering
• Manoeuvring & stopping
• Cruising
• Bends
• Other canal users
• Bridges & narrow sections
• Tunnels

• And finally . . .
  Locks

• Approaching a lock
• Working the lock gates
• Working the paddles
• Going into the lock
• Going down - the steerer
• Going down - the crew
• Going up
• Safety around locks
• Broad locks
• Guillotine gates

• Staircase locks
  Mooring

• Where to moor
• How to moor
• Tying up
• Mooring in bad weather

• A few final thoughts on mooring
  Safety on the canal

• Safety while cruising
• Safety in locks
• Inside the boat
• Life jackets
• What to do if someone falls in

• Other safety factors
  Winding

• What does winding mean?
• How to wind your boat
• Other points to consider

• Never . . .
  Maintenance

• Water
• Evening checks
• Pump out
  A Few Final Thoughts

Glossary