Towpath Talk

  • From marina to mountain

    From marina to mountain

    by

    BOATER James Kinsey is embarking on an incredible challenge this October by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to raise vital funds and awareness for the charity Meningitis Now. His 18-month-old son, Ralph, battled meningitis at just 12 weeks of age but it won’t be known if there have been any lasting effects until he is older.  Colleagues…

    Continue reading »

  • RCR posts ‘how to…’ videos

    RCR posts ‘how to…’ videos

    by

    With longer and lighter days prompting more boaters to cruise the inland waterways, River Canal Rescue is posting ‘how to’ videos on YouTube, sharing practical tips on how to keep engines and components running smoothly. The first video covers stern glands, discussing adjustment and packing replacement (the latter when no alignment is needed).   Fronted…

    Continue reading »

  • Volunteers’ Week spotlight on Wilts & Berks Canal

    Volunteers’ Week spotlight on Wilts & Berks Canal

    by

    A WILTSHIRE volunteer is supporting a national campaign that encourages people to get more involved in their communities. Howard Wilson, from Semington, is a member of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust which aims to restore the former waterway through the local countryside. He joined the Melksham, Chippenham & Calne branch of the charity seven years ago…

    Continue reading »

  • Busy season for Grantham volunteers

    Busy season for Grantham volunteers

    by

    GRANTHAM Canal Society work parties are well into their busy season and have been making good progress on maintenance and restoration projects. Volunteers have attended chainsaw training to allow them to clear self-set trees along the canal bank, Lock 16 has had a fresh lick of paint and work on Lock 13 is well underway.…

    Continue reading »

  • Nominations closing for the Sustainable Boating Awards

    Nominations closing for the Sustainable Boating Awards

    by

    By Phil Pickin IT WAS back in February that the editorial team at Towpath Talk, in partnership with the IWA’s Sustainable Boating Group (SBG), announced the Sustainable Boating Awards. This new award scheme aims to recognise the pioneers of sustainable boating by awarding two prizes for commercial and non-commercial innovations. The SBG, which was established…

    Continue reading »

  • Boost to Grand Western Canal visitor experience

    Boost to Grand Western Canal visitor experience

    by

    VISITORS to the Grand Western Canal Country Park can now benefit from a range of new facilities to help them make the most of a trip to this charming waterway in mid-Devon. The canal visitor centre now features two new video display screens, each playing a choice of several short film clips, including some spectacular…

    Continue reading »

  • Waverley will fly pennant with pride

    Waverley will fly pennant with pride

    by

    By Hugh Dougherty THE world’s only seagoing paddle steamer will fly a special pennant with pride this season, as Paddle Steamer Waverley has been awarded the prestigious status of National Flagship of the Year by National Historic Ships UK. The body says that the award recognises the breadth and geographic coverage of the iconic paddler’s…

    Continue reading »

  • June 2024

    June 2024

    by

    Towpath Talk features everything you need to know about boats, marinas, wildlife, conservation, heritage and superb days out. If you like the look of the June edition, we’re certain you’ll enjoy reading every issue, so why not take a look at our latest subscription offers? Remember Towpath Talk is a FREE publication, so you’ll only be paying…

    Continue reading »

  • Black Sluice Lock marks 15 years in service

    Black Sluice Lock marks 15 years in service

    by

    THE Black Sluice Lock in Lincolnshire has now been in service for 15 years since its official opening on Friday, March 20, 2009. Following the demolition of the old lock and the fixed sluice, a new lock was constructed on the River Witham tideway at the south end of the Black Sluice complex, marking the…

    Continue reading »

  • ‘More fun than going to the gym’

    ‘More fun than going to the gym’

    by

    By Janet Richardson A FAMILIAR sight at the Braunston Historic Boat Rally in late June, the iconic pair Nuneaton and Brighton are still at work. They are owned and operated by the Narrow Boat Trust, a volunteer-led charity whose objective is to maintain the historic boats and demonstrate how they were operated commercially together in…

    Continue reading »

  • Boaters march on CRT office in licence fee protest

    Boaters march on CRT office in licence fee protest

    by

    HUNDREDS of boaters took to the towpath of Paddington Basin in London to demonstrate against the Canal & River Trust’s licence fee increases. They were also protesting at plans to introduce differential pricing based on mooring status. Activists from the boater community were joined on Easter Saturday by members of other groups in solidarity, including…

    Continue reading »

  • Date for Robbie’s diary as he opens ecology park

    Date for Robbie’s diary as he opens ecology park

    by

    THE Lichfield Canal at Darnford Moors Ecology Park has been officially opened by TV’s Robbie Cumming, following its completion by Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust (LHCRT). This 0.5km section of canal was completed thanks to a grant from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) with match funding from HS2’s Community and Environment Fund (CEF)…

    Continue reading »

  • Business body backs campaign for waterways funding

    Business body backs campaign for waterways funding

    by

    BRITISH Marine recently joined other members of Fund Britain’s Waterways for a meeting with the Canal & River Trust chief executive Richard Parry and his senior team at Hatton Locks. The trade association, whose members come from a broad range of boating businesses, is one of 120 organisations backing the FBW campaign to protect all…

    Continue reading »

  • More of the Monty takes shape

    More of the Monty takes shape

    by

    WITH parts of the UK having had their wettest winter since records began in 1836, work on the Crickheath Tramway wharf wall was delayed despite prolonged pumping to reduce water levels. So the main focus of a recent work party was to crack on with lining and blocking just south of the wharf. This section…

    Continue reading »