Beacon Park Boats
WHERE
Crickhowell
What it’s like
Hire a canal boat for a few days or a week and cruise the water yourself, dogs welcome aboard for free.
This is a self-drive canal boat holiday, not a day trip with a skipper. You turn up at the wharf from 2.30pm, get shown round your boat, and get a proper briefing on how to handle it before you set off. They reckon on up to two hours for all that, which sounds like a lot until you remember you're about to be in charge of a boat for the first time.
You can go for a long weekend (three nights from a Friday), a midweek break (four nights from a Monday), or longer. There's a lock-free itinerary if you don't fancy locks on your first go, and they send an instructional DVD and suggested routes once you've booked, so you're not turning up cold. The boat has to be back by 9am on the last day, which is an early finish if you're not a morning person.
Two dogs can come along free of charge, with a towel provided for muddy paws, though you'll need to bring their bed, bowls and food yourself and take them with you whenever you leave the boat. Parking is free in a secure gated car park at the wharf, with spaces allocated for you and your guests. Prices are quoted as all-in, covering diesel, gas, electricity, bed linen, towels and even a starter pack of cleaning bits.
Getting there without a car is possible too. Abergavenny station is about 20 minutes away by taxi and sits on lines from Manchester, North and South Wales, and London Paddington via Newport.
Facilities
Need to know
- Booking
- Arrive from 2:30pm, depart by 9:00am
- Parking
- Free parking at wharf in secure gated car park
- Dogs
- Welcome. Up to 2 dogs per boat, stay free, towel provided
- Getting there by bus or train
- Abergavenny station 20 minutes by taxi on main line
- The instructional DVD and suggested routes arrive after booking, so watch it before you turn up.
- There's a lock-free route option if you'd rather skip locks on your first outing.
- Provisional 'hold' bookings last 7 days if you're booking more than 3 months out, or 3 days if it's sooner.
- The all-in price covers diesel, gas, electricity, linen and towels, so there's little to pay for once you're aboard.
Plan your visit
How do we book and pay?
Book online or by phone. You pay a 25% deposit to secure the boat, with the balance due eight weeks before you go, or the full amount upfront if you're booking within eight weeks of the start date.
Do we need any boating experience?
No previous experience is expected. They send an instructional DVD before you go and give you a full safety and handling briefing on arrival, staying alongside you while you learn to manoeuvre the boat.
Can we bring our dog?
Up to two dogs can come, and they stay free. Bring their own bed, bowls and food, and they can't be left alone on the boat or allowed on the furniture.
What time do we arrive and leave?
Check-in starts at 2.30pm and the boat needs to be back by 9am on your last day, ready to disembark by 9.30am. If you're going to be later than 5pm arriving, they ask you to call ahead.
Can we pay in instalments?
If you book at least six months ahead, you can spread the cost over interest-free monthly payments after your initial deposit, finishing up two months before you go.
Is parking included?
Free parking in a secure gated car park at the wharf, with the right number of spaces allocated for you and your guests.
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