UK Canal Boating Resources & Route Planners

A collection of helpful websites, waterway organisations, and route planners to assist you in preparing for your canal boating holiday.

The Canal & River Trust

Our waterway network is a national treasure and the Canal & River Trust is here to ensure that it is protected forever. Find vital information on the 2,000 miles of historic waterways in England and Wales.

CanalPlanAC Route Planner

A fantastic interactive route planner for the inland waterways. Calculate exact cruising times, lock counts, and distances for your chosen holiday route.

Inland Waterways Association

The main waterways charity. The IWA gives its support to canal societies throughout the country, co-operating and advising on projects which are restoring hundreds of miles of waterways.

Met Office Weather Forecast

Essential for checking the local weather forecast before setting off. Knowing what the weather will do helps you plan when to cruise and when to moor up and relax.

Gov.uk Fishing Licences

Fishing is a popular activity on the canals! If you plan to fish during your holiday, you must purchase a rod fishing licence before you cast your line.

British Marine Federation

The BMF is the trade association for the UK's boating industry. Its primary role is to promote and protect the industry but is the source of much useful information and links.

Narrowboat World

A popular independent online magazine for the inland waterways, featuring daily news, boat tests, technical articles, and readers' letters from across the canal network.

Environment Agency

The navigation authority for the Thames and Nene. Also provides news, information, and data about the environment of England and Wales, and links to flood warnings.

National Rail Enquiries

If you want to reach our Middlewich base by train, this site allows you to check timetables and prices for the closest stations (such as Crewe or Winsford).

Waterways Cruising Clubs

The Green Blue

Visit Britain

Visit Wales

Top Tip

Download Your Digital Map

We suggest downloading the free Open Canal Map while you plan. It is a fantastic interactive tool for exploring routes, finding visitor moorings, water points, and local pubs along the towpath.

Boatyard Bonus: It's incredibly helpful for pinpointing your exact location on the canal network. If you ever need to call our team for advice or assistance during your holiday, you can tell us exactly where you are!

Apple iOS Android View Web Map

* Disclaimer: Open Canal Map is a third-party application. It is not affiliated with Andersen Boats and is downloaded and used entirely at your own discretion.