CRUISE ROUTES:
Part of the concept of private charter is that we hope to provide you with the flexibility of choosing when you come with us and for how many days.  We hope to have the cruise start and end at canal locations to suit you - and on dates to suit you. In practice, however, this has to be subject to prior booking commitments. For example if we are finishing a pre-booked charter at, say, Whaley Bridge on a particular Saturday - we would be unable to start the next cruise on the following day in the centre of Birmingham.  So those that book early tend to have best choice of dates and cruise route.

One practical consideration when designing a cruise is the method of travel to and from Willow at the start and end of the cruise. There are, basically, two types of cruise.  Those that start and end at the same location, and those that start and end at different locations.

• Cruises that start and end at the same location: In some cases this will mean that we cruise for a number of days, then turn around and come back to end the cruise at that same start location.  One drawback to this, is that we are repeating the same stretch of canal on the way back. We lessen this disadvantage by choosing different overnight moorings on the way back. This disadvantage can be overcome by choosing a circular route - known as a cruising ring' - where the route takes us on a circular route (eg the 'Four Counties' ring).  With a ring  we still start and end at the same location, but without having to repeat any part of the route.
• Cruises that start and end at different locations:  The immediate advantage of this option is that we can create a cruise, without repeating any part of the route. It does, however, make coming by car more problematical. This can be overcome if guests are prepared to use taxi or public transport to return to their car. Another alternative is to arrive and depart using rail transport or by 'lifts from friends'.  Many of our cruises can start and end at locations convenient to main line railway stations.  Very cheap (Virgin Rail) tickets can be obtained by buying them 'on line' approx 12 weeks before the date of travel (summer '09, examples - £7.50 ticket London Euston to Chirk N.Wales - £16 Kidsgrove, Staffs to Glasgow).