Book a charter

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The Barbara McLellan is well-suited to a wide variety of private functions. If you are planning a party, celebration, reunion, hen night, stag night or even a wedding reception, a trip on the Barbara McLellan could be just the venue for you. We can arrange a trip for up to 30 people. Our trips last from an hour upwards.

We can run a charter at any time when the boat has not already been booked and it is not due to be used for a public trip. We also need at least an hour between trips to ensure that the boat is fully prepared and cleaned between bookings. We are based in a residential area and try to be considerate to our neighbours, so we need to be back at the wharf by 10pm.

The timings shown below are approximate and dependent upon canal and lock traffic.

We do not allow dogs on board, except for Registered Assistance dogs.

You can book with confidence – if we have to cancel your trip for any reason we will refund your money – automatically!

Route suggestions

Below is just a selection of trips available. We may be able to tailor trips to your requirements. If you have something special or another trip in mind, please get in touch. Prices start at £195.00.

Name	Duration	Description
Widbrook	1½ hrs	One of our shorter trips. We go east, passing Widbrook Marina, to the winding hole (turning place) and return. There is plenty of interesting countryside and wildlife to enjoy on the way.
Meadows Bridge	1½ hrs	This short but pleasing trip travels down through the lock, past the Tithe Barn and Meadows Bridge allowing great views of Bradford on Avon.
Avoncliff Aqueduct	2½hrs	Through Bradford on Avon lock and west to cross the dramatic Avoncliff Aqueduct, this trip offers spectacular views of the town and across the valley and plenty of wildlife for the keen eyed.
Hilperton	2½ hrs	We travel east, past Widbrook, to Hilperton, turning at the Hilperton/Staverton Marina. The boat takes you through interesting and peaceful countryside.
Widbrook and Avoncliff	4hrs	This trip has the bonus of enabling passengers to see the canal both east and west of Bradford on Avon and the different pleasures each direction offers.
Dundas Aqueduct	5hrs	This trip makes its way over the Avoncliff Aqueduct, through the Limpley Stoke Valley and on to Dundas Aqueduct, where there is usually time to get off the boat* for a short while to view the scenery.

* The lift can only be used in conjunction with the gangway , when the boat is securely tied up to the wharf. It cannot be used anywhere else during a trip.

Catering and Music

The boat is licensed for the sale of alcohol and we also stock cold drinks, hot drinks and a selection of bar snacks. Payment can be taken by card.

For charter trips, we charge a £8 per bottle corkage charge on any wine brought on board. Other alcoholic drinks are not permitted to be brought on board.

Go on! Spoil someone you treasure! Travel westwards to the wonderful Avoncliff Aqueduct and enjoy a real treat – a full afternoon tea, including sandwiches, scones (with cream and jam), cake, a choice of teas…plus buy a glass or bottle of prosecco from the bar if you like!

Full Afternoon Tea can only be served to a maximum of 30 people, sitting in tables of 3, due to limited space on our compact tables. The food can be ordered directly from the Canal Trust Cafe and drinks are payable to the boat on the day.

Educational trips

If you are booking on behalf of a school or youth organisation, we can offer you a discount of 50% off our shorter trips.

Complimentary Trips

We offer a small number of complimentary charters from our Popular Routes options to charities who support people with disabilities and disadvantaged groups. Please contact us to discuss.

Departure location

Barbara MacLellan operates from Bradford on Avon Wharf Cottage, by the lock, BA15 1LE. See a map of the location here.

The nearest car park is just 50 metres away from the Barbara McLellan, at the end of Baileys Barn, Bradford on Avon, BA15 1BX. A Pay-and-Display carpark, there are lots of spaces for cars, and two dedicated spaces for coaches.

Keen to book?

If you have a more specific question you can email charters@katrust.org.uk or phone the Office on 01380 721279 and leave a voicemail. Include your name and number and we will call you back (available Mon-Fri 9-4:30).