The Association of Pleasure Craft Operators

The APCO Guide to Inland Waterway Boating Holidays

APCO – Hire Boat Companies in the North West of England and Wales
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 North West of England and Wales have an extensive network of navigations, originally built to service the Industrial Revolution but now reborn as routes for leisure boating.

Many of the APCO members have hire boat bases serving the Llangollen Canal, and the nearby Shropshire Union and Trent & Mersey Canals. These very popular routes are ideal for first timer boaters, with magnificent countryside, plenty of boating facilities and a wide choice of companies and boats.

Two of the wonders of the waterways can be experienced; the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct- which has recently been short listed as a World Heritage site- and the oldest boat lift in the world at Anderton, linking the River Weaver with the Trent and Mersey Canal.

Wales also has the stunningly beautiful Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, near Abergavenny, with a range of bases to choose from.

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 West of England and Welsh Hire Bases

Alvechurch Waterway Holidays www.alvechurch.com
Andersen Boats www.andersenboats.com
Anglo Welsh Waterway Holidays www.anglowelsh.co.uk
Beacon Park Boats Ltd www.beaconparkboats.com

Black Prince Holidays Ltd

www.black-prince.com

Cambrian Cruisers

www.cambriancruisers.co.uk

Carefree Cruising Ltd

www.carefreecruising.com

   

Castle Narrowboats Ltd

www.castlenarrowboats.co.uk

   
Chas Hardern Boats Ltd www.chashardern.co.uk  
Cheshire Cat Narrowboat Hire www.cheshirecatnarrowboats.co.uk    
Claymoore Narrowboats Ltd www.claymoore.co.uk  
Constellation Cruises www.braidbarboats.co.uk    
Country Craft Narrowboat Holidays www.countrycraftnarrowboats.co.uk  
Heritage Narrow Boats Ltd www.sherbournewharf.co.uk  
Freedom Boats www.freedomboats.co.uk     
Maestermyn Marine Ltd www.maestermyn.co.uk
Marine Services www.chirkmarina.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
Hire bases in the Scotland
Hire bases in the Midlands
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