Barbara McLellan Canal Trip Boat

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Barbara McLellan Canal Trip Boat

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Run by volunteers. Trips Easter to October, Mother's Day & Santa trips. Private charters available. We look forward to welcoming you on board.

We strongly recommend booking our trips online (visit tickets.katrust.org.uk/bmac or click the Book Now button. That said, if there are still places available then tickets can be bought on the day from the Canal Trust Cafe, immediately beside the Barbara McLellan.

09/08/2026

✨ Jane Austen Festival Canal Cruises ✨

Step into the world of Jane Austen and join us for an enchanting journey through the beautiful English countryside! 📖🎩

🚂 Your adventure begins at Bath Spa train station, where we’ll take a scenic train journey to the historic town of Bradford on Avon.

On arrival, a local historian will guide us along the riverbank towards the marina, sharing stories about the history of Bradford on Avon along the way.

🚤 Once at the marina, board the ‘Barbara McLellan’ and settle in for a peaceful, unhurried cruise along the tranquil Kennet & Avon Canal.

The boat will stop at the magnificent Avoncliff Aqueduct, where you can disembark and take in the wonderful views. 🌳🌉

☕🥐 Morning Cruise: Enjoy a delicious breakfast on board.

🍰🫖 Afternoon Cruise: Indulge in a delightful afternoon tea as you cruise through the picturesque countryside.

📅 Monday 14 September
🌅 Morning cruise — 9:00am | 4 hrs 15 mins
🍰 Afternoon cruise — 1:30pm | 4 hrs 45 mins (wait list)

📅 Wednesday 16 September
🌅 Morning cruise — 9:00am | 4 hrs 15 mins
🍰 Afternoon cruise — 1:30pm | 4 hrs 45 mins

📍 Meet: Bath Spa Train Station
🎟️ £155 per person

For full details and tickets, visit janeausten.co.uk

A truly delightful way to experience the beauty of the English countryside with a touch of Austenian elegance. 💕📚🚤

03/08/2026

AUGUST BOAT TRIPS - BOOKING FAST!
Some trips sold out but places still available from *this Saturday*

🦆 Iconic Avoncliff Aqueduct 2.5 hours departs 2pm Sat 8th & Sat 22nd

🥗 🍷 🍺 Ploughmans 6pm Sun 16th evening cruise - 4 tables left ( glass of wine / a beer included)

🦢 Hidden Hilperton 2.5 hours departs 2pm Wed 26th

☀️ Bank holiday Mon 31st 1.5 hours departs 11am Widbrook Woods or 1.30pm Meadow’s Bridge
👧 👶🏼 Family friendly - feed the ducks… canal colouring…selection of tabletop games. Under 3s go free.

Book at https://katrust.org.uk/our-boats/barbara-mclellan-bookings

23/07/2026

Cream tea afloat!

⏰ Sun 2nd August 2-4.30pm, to Hilperton

Combining two of our favourite things - cream teas and a canal cruise!

🦢 Spot a heron, deer, teenage cygnets and more as we cruise gently down the “canal less travelled” to Hilperton.

🍵 Feel your cares slip away… all you have to concern yourself with, is whether to assemble your scone Devon or Cornwall style…

£25pp - includes limitless tea or coffee.
Scones freshly made by the wonderful Canal Trust Cafe

Book at https://katrust.org.uk/our-boats/barbara-mclellan-bookings

21/07/2026

🏍️ Ride It Day at Crofton Beam Engines 🏍️

⏰ Sunday 9 August

Take a ride through the beautiful Wiltshire countryside and make Crofton Beam Engines your destination!

Like us, part of Kennet and Avon Canal Trust, Crofton is home to the oldest beam engine in the world still able to carry out the task for which it was built – pumping water from the reservoir to the Kennet & Avon Canal.

Whether you're riding solo or with a club, you're welcome. (If you're coming as a club, please advise approximate numbers.)

🚂 Explore the pumping station with knowledgeable volunteer guides.
☕ Enjoy tea, coffee, cake and more in the Smithy Tea Room.
💙 Meet NSPCC volunteers and learn about the vital work of Childline.

🆓 Entry to the grounds and parking is FREE. 🎟️ Pumping station admission: £7.

Details Croftonbeamengines.org Crofton Beam Engines [email protected]

20/07/2026

🍗 🍺 Weekend wildlife! Great to see everyone at our BBQ social on Saturday - one of several volunteer celebrations each year. A chance to unwind in the middle of a busy summer season.

The next day we ran a fantastic passenger trip to Avoncliff and saw wildlife of a different kind…spot the headless deer!🦌

16/07/2026

🌅 We had a wonderful evening taster trip, meeting 16 people interested in volunteering with us.

Our crew explained all the boaty and hospitality roles, and most are now signing up to take our 3 hour safety training. 📋

Next stage is to complete 5 shadowing trips as a trainee, before being officially signed off as crew.

We look forward to getting to know you all 😊

P.S. Good to see the cygnets growing! 🦢

15/07/2026

🎁 Looking for a special gift?

✉️ Treat a friend or family member to a Kennet & Avon Canal Trust Gift Card - redeemable on any of our boats from Bath to Newbury.

🚤 Here in Bradford on Avon we run a wide range of trips that delight all ages! Including cream teas, light suppers, and our regular trips to the iconic Avoncliff Aqueduct.

🥳 Perfect for birthday or anniversary celebrations.

🥂 Licensed bar
👧 👶🏼 Family friendly
🌱 Relax in the magic of nature

“A gentle way to spend Ian’s 83rd birthday with the family”
“Thank you for giving so much joy to my special family”
“Wow, what a lovely meal and cruise on the canal. We had a lovely summer evening”

✉️ Select a gift card here: https://katrust.org.uk/our-boats/barbara-mclellan-bookings.

13/07/2026

Don’t try this at home!

Brian the quizmaster conducts affairs from an unorthodox podium…

Enormous fun had by all -

🏴‍☠️ “We won the quiz through our vicious piracy. Best quiz night ever” (not too sure what this means but it sounds intriguing!)

🧐 “Don’t underestimate the quiz!”

☺️ “The crew could not have been more kind, inviting and fun. We loved every part of this experience”

👏🏼 “Thank you for a great evening, fantastically looked after by all on board”

The quiz may be over but you can join us on a range of other trips this season.

🚤 We cruise to Avoncliff or Hilperton most Wednesday and Saturday afternoons - as well as running special trips like Vintage teas, or Spooky Cruises for Hallowe’en! 👻

🎟️ Book at https://katrust.org.uk/our-boats/barbara-mclellan-bookings

12/07/2026

LAST CHANCE for canal boat volunteering this Tuesday!

💙 Do you love spending time by the water?
Are you looking for a new challenge and to meet new people?

How about learning some canal boating skills!
🤗 No experience needed - just a reasonable level of fitness so you can operate the locks and move around the boat.

🪢 ☕️ We train you fully in basic boating skills and hospitality - we love delighting our passengers and are proud to have an MBE for community service!

🚤 Flexible commitment - though we ask for minimum ten trips a season ( works out just over 1 half a day a month)

😃 Join a really friendly group of volunteers!

Why not try out a 1 hr trip at 7pm on Tuesday 14th July to see what it's like?
Email [email protected] by end of Monday to book a free place.
We’ll explain fully what’s involved and you can decide if you’d like to take it further.

07/07/2026

‼️ CLOSING WED!

🧩 Quiz’n’Chips cruise to Hilperton
🗓️ Friday 10th July
🕰️ 6.30pm to 9pm - should have cooled off a bit!
🍟 Chips & chicken goujons - veggie option available (request when booking)
🍺 Licensed bar
🎟️£23pp
Exclusive tables for 2, 3 or 4 persons.

Book at: https://katrust.org.uk/our-boats/barbara-mclellan-bookings.

⭐ Answers to our Quiz teaser ⭐
- How many locks are there on the Caen Hill Flight? 29
- Dundas Aqueduct was the very first structure on the canal to be designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. TRUE
- The famous Kennet & Avon canal water point at Bath Locks is fed entirely by natural hot spring water overflowing from the Roman Baths. FALSE!

Address

Bradford-on-Avon

Website

http://www.bmac.katrust.org.uk/

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