https://www.starnarrowboatholidays.co.uk/

Star Narrowboat Holidays, Uplands Road, Anderton, Northwich (2026)

16/02/2023

Well I'm genuinely happy to tell you that it's time to move on...so from February 2023 we no longer operate narrowboat holiday hire. We've enjoyed great success since we started the business in 2012, so thank you to all of you who have hired with us over the years. I've truly loved meeting people from various parts of the world, hearing their stories and teaching 'the ropes' of narrowboating. I had started to think about moving on even before the days of Covid and now it's finally the right time to venture forward...I followed my heart and that led to Star Narrowboat Holidays and now I continue to follow my heart and bid you bon voyage.
Best wishes :)
Hester ('Gloria', 'Queenie' and 'Woodstock').

31/01/2023

A few hours cruise from our base and you can be on the Bridgewater canal. Here's Queenie moored up outside the Trafford Centre.

30/01/2023

We run an Experience Day...do you or does anyone you know want to learn how to steer and manoeuvre a narrowboat? Well, we offer ‘experience days’ to learn just that - the 'experience' will last for 4 hours and in that time you will learn the following:

What You Will Learn
* First you will get a tour of the boat and we'll go through some essential health and safety aspects
* When we cast off and set to cruising down the canal the tiller (the bit that steers the boat) will be handed to you
* We'll practice mooring up and learn which knots to tie to secure the boat, you will learn how to cast off, stop and navigate around obstacles and then how to turnaround in a winding hole (designated turning point)
* You'll find out where you can moor up and where not to
* We'll look at some simple daily engine checks and show you how to check the w**d hatch (clean the propeller)
* You’ll also see how easy navigation is on the canal
* We’ll give you lot's of useful tips to take away if you ever decide to have a narrowboat holiday
* Lunch will be on the boat at a time to suit - the ‘experience’ will be guided by your wishes
* Due to our location we will not have time to learn how to go through locks and swing bridges, we will go through tunnels
* You will also receive a 5% discount on a 7 or more night hire if you purchase the 'Experience Day' or 'Deluxe Experience Day'.

Note: This is not an accredited Helmsman Certificate, please see the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) for information about accredited helmsman courses.

Prices - can be bought as a voucher
The cost for the 'Experience Day' is £180 for 2 persons for 4 hours training, hot and cold drinks will be provided (please bring your own lunch). Payment can be made by bank transfer, cash, credit card via Paypal (add 2%).

Extend the day and stay aboard the boat for the night - the 'Deluxe' version!
If you’d like an ‘Experience Day’ with a night spent aboard the boat back at base (not with me of course ;)) the cost is £310. Bedding, towels and fuel for the solid fuel stove is included in the price.

Photo credit:

12/01/2023

Did we say that we now operate from Anderton Marina on the Trent and Mersey canal in Cheshire? Our canal hire base is a 4 minute walk from the Anderton Boat Lift.

Woodstock is for sale and now located at Barbridge marina. Please make any enquiries to Ash Boats 0777 1510 154 info@ash...

08/01/2023

Woodstock is for sale and now located at Barbridge marina. Please make any enquiries to Ash Boats 0777 1510 154 [email protected] ashboats.co.uk

03/01/2023

A handful of Guest Book reviews from 2022 for hires aboard Queenie and Woodstock...🥳

12th to 23rd July 2022. Having been very happy with our last boating holiday and Hester's service mindedness, we decided on having another go. Last time was on 'Gloria' 3 years ago. Woodstock proved even better than the almost perfect 'Gloria'. We were aiming for the Cheshire Ring, but due to low water levels we had to rethink. We went up through Middlewich to Chester, then via Llangollen canal up to Ellesmere. We spent the 2 hottest days there: it was 35C! Woodstock is very well equipped and has lots of smart solutions to problems with confined spaces. Nice to sit in the chairs up front and see the canal! We are very happy with our holiday. A & R, B & M (Gothenburg, SE).

24th June to 1st July 2022. 'Queenie' is a very comfortable boat and performed well during our canal holiday. The Moore, Sale, Astley, Worsley and Lymm areas are beautiful parts of the world. We wish all who gadabout in 'Queenie' happy sailing! G & B, (New South Wales, AU).

31st May to 4th June 2022. A beautiful boat and fantastic holiday. We'll be back. Thank you. L & T (Merseyside, UK).

27th May to 10th June 2022. We had an amazing journey on Queenie from Anderton to Llangollen and back. Every day was fantastic, with numerous wonderful pubs and scenery. Queenie is a great narrowboat and a pleasure to cruise in the narrows on the Llangollen and over the terrifying Pontyscyllte aqueduct and tunnels. Thanks to Hester for letting us use her wonderful narrowboat. L & M, Massachusetts (USA).

6th to 8th May 2022. Me and my brother enjoyed our few days away and would be very happy to come back and hire one of your boats out in the near future. We visited various areas of the canal and had our meals in some lovely pubs. Thanks for being a great help on our trip, hope to see you again soon. From the W brothers, (North Yorkshire, UK).

11th to 15th April 2022. Yet another amazing stay (there have been 6 others) on Queenie. Turning right out of Anderton marina we reached as far as Dunham Massey and back in four days. With lots of stops for tea along the way, the 'Healing Powers of Queenie' have washed its magic at receiving our stress once again. We will most definitely be back for more. R & M (Middlesex, UK).

01/01/2023

So friends, because the only way is forward, here's the big news...finally in the next few weeks of 2023 our website will get a new look and a new booking system!!! We will very soon take bookings via Waterways Holidays - and this will be clear on the new site. The everyday running, boat handover and support will still be run by us so there'll be no compromise on quality and our 'uniqueness'. In the meantime if you are interested in booking a hire with us please feel welcome to get in touch. All returners will get a 5% discount. We will take a minimum of 7 night hires and for longer hires we'll offer 14, 21 and 28 nights. Hires will run from Saturday to Saturday 2.30pm to 9.30am. We'll offer static hire from November to March. We run 'Queenie', a 50ft boat which sleeps up to 2 people and take a maximum of 2 pets.

Our prices, as ever, include all you will need for the hire that's all fuel, bedding, towels, a boat handling lesson, parking and of course the obligatory on call support. We are based at Anderton marina on the Trent and Mersey canal just near the Anderton boat lift - perfect start base for the Cheshire Ring, the Four Counties, Llangollen, Chester and the Pennine Ring. Also for a trip northwards to the wider and lock free Bridgewater canal and on into Manchester or even Liverpool.

We started narrowboat hire back in 2012 with 'Gloria', it was then time to sell that boat and we made 'Woodstock'. Now with new horizons on the trajectory we offer Queenie, our much loved and admired 50ft/15m narrowboat.

31/12/2022

So people, all the best for 2023 from Star Narrowboat Holidays...

13/12/2022

We sell vouchers for Christmas, birthdays or just because...

09/12/2022

We are taking bookings for the Spring, Summer and Autumn of 2023. Price includes fuel, bedding, towels, boat handling lesson (if needed) and on-call support. 30% of the hire fee will reserve the dates (remaining fee due 8 weeks before the hire starts). 18 miles from Manchester airport. Please call Hester on +44 (0)7944 404 227 or email [email protected]

06/11/2022

Our next Experience Day aboard Queenie will be on 12th November from 11am to 3pm. The lucky people will have our undivided attention for 4 hours...lot's of steering, mooring up, going through tunnels and out the other end as competent narrowboat handlers...that's the plan! All for £180.
You want?

Photo credit: Ruth and Mark at .creatives

20/10/2022

Do you or does anyone you know want to learn how to steer and manoeuvre a narrowboat? Well, we offer ‘experience days’ to learn just that - the 'experience' will last for 4 hours and in that time you will learn the following:

What You Will Learn...
First you will get a tour of the boat and we'll go through some essential health and safety aspects.
When we cast off and set to cruising down the canal the tiller (the bit that steers the boat) will be handed to you.
We'll practice mooring up and learn which knots to tie to secure the boat, you will learn how to cast off, stop and navigate around obstacles and then how to turnaround in a winding hole (designated turning point).
You'll find out where you can moor up and where not to.
We'll look at some simple daily engine checks and show you how to check the w**d hatch (clean the propeller).
You’ll also see how easy navigation is on the canal.
We’ll give you lot's of useful tips to take away if you ever decide to have a narrowboat holiday.
Lunch will be on the boat at a time to suit - the ‘experience’ will be guided by your wishes.
Due to our location we will not have time to learn how to go through locks and swing bridges, we will go through tunnels and learn to navigate small spaces.

You will also receive a 5% discount on a 7 or more night hire if you purchase the 'Experience Day' or 'Deluxe Experience Day'.

Who Does The Training?
The training will be done by Hester. I own and have operated Star Narrowboat Holidays since 2012. I hold Quality Accredited Boatyard status (QAB). The QAB status is not a star rating, it's an accreditation that offers reassurances of safe and legal practices together with good customer service. This means that my handovers (including teaching boat management skills) and customer service have been assessed by British Marine who run the QAB scheme with licence from VisitEngland.

Many people who hire with us are beginners, though happily a large number are 'returners'! Here's some feedback from the Guest Book and online reviews:

'We have had a wonderful introduction to narrowboats and canals aboard 'Queenie'. Great briefing from Hester, gave us the confidence to enjoy a couple of days heading out towards Lymm and back.' John & Jenni (Northumberland, UK).

'We are now, well and truly hooked, thanks in no small part to Hester at Star. The quality of her boats, her tuition, her dedication to ensuring that you enjoy yourself is second to none.' Adrian & Andrea (Ireland, UK).

'A little daunted at the prospect initially but Hester’s laid-back nature and expert tuition put me right at ease, got the hang of it in no time.' Cat & Scotty (Yorkshire, UK).

Experience days are usually run from November to March - other times may be available please enquire.

Note: This is not an accredited Helmsman Certificate, please see the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) for information about accredited helmsman courses.

Prices
The cost for the 'Experience Day' is £180 for 2 persons for 4 hours training, hot and cold drinks will be provided (please bring your own lunch). Payment can be made by bank transfer, cash, credit card via Paypal (add 2%).

Extend the day and stay aboard the boat for the night - the 'Deluxe' version!
If you’d like an ‘Experience Day’ with a night spent aboard the boat back at base (not with me of course ;)) the cost is £310. Bedding, towels and fuel for the solid fuel stove is included in the price.

Please get in touch if you are interested in the Experience or Deluxe Experience Day...email Hester [email protected] and call +44 (0)79 444 04 227.

Thanks to Brendan for this most brilliant photo of Lilli at the helm!

Star Narrowboat Holidays

16/02/2023

31/01/2023

30/01/2023

12/01/2023

08/01/2023

03/01/2023

01/01/2023

31/12/2022

13/12/2022

09/12/2022

06/11/2022

20/10/2022

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