The Cheshire Cat Fleet
All our boats are equipped to a high standard with gas or diesel central heating, flat screen LED TV/DVD units, 240v electrics (via an inverter), hot and cold running water and toilets. We supply cosy 13.5 tog duvets and two pillows for each berth. All bed linen, tea towels and towels are included in the holiday price.
Our boats all have modern, quiet diesel engines and easy to manage controls, making boat handling a pleasure. As you cruise, the engine is charging the batteries to work all the boat’s systems and providing you with lashings of hot water.
Holly Day – 31′
Holly Day is a purpose-built 31′ day hire narrowboat, equipped for up to 10 people. She has fully covered accommodation, with roll-down clear covers, so you can enjoy the scenery whatever the weather. Please note the steering position is outside. Holly has a spacious galley with hot and cold running water, two ring gas hob, grill and oven, an electric cool-box, and a full complement of tableware. The toilet compartment consists of a toilet and washbasin, again with hot and cold running water. Towel, tea-towel, soap, toilet rolls and washing up liquid are provided. Lifejackets are provided for children up to 12, and for anybody else requiring one.
Steering the boat takes a little practice, but is not difficult to master. She steers with a tiller, and has a simple combined gear/throttle lever. You will be shown how to handle the boat, and we will accompany you a short way up the canal while you get the hang of it.
Day Hire Price Guide – Weekends £140 per day / Weekdays £120 per day.
Angel of the North – 48′
Angel of the North is a 48ft cruiser stern narrowboat sleeping up to 4 people. From the good sized welldeck with seating, you enter via a single door into a comfortable lounge/diner with L shaped seating which will convert into a double bed, and a drop down seat giving the option of two single beds.
She has a modern galley with 4 ring gas cooker with separate grill and oven, electric fridge and ample cupboard and worktop space. The bathroom has a hip bath type shower, vanity unit and cassette toilet. At the rear of the boat is the bedroom, which can be configured as a double or two single beds. The boat has diesel fired central heating. She easy to handle with simple controls and a large cruiser deck. Due to her size and ease of handling, this boat is available for hire to single-handers.
Her Start day is Friday, available for weekly hire, weekend and midweek breaks, and long term hire.
Angel of the North price guide £1,110 to £1,250 and Weekend and midweek breaks from £650.
Witch Hazel – 50′
Witch Hazel is a brand new boat that joined the fleet in 2020. She is 50ft in length, and in the popular reverse layout.
From the bow, she has an open welldeck with seating, and double doors into the forward bedroom. Next comes the shower room with wide shower tray, sink and toilet. Behind this is the second bedroom. Both bedrooms have moveable bunks which can make two singles or one double bed, with storage drawers under and ample wardrobe space. The lounge has bunks either side of a removeable dining table, and at the stern of the boat is the spacious galley with four ring gas cooker, electric fridge, sink unit, worktops and storage cupboards.
The boat is warmed by diesel-fired central heating and has everything aboard that you will need for your cruise. Under the cruiser stern deck is a super silenced 38hp Beta Marine engine, with simple to use controls.
Witch Hazel 4 berth price guide £1,040 – £1,310 per week. Her start day is Saturday.
Oak Apple – 57′
Oak Apple is a 57ft 4/6 berth cruiser stern reverse layout, brand new in 2022. She has two flexible bedrooms which can be set up as either double or twin beds, with a shower room situated between the two. Both bedrooms have wardrobes and underbed storage drawers. The lounge has L shaped seating which converts to a double bed, and a removeable dining table. There is a second toilet between the middle bedroom and the lounge. The spacious galley has a four ring gas cooker with large grill and oven, fridge, stainless steel sink unit with real wood worktops and plenty of cupboard space. Steps lead to the cruiser stern deck. The boat is powered by a super-silenced Beta 43 diesel engine, and has diesel-fired central heating.
Her start days are Saturdays.
Maple Leaf – 57′
Maple Leaf is a spacious 4/6 berth boat, 57ft in length, with flexible sleeping arrangements. She has a large cruiser stern deck with steps leading down into the rear of the boat.
From the bow (front), she has a bedroom which can be configured as a double or two singles, with a wardrobe, and underbed storage drawers. Next comes the shower room with pump out toilet and washbasin. The lounge/diner has comfortable L shaped seating which can convert to a double bed, and has a removeable dining table and wall-mounted TV. The galley is well-equipped with a four ring cooker with separate oven and grill, electric fridge and plenty of cupboard and worktop space. At the rear of the boat is a second bedroom, which again can be configured as a double or two singles, and a second toilet with washbasin. A bonus for tall people is that all the beds on this boat are 6ft 6ins long. Maple Leaf has been a very popular choice for families and is ideal for two couples sharing. She was completely refitted in 2024.
Her start day is Sunday, price range £1200-£1490 per week, this boat is also available for long term hire, please enquire.
New Moon – 60′
New Moon is a brand new addition to the fleet in 2021. She is 60ft in length, and in the popular reverse layout.
From the front welldeck with its spacious seating area you enter the forward bedroom, which can be configured as a double or two single beds. Next is the bathroom with wide shower tray, vanity unit and pump out toilet. The central bedroom has the same options as the front one, and has its own bathroom with shower, vanity unit and toilet. At the rear of the boat is the L shaped lounge/diner which will convert into a double bed, and the spacious galley with solid wood worktops, family sized four ring gas cooker with grill and oven, electric fridge, and ample cupboard space. Ascending the back steps takes you out to the rear deck which has plenty of room for several people to stand. The boat has diesel fired central heating and is powered by a super silenced Beta 43 diesel engine
New Moon 4-6 berth price guide £1,290 – £1,580 per week. her starting day is Sundays.
Southern Cross – 65′
Brand new in 2019 is Southern Cross, a 65ft cruiser stern 8 berth boat with a reverse layout and spacious, flexible accommodation. From the front she has an open well-deck with seating and double doors leading to the first bedroom, which can double as a TV lounge. Behind this is the forward shower room, with toilet, washbasin and shower. Then two more bedrooms and the aft shower room.
All the cabins can be arranged as two single or one double bed, and have wardrobe and drawer space. At the rear of the boat is the main lounge, which will convert to sleeping accommodation, and the galley.
The galley has a full sized four ring gas cooker with grill and fan oven, a fridge, sink unit and plenty of cupboard space. She comes fully equipped with everything you will need to cook aboard. Steps lead from the galley to the large cruiser stern deck. The boat is powered by a Beta Marine 42hp engine with easy to manage controls, and is warmed by diesel fired central heating.
Southern Cross 8 berth price guide £1,310 – £1,750 per week. Her starting day is Saturdays.