The Association of Pleasure Craft Operators

The APCO Guide to Inland Waterway Boating Holidays

APCO – Hire Boat Companies in the North & South Midlands
Companies whose boats are inspected and graded under the Visit Britain independent assessment scheme display the following logo. Companies who take part in the British Marine Federation, Boat Handover Scheme, display the following logo.

The Midlands has the largest waterway network in the UK, with a large number of routes centred on Birmingham, which boasts more canals than Venice.

The canals vary in nature from urban vistas to rural tranquillity. The region also encompasses several major river navigations including the Severn and the Upper and Lower Avon.

The links bottom right to waterway maps and route planning may assist you in choosing the most appropriate route, waterway and company.

APCO members offer a large number of bases, routes and boats to choose from.

North Midlands Hire Bases
Alvechurch Waterway Holidays www.alvechurch.com
Anglo Welsh Waterway Holidays www.anglowelsh.co.uk

Black Prince Holidays Ltd

 www.black-prince.com

Canal Cruising Company Ltd

www.canalcruising.co.uk 

Countrywide Cruisers (Brewood)

www.countrywide-cruisers.com

  

Copt Heath Wharf

www.coptheathwharf.co.uk

  

JD Boat Services Gailey Ltd

www.jdboats.co.uk

Teddesley Boat Company

www.narrowboats.co.uk 

  

South Midlands Hire Bases

      

Alvechurch Waterway Holidays

www.alvechurch.com
Aqua Narrowboat Hire www.aquanarrowboathire.com  
Ashby Boat Company www.ashbyboats.co.uk
Bidford Boats www.bidfordboats.co.uk    
Black Prince Holidays Ltd www.black-prince.com
Calcutt Boats Ltd www.calcuttboats.com
Clifton Cruisers Ltd www.cliftoncruisers.co.uk
Concoform Marine www.canalboat-holidays.co.uk 
Foxton Boat Services Ltd www.foxtonboats.co.uk    
Kate Boats Warwick www.kateboats.co.uk  
Napton Narrowboats www.napton-narrowboats.co.uk
Oxfordshire Narrowboats www.oxfordshire-narrowboats.co.uk  
Rose Narrowboats Ltd www.rose-narrowboats.co.uk 
Shroppie Flyboat Company Ltd      
Sileby Marine www.surftech.co.uk    
Valley Cruises Ltd www.valleycruises.co.uk
Willow Wren Cruising Holidays Ltd www.willowwren.co.uk

Boating Holidays
What to expect on a UK boating holiday, different types of holiday and much more.
About APCO
Explaining the purpose and background of the Association of Pleasure Craft Operators.
APCO Members
Listing all APCO member, with their full contact details.
Handover Scheme
When hiring a boat you need to be sure you will be given suitable tuition.
Boat Grading Scheme
Explaining the Boat Grading Scheme from VisitBritain for Hire Boats and Hotelboats.
Boaters Code
British Waterways guide to how all canal users should behave. PDF download.
Boaters Handbook
The BW handbook, available here as a PDF to download, covers everything from Boat Handling, Safety and Rules of the Road.
Kid's pages
Things for the children to do, including a waterways game courtesy of British Waterways.
Useful Links
Links to other useful waterways websites.
Members Section
Information for APCO members, password needed to enter.

Waterways Map
Multimap
Boating Guides to Individual Waterways
Principal Navigations Information
Hire bases in the North West
Hire bases in the North
Hire bases in the Scotland
Hire bases in the South
Association of Pleasure Craft Operators (APCO), Marine House, Thorpe Lea Road, Egham, Surrey, TW20 8BF
Tel:  0844 8009575 Email info@apco.org.uk