Updated 18/04/2025 (to include older scouts)
Do you have Explorer Scouts or Scouts (who will be of 14 on/by 26 July 2025) who are keen to embark on a weeklong residential canal narrowboat cruise around the Birmingham and Black country ring?
They will :
- work as part of a small team/crew, working their boat for the day, from preparing the barge in the morning, cooking meals, keeping the boat tidy whilst working over one-hundred locks in the week.
- get to see Birmingham from a whole unique perspective from descending the Wolverhampton 21 locks, to mooring in Birmingham City centre.
- also be having fun off the boat with a day in Drayton Manor Theme Park, being free to roam Birmingham city centre and probably going bowling.
- have really busy week around some chill out opportunities, gain a real sense of camaraderie and achievement and make new friends.
When? Saturday 26th July to 2 August 2025
Times:
- Start: Saturday 26 July 2025 @ 2.00 pm
- End: Saturday 2 August 2025 @ 9 am
Where?
Start/Pick up location – Anglo Welsh base at Great Heywood (Mill Lane, Great Haywood, Stafford, ST18 0RJ) (approx. 2 ½ hours’ drive from Cambridge). Note that to keep costs down, travel to/from Great Heywood is not currently included, and so will be responsibility of parents.
Who? Young people who are Explorer Scouts, and Scouts who will be 14 yrs of age, at the start date of the expedition
How much: £460 per Scout/Explorer Scout payable by instalments
We do not want finance to be a barrier to accessing the opportunities of scouting so please get in touch if you would like to discuss more flexible options or financial support.
Event flyer to help with local promotion
To help Units and Troops promote the event to their Explorers, you can use the button below to download the flyer (previously emailed to all Units, Lead Volunteers & District 14-24 Team Leaders). Updated information will be sent to Scout Team Leaders (immediately after Easter).
Booking a place – places still available at 17 April 2025, so opened up to older Scouts
All bookings should be made by the Scout/Explorer’s parents by clicking the button below. This directs the booker to the Eventbrite booking system which also contains payment and other details that will be emailed once booking has been completed.
Contact for more information: neil.eccles@cambridgeshirescouts.org.uk
Frequently Asked Questions
Water safety requirements
A. A knowledge of water safety will be important. We will be requiring explorers to wear buoyancy aids where there are greater risks such as when using locks or navigating very busy stretches of water. The waterways we are using are on average less than 1m deep, and, although an ability to swim and good water-confidence is useful, it is not a requirement for the trip.
· Both water safety and the ability to behave appropriately in their team will be essential to the success of the expedition. If any explorer is not able to meet the required standard in these respects, parents will be asked to collect them early at their own expense.
What's included in the cost?
A. The £460 covers boat hire, fuel, mooring fees and ancillary costs, participants’ food, drink, tickets for bowling and Drayton Manor theme park.
By when are the various payment instalments to be made?
A. For those booking Easter 2025 onwards, payment is due by the following dates:
£ 60 : (Non-returnable) deposit, payable within 5 days of booking on Eventbrite
£400 : 31st May 2025 (latest date for final payment to be received)
Please note, there is a £60 non-returnable deposit for each Scout/Explorer Scout booked. The balance of £400 paid is recoverable providing we can find a replacement.
What the highlights of the trip?
A. Highlights:
· Working as a team to negotiate over 75 locks, numerous tunnels, and 68 miles of canals over 7 days.
· Experience both country and city landscapes as we go from rural Staffordshire to the centre of Birmingham.
· Assuming we make good progress, a day at Drayton Manor theme park https://www.draytonmanor.co.uk/
· Mooring in the centre of Birmingham.
What accommodation will we be using?
A. Accommodation
· We will have a flotilla of 4 boats, sleeping around 10 per boat in individual bunks
· The boats all have flush toilets and showers as well as a basic kitchen.
· Young people will be living in close proximity for a week, so the ability to get on well with others and maintain good hygiene is essential!
· Each boat will have 2 leaders in charge, at least one of whom will have a narrowboat permit issued by The Scout Association.
Will the expedition count towards gaining my Duke of Edinburgh Award?
A. The expedition has the potential to be used as a Gold Duke of Edinburgh Residential, please enquire before signing up
