Your Canal Boat Holiday

Travelling towards Brecon from Gilwern, there is a village every four miles – about every two hours cruising time. The villages are situated actually on the canal, and all have at least one pub where you can buy a drink or order a meal. A list of all the facilities and contact details are published in the Boat Manual on board the boat.

We provide basic cleaning materials and toilet rolls, just bring your food provisions for at least a couple of days on board, however here at Gilwern there are two general stores, butcher, fish & chips, Post Office, chemist, and doctor. Abergavenny and Crickhowell, each a pleasant walk from the canal have a wide selection of shops. Llangynidr and Talybont have good village stores where you can buy bread and milk and additional basic provisions whilst at either end of the canal Brecon or Pontypool have a good variety of stores.

Steering a narrowboat is not difficult and is easy for beginners to pick up. What's important to remember is that controls are reversed (steer right, turn left), you can only steer when moving forward.

You  must drive in the middle of the canal where the water is at its deepest, only moving to the right when passing another moving craft. Speed limit is 2mph to prevent damage to the canal.

We will carry out a full briefing before you leave our moorings and give hands-on training when you set up to ensure you can handle the boat.  Regardless of your experience. We also set out with you partway up the canal to ensure you are comfortable with the boat.

You can travel up to 12 miles per day, depending on the weather, speed, canal traffic, and how often you want to go off the boat to visit the sights or treat yourself to the local pubs. Remember that a narrowboat holiday is the quickest way to slow down, so the slower you go, the more you will see!

May, June and September seem the most popular months for a canal boat holiday, but our season runs from late March to the end of October.  Whichever month you choose, the natural beauty of this canal, the stunning scenery and the varied wildlife are sure to delight you on this quiet waterway.

Gilwern Countess has been kept exclusively pet free to accomodate anyone with pet allergies. We can also substitute bedding and cushions to feather-free alternatives.

Upon receipt of your deposit, we provide information booklets that explain what is provided on the boat and what you need to bring. We will provide towels for overseas visitors.   Sensible shoes and layered clothing are recommended so that you are prepared for all weathers, together with sunscreen and insect repellent for those warm evenings when you are sat out by the water!

There are plenty of pubs and cafes along the route at approximately three to five-mile intervals. We provide a list of amenities with the canal guide upon confirmation of your booking.

We provide full safety notes, life buoys, and life jackets if requested. In addition, we explain the potential hazards during your narrowboat induction. Provided you follow our advice and instructions, your narrowboat holiday should be a relaxed and safe experience

At formal mooring places, it is easy to step on and off the boat. There are three steps into the boat from the rear deck, so you need to be mobile enough to use these every day. If you moor up in more isolated places, you may need to use the plank to reach the bank, but only advise with good mobility and balance.

There are six locks on the canal between our base and Brecon basin.  However, you can have a lock-free holiday by travelling south from our base towards Five Locks.  This is a particularly quiet section of the canal and one that many enjoy.   If you are concerned about working locks there are volunteers on duty most days to assist.

If you plan to arrive at Abergavenny by railway, or bus, we can collect you from the station, which has good links to the main network via Newport. If you then require grocery provisions from local suppliers we can drive you to the nearest supermarkets prior to embarking our boats.

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We have a parking area at the rear of our premises for cars and small vans, other arrangements can be confirmed for larger motor home vehicles etc.

Electric vehicles can be charged via a single phase supply at the owners own risk whilst unattended.