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, or even a wedding reception, the Barbara McLellan could be just the venue for you. We can arrange a trip for up to 40 people. Our trips last from an hour upwards and our crew will manage the boat and hosting you and your guests.

We are very happy to discuss a charter with you and will do our best regarding the date you are wanting. Our charters can be booked between March and the end of October. Evening cruises are best done in the summer months when the evenings are light so that we are back and the crew can pack down the boat safely before dark.

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

We welcome 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 a summary of the trips available. 2024 prices are shown below.

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. £195
Meadows Bridge	1½ hrs	This short but interesting trip travels down through the lock, past the Tithe Barn and Meadows Bridge to the first winding hole. £195
Avoncliff Aqueduct	2½hrs	Through Bradford on Avon lock and west to cross the dramatic Avoncliff Aqueduct, this trip offers spectacular views of the valley and wildlife for the eagle eyed. £280
Hilperton	2½ hrs	We travel east, past Widbrook, to Hilperton, turning at the Hilperton/Staverton Marina. The boat takes you through pretty, peaceful countryside. £280
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. £450
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 stunning scenery. £480

* The lift can only be used safely in conjunction with the gangway , when the boat is securely tied up to the wharf.

Catering and Music

You are welcome to organise your own catering. If you would prefer to have food provided, then we highly recommend the Canal Trust Cafe which is adjacent to the boat. Victoria and Nancy are great cooks and bakers. Please contact Victoria directly to talk further. Her email address is canaltrustcafe@hotmail.com

We are licensed premises and our bar has a good range of large and small bottles of wine and prosecco plus beer and lager, all at competitive prices. Bringing your own wine will incur a corkage charge of £8 per bottle. Payment by card please.

Educational trips

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

Complimentary Trips

We are pleased to offer a small number of complimentary charters every year to charities who support people with disabilities and disadvantaged groups. Please contact the Boat Manager if you would like to discuss this boatmanager@bmac.katrust.org.uk

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. This is a Pay-and-Display carpark where there are lots of spaces for cars, and two dedicated spaces for coaches. Blue badge holders park for free.

Keen to book?

If you have a more specific question you can email charters@katrust.org.uk or – even better – contact the Barbara McLellan boat directly via the Boat Manager boatmanager@bmac.katrust.org.uk and we will take it from there.