Boat trips on the WIlts & Berks Canal

The Trust now offers boat trips in 3 locations Wichelstowe (Swindon), Pewsham (SE Chippenham) and Royal Wootton Bassett. See below for details

Dragonfly Trips at Wichelstowe

Dragonfly is a great way to see the restored section of the canal in Swindon. She is of traditional narrowboat design, with a steel hull and superstructure. She can carry up to 12 passengers and 2 crew, has plenty of room inside with heating so is comfortable even if the weather is poor. In good weather there is plenty of room for passengers outside the cabin. The engine has a sound reducer for a smooth, quiet experience.

There is a hydraulic lift to allow wheelchair users or those who have a mobility problem to access the boat from the landing stage. Please note that there is only space for one wheelchair, and it is not possible to get larger powered wheelchairs on the lift. 

Our Dragonfly Experience trips run from the landing stage at Waitrose, Wichelstowe, SN1 7BX. Please remember we require a minimum ratio of 1 adult to 3 children; you can just turn up on the day, but if you want to be certain, please book using the telephone number or email below. 

Trips last approximately 20 mins. Fares are £4 for 14+ years, £2 for children and under 2s are FREE (max 3 children per adult). Trips (depending on season) run at weekends & Bank Holidays, plus Wednesdays during the spring & summer school holidays, from 10.30 am - 3.30 pm and run approximately on the hour and half hour, weather permitting.

If you would like to purchase a trip voucher as a present for a friend, we offer them at £12 for a family of 2 adults & 2 children – those under two go free.  To obtain one, please email  cheryll.yeowell@wbct.org.uk

Information on boat trips at Pewsham

At Pewsham ad hoc boat trips usually take place on the second Saturday of each month from April to September weather and water depth permitting. No need to book or buy tickets, just turn up and make a donation.
We use The Mary Archard which is our aluminium ‘wheely’ boat that is capable of taking a wheel chair for those who have mobility issues. The trip leaves from The Wharf at Pewsham and goes to Double Bridge and back. At the Wharf we run a ‘Pop up’ café that serves delicious cakes and refreshments whilst some of our local volunteers will be available to give details of the history of the canal and our current restoration work and hopes for the future.

Unfortunately there is no parking at the Wharf with the nearest public car park at Tesco Pewsham meaning a 2km flat walk along the footpath / cycle path that runs right past The Wharf and along the canal.

Boat trips on Nonsuch at Royal Wootton Bassett

Nonsuch is Dragonfly’s smaller cousin based at Templar’s Firs. We ran the first public trips on Saturday 25th May 2024, and we’ll repeat these at least every fortnight until we have a team of home-grown skippers and crew members. As soon as we can, we’ll put the WBCT large logo on the side along with the name ‘Nonsuch’. Trips are on the hour, starting at 10am until the last departure at 4pm.
Our canal has some wonderful woodland to the north and a view of the Broad Town White Horse to the south, and it attracts plenty of water-fowl, a large variety of small birds, and real dragonflies and damselflies.
Nonsuch is of traditional narrowboat design, with a steel hull and superstructure, and can carry up to 8 passengers and 2 crew. Like Dragonfly, it has room for all passengers inside with heating, so it is comfortable even if the weather is poor. In good weather there is plenty of room for passengers outside the cabin.

Because the boat is shorter than Dragonfly, there is no room for a lift, but if those with a mobility problem can manage three steps with a handrail, they can access the boat from the landing stage.
Our Nonsuch trips run from near the Templar’s Firs slipway, and there is car parking just off Marlborough Road at SN4 7SE, then a walk along the farm track.

Please remember we require a minimum ratio of 1 adult to 3 children; you can just turn up on the day, but if you want to be certain, please book using this telephone number:  07586 667118

Trips last approximately 45 mins. Fares are £6 for 14+ years, £3 for children and under 2s are FREE (max 3 children per adult). Well-behaved dogs welcome. We shall also be offering charters for those special occasions. All trips are dependent on the water depth and on reasonable weather.