Day Hire Cruise Routes

Our self-drive narrowboat day hire on the Kennet and Avon (K&A) Canal, available March to end October, offers an easterly, lock-free, cruising route from Devizes Wharf in Wiltshire. You’ll cruise through stunning scenery as you travel along the Vale of Pewsey as far as either All Cannings, turning just before Allington swing bridge, or to Honey Street, turning just beyond the wharf there.

For a relaxing cruise aim for All Cannings with perhaps a lunch stop along the way. This is a roughly 2.5hr journey each way. We’d recommend  The Kings Arms in All Cannings village (best to book in advance for your party – 01380 860328) which is accessible directly south from the swing bridge across the fields. Of course you could always pack a picnic: our dayhire boat has a small galley including two ring hob. Please do not moor the boat on the bridge moorings or in the turning point at  Allington swing bridge!

For a longer cruise you could boat as far as Honey Street and turn there. We estimate a 3.5hr journey each way, so please bear in mind that you will not have time to spend ashore at Honey Street.  This cruise to Honey Street boasts fabulous views to the Alton Barnes White Horse. (This is the horse on our logo: you will recognise its distinctive shape). The turning point is beyond Honeystreet Wharf, after our friends at Moonraker Boats but before the next bridge.

Of course, if you’ve enjoyed yourselves, you may like to consider a longer cruise on one of our gorgeous short breaks or even a week away; there are many places to stop and eat on the way to Hungerford and back.

(N.B. To the immediate west of Devizes Wharf lie the Caen Hill Locks which you are not permitted to descend – you’d spend all day going down, then up again!)

  • What you need to know to book

    To check dayhire availability and prices for MOONDANCING, MOONGAZING, or MOONLIGHTING.

    CLICK HERE TO BOOK

    Number of people

    You can have minimum of 2 adults to a maximum of 10 people aboard the dayboat. The price remains the same but please let us know how many people are in your party so we can welcome you aboard. Dogs are welcome and are free but we limit them to a maximum of 4 per boat.

    Date

    NEW for 2022 the Dayboats are available 7 days a week. Select your date between 4th March and 31st October, then click the Search button.

    Scroll through the boat’s calendar and select ONLY available dates which are coloured green. When you have decided on your date, Click Book Now to proceed to the secure SagePay payment screens, where you can complete your details. We will email you the Dayhire Booking Confirmation Letter; your day on the water is booked and we look forward to greeting you aboard. Arrival, parking and contact information is all given in your confirmation letter. Please contact us if you have any further enquiries.

    All bookings and made in line with our standard Terms & Conditions of Hire. When you arrive to board your dayboat you will be given (and asked to sign) our Day Hire Commencement Acceptance.

    A reminder concerning alcohol when cruising

    We want everyone to enjoy their time on our dayhire for all the right reasons, so you will appreciate that following a couple of recent isolated incidents of hirers behaving inappropriately on the canal, we have decided to tighten up on our already existing alcohol policy. We have no wish to be party poopers – a cold glass of beer whilst cruising through the countryside is one of life’s pleasures – but we will now require that any alcohol brought on to the boat will need to be checked in before loading and will be limited to 6 units per adult (this is equivalent to roughly half a bottle of wine or a couple of pints of beer per adult).

    Hire will be immediately terminated (with no refund of monies or deposit) should the boat be seen to be speeding or disregarding other vessels, or should there be any complaints of inappropriate behaviour or foul language. Thank you for your support in this matter and have a lovely day!

  • Day Hire Vouchers

    A day out on our boats makes a wonderful present. If you would like to give this as a gift, but do not know which day would suit your recipient, then you can purchase a voucher so they can choose any day available.

    The price of a dayhire varies across the season and weekend are usually more than week days. We sell vouchers at £180, but will refund any difference, or ask for the additional amount when the date/price is chosen.

    If you would like to purchase a trip on a dayboat as a gift then please email us with your telephone number and we will call you to arrange this. A voucher with a booking number will be sent to you so that you can print it to be included in your card. Instructions included as to how to choose a date, and then confirmation of the dayhire will be emailed.

    Alternatively, if you know which date you want we advise you to book so that you are guaranteed this day. We can still email you a voucher for you to print and give.