Recommendations Please

[Rocket]

Hello all,

We have just moved to the UK all the way from New Zealand. We are living in Retford and have been wondering along the local canal a lot.

We have two boys 11 & 13 so would like some advice from members as to where would be great for us to experience our first canal trip.

We don't mind having to travel to get to a good starting point. A bit of a mixture of nice scenery, pubs and we do want to experience lochs.

Thank you 

[Leo No2]

Just to get a feel for the canals and a beautiful Lock Flight (and you can hire locally) I'd go for a day out to Foxton Locks (https://www.foxtonlocks.org.uk) which isn't that far from Retford - about 70 miles - that, I think, will give you a good introduction. Two good pubs (Foxton Locks in and Bridge 61) and a tearooms at the top of the flight.

[Neil2]

You'll need to head for Scotland if you want to experience lochs...  

If OTOH you mean locks, well most canals will provide plenty of opportunity but a good place to start would be the Napton Junction area where there are several hire bases.  From here you can go up/down the Grand Union (3 directions) or the North/South Oxford. The South Oxford is probably the most picturesque route, but I reckon the GU towards Birmingham or London would give a more rounded experience simply because the locks are wide, and you will likely interact with other boaters. If nothing else they will tell you where the best pubs/shops are.  

For some reason the English canals are very popular with folks from the Antipodes, we've met dozens of hirers from Oz and NZ and also quite a few that own boats over here.  

[matty40s]

You might as well start in your home town canal.

http://www.chesterfieldcanalboat.co.uk/

Hiring from the basin at West Stockwith you have a choice of cruising past your own front door, or going on the Trent to Lincoln or Nottingham.

[David Mack]

Or for a day trip, the Chesterfield Canal Trust has 4 trip boats operating on the canal, one from Retford.