If you’d like to try canal cruising but don’t fancy roughing it, take a look at Beacon Park Boats. Based on the Monmouth and Brecon Canal, which runs through the breathtaking Brecon Beacons National Park, Beacon Park specialise in top-notch vessels with features including fixed double beds, central heating and DVD players – some even have hot tubs.
The Monmouth and Brecon canal is a landlocked contour canal, built for wider vessels than conventional narrowboats, so Beacon Park’s boats are typically more spacious and suited for larger groups – the fleet includes a converted Dutch barge. The canal itself is fairly easy to navigate, with just a few locks to negotiate, but it has everything you’d look for, including a tunnel and an aqueduct, as well as plenty of excellent pubs along the way. Not cheap, but an experience to treasure.
