I’ll admit it: when someone first suggested a barge weekend, I thought it sounded like something only your retired uncle in a flat cap might enjoy.
You know, the kind of holiday that involves stained thermos flasks of lukewarm tea, stale biscuits, endless chats about lock mechanics, and going to bed at 8pm.
But when fifteen of my friends and I booked our first barge adventure with Anglo Welsh this September, I was honestly surprised, and totally delighted, by just how much fun it was.
Or maybe this is just what turning 40 and being pregnant looks like? I mean 8pm bedtimes do sound nice!
Either way, the barge holiday is my new fav UK getaway.
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Gathering the Crew
Picture it: fifteen friends, scattered across different corners of the UK, somehow managing to coordinate calendars long enough to reunite for a weekend of canals, countryside, and cold beers.
We booked with Anglo Welsh, who are brilliant for groups because they’ve got bases in 9 locations across the UK and barges that sleep anywhere between 2 and 12 people.
For our flotilla, we hired two boats out of their Great Haywood base in Staffordshire.
What I loved from the start was how easy they made everything.
As total barge newbies, we needed some serious hand-holding, and the staff couldn’t have been friendlier.
With thorough handovers – explaining how to steer, moor, and (most importantly) operate the locks – they even helped us plan timings so we could comfortably make it to Fradley Junction and back over the course of the weekend.
The boats themselves were a revelation – compact but surprisingly well-equipped.
Each came with a full kitchen (including oven, hobs and a fridge-freezer), proper bathrooms with hot showers, central heating (bliss on chilly evenings), and beds that could be set up as singles or doubles.
They even provided all the linen and towels – so much more civilised than I expected!
Autumn is the Perfect Barge Season
September on the canals is magical.
The countryside was just tipping into autumn, with fiery leaves reflected in the still water, misty mornings giving way to golden afternoons, and that delicious nip in the air that makes you crave pub firesides and big mugs of tea.
The canals were quieter too – fewer holidaymakers than in peak summer – which meant we often had stretches of water entirely to ourselves.
Evenings became a cosy ritual – mooring up, cooking hearty group dinners (one night tasty tacos and the other a veg-laden Thai green curry), playing old-school games, and occasionally venturing to a nearby pub – especially for Sunday lunch, when we tucked into brilliant veggie roasts at the Wolseley Arms, complete with unlimited gravy… they know their target market!
By day, the pace slowed to something between meditative and hilarious.
We’d drift along at walking speed, waving at dog-walkers, swapping between steering duty and lock teamwork, and spotting wildlife along the banks.
Kingfishers flashing turquoise, owls swooping silently at dusk, herons standing like statues, swans and cygnets following us, and even bats fluttering overhead in the evenings.
The soundscape was bliss too – birdsong at dawn as a natural alarm clock, the gentle slap of water against the hull, and the occasional squeal of laughter as one of us got sprayed by a particularly feisty lock gate.
The Joy of the Locks
I wasn’t expecting to love the locks quite so much, but they became the highlight of the trip.
Each one was a team effort – someone steering, others working the heavy gates and paddles, a few (namely pregnant me!) cheering from the sidelines
It’s mildly chaotic, slightly damp, and totally satisfying when you finally glide the boat into place.
It brought out everyone’s inner child – all of us mucking in, laughing when we messed it up, high-fiving when we nailed it and generally loving the antiquated slow pace the locks invited.
By the end of the weekend, we were basically self-proclaimed lock experts – although don’t ask me for too many details about water levels and balance beams just yet, this was my first barge foray after all!
What to Pack for Your First Barge Trip
One of the best things about a barge break is that you don’t need loads of specialist gear, but a few essentials definitely make life easier.
As a first-timer whose looking forward to their next excursion, here’s my packing essentials…
- Soft bags not suitcases – space is limited, so think squashy and compact
- Warm layers – autumn evenings get chilly on the water
- Waterproof jacket & shoes – it’s the UK, enough said
- Non-slip shoes – a must for on-deck
- Head torch – surprisingly handy for mooring in low light
- Wrist warmers – great for keeping palms warm, but still be able to use your fingers
- Games & cards – ideal for group evenings
- Binoculars – for keen wildlife spotters
- Reusable water bottle & thermos – keep hydrated while steering
- Slippers and Pyjamas – inside the boat, they’re bliss
From Great Haywood to Fradley Junction
Our route took us along the Trent and Mersey Canal, a classic stretch of Staffordshire countryside.
Setting out from Anglo Welsh’s base at the Great Haywood Marina, we meandered past fields, woods, and sleepy villages, mooring for pub stops and wildlife breaks.
With more time available to us, it would have been wonderful to explore the National Trust-managed Shugborough Estate, which dates back to the 17th century… maybe I am getting old?!
The journey to Fradley Junction and back was perfect for a weekend – long enough to feel like we’d really travelled with 10 locks in total, but short enough not to feel rushed.
The highlight was definitely those peaceful stretches where time seemed to stretch out lazily in front of us.
One morning, I sat on the bow with a cup of decaff tea (definitely getting old!), mist rising off the water, listening to nothing but birds.
After a busy London summer, it was the most refreshing kind of September silence.
Tips for First-Time Bargers
If you’re new to canal life, here are some nuggets of wisdom from my rookie, but successful maiden voyage…
- Plan a Route – barge holidays are about slow travel, not tight schedules, but it’s good to have an idea of good mooring spots and how far you can travel in a day ahead of time
- Plan food – stock up before you set off, as shops aren’t available on route. You can either do a supermarket shop and transport it to the Anglo Welsh base, or get an online order delivered there
- Pet-friendly – dogs are allowed if you want to bring along your furry friend
- Prior Experience – no boating history is necessary and there’s those license you need to drive a barge
- Listen to the handover – it feels like information overload, but everything will make sense once you’re out there
- Don’t panic about steering – the boats go slowly, and small mistakes are part of the fun
- Work as a team – locks are easier (and more enjoyable) when everyone pitches in
- Pack for all weathers – layers are key, as you’ll be outside a lot, come rain or shine
- Mooring at night – there are plenty of places to moor for free along towpaths
- Water, Fuel and Gas – barges from Anglo Welsh come stocked with all 3. Water can be topped up at free pumps enroute. Gas bottle change instructions are part of the handover and fuel is paid for as part of your package
- Enjoy the quiet – embrace the slower pace of the 4mph UK canal limit, the limited phone signal and the fresh air. Barging on the canal is only allowed between sunrise and sunset
Barge Life: The Real Takeaway
What struck me most about the whole barge experience wasn’t just the scenery or the novelty of living on water – it was how it brought our group together.
With fifteen people, you’d expect chaos, but the slow pace of canal life somehow smoothed everything out.
There’s space to chat, space to sit quietly and space to laugh at each other’s questionable steering skills – all while making unique memories only a few hours from home.
We played games late into the night, swapped stories over mugs of tea, and took turns cooking for the group.
It felt like stepping back to a simpler rhythm, where the biggest daily decision was whether to moor up before or after the next lock.
And that’s the joy of barging – it forces you to slow down and connect. Both with each other and the natural world around.
After all, you can’t rush a boat that moves at 4mph!
You’re present, together, breathing fresh air and watching the seasons change right in front of you… bliss.
PIN IN TO PINTEREST!
So, are barge trips just for old people? Absolutely not!
They’re for anyone who wants to step out of the frenzy of modern life and into something slower, more connected, and surprisingly fun.
Anglo Welsh made the whole thing wonderfully easy, comfortable, and accessible – even for a bunch of first-timers like us.
By the end of the weekend, we were sun-tired, wind-blown, and grinning ear to ear
But I can honestly say I’d do it all again in a heartbeat.
The canals might not be glamorous, but they’ve got something better – peace, camaraderie, and a front-row seat to nature doing its thing.
So if you’re looking for an autumn escape that’s relaxed, sociable, and delightfully unexpected, grab your friends, pack your waterproofs, and set sail (well, sort of) with Anglo Welsh.
Who knows, you might just find yourself falling in love with a holiday you thought you were too young to enjoy too.
My barge trip was gifted by Anglo Welsh but, as always, all views are my own.
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