On the Straight and Narrow
Gary Walker and family unlock the joys of canal holidays in the heart of England  

THE omens were not good. It was Friday the 13th, the fog was lingering and my family and I were about to take charge of a narrowboat, for the first time, for a weekend on the Shropshire Union Canal. Our previous holiday bad also been on water, but that’s where the similarities ended. A cruise round the Med with someone else steering seemed a far cry from being left with the tiller to steer yourself on the canal network in the heart of England. However, any trepidation we felt was soon alleviated by the warmth of the welcome we received on our arrival at the boatyard in the pretty village of Brewood in Staffordshire.

We loaded our belongings on to our floating home for the weekend, the four star Sir Ladinas, and parked up before beng given a comprehensive introduction to the spotless boat by the yard’s experienced staff. He took us through all the facilities on board including a fine shower in a well-appointed bathroom, television, radio-cassette player and full central heating system - as well as the more practical aspects of starting and stopping the boat. We certainly weren’t going to be thrown in at the deep end. It clearly wasn’t going to be a case of sink or swim.    Half an hour later and our guide, Trevor, remained on board as we began our journey along the 'Shroppie', heading north for Market Drayton, to offer invaluable hints and tips on the finer points of steering and manoeuvring our l0-tonne, 49-foot craft. After a gentle hour’s cruising and having safely negotiated several bridges and our first lock, at Wheaton Aston, it was time for Trevor to abandon ship and leave us to our own devices. However, confidence had replaced any initial anxiety, thanks largely to his on-the-job guidance, and we headed for our first overnight mooring at Gnosall in high spirits. The beauty of a narrowboat break is it caters for a full range of tastes. Our party included my five-year-old son and teenage daughter, two thirty.somethings and a 42-year-old captain. I hasten to add I was appointed to the skipper’s position when my fellow-cruisers discovered the same drink- drive laws apply on British Waterways as they do on the roads!

There was plenty to savour - beautiful rolling countryside, the wildlife and, of course, the scenic waterways. The wildlife was stunning. We spotted several kingfishers buzzing along the canal banks, half-a-dozen herons, a couple of kestrels, not to mention the ducks, swans and geese. Good food was definitely on the menu too. Though the kitchen on board was small it was very well laid out and functional, with hob, oven and grill, a good-sized fridge and a decent range of cupboard space.

However, if you prefer to eat out simply take your pick from the many attractive and welcoming pubs - many are fully equipped with children’s playgrounds - situated alongside the canal, or take a walk into the villages and towns for a restaurant. We were handed a comprehensive guide of the area, detailing places and buildings of interest, specifying places to eat, potential moorings and even where to dispose of rubbish and take on water.

The booklet also laid out the routes available, travelling times between main locations and how many locks you face on each section. And anyone nervous about operating the locks will be pleased to know there are enthusiasts who give up their spare time to come out and help navigate you through. There always seemed to be a friendly face on hand to offer advice. No surprise then that it turned out to be a really enjoyable and most relaxing experience. The closest we came to bumps in the night is when we inadvertently moored under an oak tree and were bombarded by falling acorns.

The trip must have gone well because we almost had a mutiny on our hands as we headed back to Brewood - my youngest announcing sternly that
he didn’t want to give the boat back!