THOUGHTS ON OUR NARROW BOAT EXPERIENCE

 REFLECTIONS ON OUR NARROW BOAT HOLIDAY:

This journey was well over a year in planning. 

 

 

Last year we were on a Hurtigruten trip sailing from Bergen to Svalbard. By chance there was a couple onboard with whom we had a mutual friend. We met and became fast friends. We joined our tables for the evening meal and had a great time. Our new friends told us we would love a narrow boat canal trip. Yes, they very much peaked our interest.

 

 

When we got home our research began. They had used Black Prince Holidays and that is where we first looked. Soon we were looking no further as it became very obvious Black Prince was the way to go, truly a first class operation.

 

 

As novices to the narrow boat life, we learned the Scottish Canal system of the Union Canal and the Clyde and Forth Canal would be the best for a first foray into narrow boating. This way we could visit Edinburgh and Glasgow on the same trip. That was the plan to start with and yes plans change.

 

 

Getting on Black Prince mailing list we were soon getting their offers. Then the offer of an early booking along with late season booking discounts became too good to resist.  A 10 day hire booking was made. 



Yes, I have had power boat experience and was an instructor for many a different water craft. Thanks to my Graduate Studies. That said, I knew I needed a bit of education into the handling of a narrow boat. 

Black Prince has several size boats. We chose a small 47’ boat in their signature series. Now they have added Royal Fleet (newer boats). They also have a series called Classic. 

 

The boat we were assigned was the Lyra. Basically a galley, dining area, head with a shower and a bedroom, perfect for two people. The dining area could be made into another bed. To be honest, 4 people on this boat would have been a bit crowded. 

I will intervene here to say how responsive Black Prince was to any questions we had in our preparation. I simply can not say enough good about them. Their reputation as the premier narrow boat provided is well earned. When we return, they will be our choice for sure.



 The Trip Book for this trip was about 2 inches thick, maps, mooring location, history etc etc . 

 

As our research deepened we felt 10 days would rush our boating experience. We then added 4 days to ensure our relaxing holiday and we are glad we did. Again, Black Prince made this happen with ease and extended our discounts to the amended booking. 

 



Our research included the study of maps to plan stops along our chosen route. Then there were a few books on Narrow Boating we procured and read a few times. One of the best resources was YouTube videos. There are many good ones out there along with some duds. These gave us a great feel for our chosen route. Our research was refined with many a google search on the places we would be passing and stopping. 

The overall experience was more than wonderful, excellent, magical, and more.


The Lyra performed well and we fell into a nice routine of blissful canal boating. 

The boats are self catering and we made many a stop at the local TESCO stores along the way. 

 

 



When hiring a narrow boat your will have a £25 fee for a rover pass. This allows you access to many very nice Scottish Canal facilities along the way. This being showers, laundry, toilets and water and pump out facilities.  While the shower in Lyra was nice, the others were nicer.

 

 

Simply narrow boating can best be described as RV camping on water. If you have RV Camping experience you will adjust rather quickly.

 

 

As I said our plan was to visit Edinburgh and Glasgow traveling on both the Union Canal and the Forth and Clyde Canal. A few weeks before our departure we learned there was low water in the Forth and Clyde and we would not make it to Glasgow. Then on arrival we learned of more issues on the Forth and Clyde. 

 

Simply, we did not make it to Glasgow and spent our two weeks on the Union Canal and that was perfect as we were not rushed at all. 

 



When you check in to pick up your boat you will receive a briefing on the operation of the boat. Stem to stern and all in between as well as your  daily operational checks. 

 

                              Cleaning the weed hatch 

 



This was a great and very memorable experience. The warmth of the Scottish people we met was most enjoyable. It was so easy to strike up a conversation and learn a bit about their lives. 



I am very sure we will be back on a canal boat in the future. Fitting it into our travel plans will be the issue as 2027 is fairly well filled. 



A DAY AT THE WHEEL AND OUR LAST DAY ON LYRA

 Falkirk Basin 101626:

 

                              Our Falkirk Basin mooring

                                  KEWL mini golf course

                                        Great Lunch

              The Last Lock and onto the Forth and Clyde

                             The Forth and Clyde Canal

                                     Lynn at the Helm

                                         Last mooring

 



Got the kettle on and coffee was made. Breakfast of granola and yogurt. We are doing pretty good on using up our food stores. 



Today we plan on moving Lyra to the Black Prince moorings, doing a good bit of packing, cleaning, and having a nice shower. 



The skies thus far look partially cloudy as the sun rises. 

After a walkabout we learned the moorings will be cleared by late afternoon as there are 5 boats going out today. So our move will be later today. 



At about 1330 we moved out  of the Basin and onto the Forth and Clyde canal. We sailed to lock 16 where we turned around in Winding Hole. Back to the Black Prince Base to wait for a mooring. 

After about 1500 spaces opened up, so me moved to closer in mooring. 



 

We then gathered clean clothing and toiletries and went to take a shower.



We celebrated our most wonderful cruise with ice cream cones. 

Back to Lyra and finishing our pack up. We will do a cleaning in the morning. 

 

 

 

THIS HAS BEEN SUCH AN AMAZING TRIP. 



DOWN THE WHEEL WE GO!

 REDDING TO FALKIRK: 

                                         In the locks

It was a windy and rainy last night and we are up and the kettle is on. Weather report is for morning rain with it stopping about 0900. 

Our booking for the Falkirk Wheel is 1300-1400 so we have a good bit of time to get there. Plan on setting sail at 0900. 

 

I believe we will need to moor up and wait after we exit the Falkirk Tunnel. 

We will navigate locks 1 & 2 to get to the wheel. After the wheel we will try to overnight in the Falkirk Basin. Then tomorrow lock down to the Forth and Clyde to moor up at the Black Prince Base. Well that’s the plan. 

 



Along the canals in this area one finds The Antonine Wall. It was was built from AD142 to 144 and ran for 37 miles.  Like the better known Hadrian's Wall to the south, it formed a solid barrier right across the country. A clear symbol of Roman power and authority, the wall probably served to control the movement of people and goods between the Roman-controlled area to the south and the lands to the north.

The wall was in use for around 20 years. The relatively short period of occupation and the materials used in its construction mean that it has survived less well than Hadrian's Wall, but in its day it would have been just as formidable a barrier.  Sections can still be seen to this day. 

We cast off at about 0900 and made it to the Falkirk Tunnel a bit after 0942. I took us about 15 minutes to transit the tunnel. We proceeded through the wet drippy Falkirk Tunnel and sailed on to Locks 1&2, the first place we could find a mooring to wait our transit.

 

At about 1100 I called the Basin Master to advise of our early arrival. I told him we were in no hurry and willing to await our allotted time. No worries a lock crew will be there in 30 minutes and we can get you on your way. The lock crew arrived in 15 minutes and soon we were in the locks descending. 

After lock 1, we had a 5 min wait for a tour boat with which we would share the Wheel Caisson.

 When they arrived, we followed them through the Bridge Castle Tunnel  and onto the wheel. 

We became part of Q&A session for the people on the tourist boat. Quite fun. 

 

                                        In the Locks

                                   Leaving the locks

                                    The Tourist Boat

                              In the Rough Castle Tunnel

                          In the caisson with the tour boat 

People like watching the Holiday Boats in the lock to the Forth and Clyde
 

 



We are moored here in the basin for the night and completed the evening maintenance chores. In today's weed hatch clean out we found a very nice sturdy shopping bag just a little worse for the wear. 



For this evening we will be moored in the basin and will move tomorrow to the Black Prince moorings. 



A quick sandwich for lunch and then off to explore the Falkirk Basin. 

We spent a bit of time watching other boats using the Falkirk wheel. There seemed to be a steady stream of folks riding the tour boats. 

There is a nice cafe and gift shop. We got a key chain for our trip Christmas ornament. 



To leave the Falkirk Basin one must descend one lock and this is quite the attraction. We will use it tomorrow to get the Lyra to the holiday boat mooring. 



We topped up our water and will soon have dinner here on the boat. 





THE RETURN LINLITHGOW TO REDDING

 LINLITHGOW TO REDDING

At this mooring we were able to start the engine at 0700 and we did to get the heat on. I went to put the kettle on and no gas. Thought we were on a empty cylinder I went to change it over. Still no joy or gas. 

We dropped our lines and were on the canal at 0800 headed to Redding where we will spend the night. 

Again a most enjoyable leisurely cruise and it seems the colors have gotten better during our absence from this area. 

 

                                  REDDING MOORING 

 

 



We arrived at Redding at about 1000 and moored up. I again played with the gas and still no joy. A quick call to Black Prince and we tried to troubleshoot over the phone. I had been doing all the suggested remedies. A mechanic will be out in about an hour to give it a look. No worries we have all day. 

 



While here I placed a call to the Falkirk Wheel Basin Master to book our transit of the wheel tomorrow. You need to book this 24 hours in advance. We have a booking for 1300 to 1400 tomorrow. Tomorrow after we leave the Falkirk Tunnel we are requested to confirm this booking. 



 

Evan the Mechanic from Black Prince came out and was as stumped as I was on the gas situation. We finally figured out is was a reset button  that needed brute force to reset, even though it looked reset. It may also be the tank diverter valve, so we swapped the tanks. 

 

He was the only one on duty and is swamped. After us he was headed to a crash near the Prince Charlie Aqueduct where there were broken windows and who knows what else. I did offer to go with him.  He also mentioned something about the engine hatch being flooded. 

 



Off to TESCO we went where we picked up some supplies for the next few days. I did find another jumper to match my brown one. We did pick up a couple premade sandwiches for our lunch as I was kinda wanting tuna fish and sweet corn. Jelly doughnuts were only £1.20 for 5,  who can resist. Lynn also stocked up on her favorite coffee as it is cheaper than Amazon. 

After lunch we found our bread to be a bit moldy so back to TESCO we went. 

Beef Stew is on the menu this evening and we will be seated at the Captains Table. 

Thus far today no rain, yet the sky is dark to the West.