Narrowboat in Wales

Along with another couple, my wife and I “narrowboated” the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal in southeast Wales at the end of July ’03. We hired our narrowboat through Beacon Park Boats and had a wonderful experience.

Alistair and Sarah Kirkpatrick, the owners of BPB, furnished us with a practically new, 52-foot narrowboat that had two separate bedrooms with adjoining shower/toilet/sink (as well as a cellphone, in case we had any problems). The rental cost for one week, Saturday to Saturday, was $1,700; i.e., each couple paid $850.

We took the canal from Abergavenny to Brecon, all the time being within Brecon National Park. The canal, to a great extent, follows the contours of the hillside and the views are fantastic. Pubs to eat at every few miles and several side hikes are available.

There were only six locks up to Brecon from Abergavenny and a few bridges to operate. The other couple had done some narrowboating before, and while their having experience was helpful, it was not entirely necessary.

Again, our one-week trip involved just the four of us and a total of 20 miles up and 20 miles back. It was a wonderful decompression after the Heathrow experience, etc., that led up to it.

I am only too willing to answer any questions people might have. E-mail me c/o ITN.

JIM EKSTROM
Exeter, NH