Napton Narrowboats

Napton Narrowboats Napton Marina
Tomlow Road
Stockton
Southam
CV47 8HX

01926 813 644

Well, next Wednesday is the Autumn Equinox. You can certainly feel the change from the long, hot days of summer outside ...
18/09/2026

Well, next Wednesday is the Autumn Equinox. You can certainly feel the change from the long, hot days of summer outside on the canal, but the Autumn has it’s own unique merits when out on a narrowboat holiday

You can expect shorter days, cooler temperatures and a change in the landscape as the countryside sheds it Summer greens for yellows and browns, golds and reds.

Quieter canals. Mugs of hot tea after working through a flight of locks. Cosy pubs with delicious hot meals, often with a crackling log fire in the hearth. Rain showers dancing on the cabin roof as you drift off to sleep.

And yet, warm sunny days after a crisp start. Blue skies reflecting off calm waters. Comfortable, centrally heated boats. Time with family and friends.

Find your Autumn vibe on one of our boats, at www.napton-marina.co.uk

Schools are back now, fewer families on holiday, maybe you’re thinking of a break away now it’s quieter?As a last-minute...
11/09/2026

Schools are back now, fewer families on holiday, maybe you’re thinking of a break away now it’s quieter?

As a last-minute discount, if you book your holiday with us within 2 weeks of its start date, we’re offering 20% off the hire price (for holidays up to 7 days)

From an intimate 2 berth for a cosy getaway, to a full size 8-10 berth boat for a party of friends, now’s a great time to treat yourself.

Find out more at napton-marina.co.uk

Of course, any business is only as good as the staff who help run it. Here at Napton Narrowboats you’ll find hard-workin...
04/09/2026

Of course, any business is only as good as the staff who help run it. Here at Napton Narrowboats you’ll find hard-working, committed people who are here to ensure your holiday goes as smoothly as possible.

Our full time staff are augmented by a cohort of cleaners, engineers and demonstrators on turnaround days, to ensure your boat is fully prepared, and so are you, when it comes time to set off on your holiday.

Meet some of our team…..

New Boat!This week sees the delivery of our new shell, craned into our marina and now in our wet dock to be fitted out f...
28/08/2026

New Boat!

This week sees the delivery of our new shell, craned into our marina and now in our wet dock to be fitted out for a brand new Hire Boat for 2027.

Currently an empty steel hull and cabin, it will be insulated, lined out and turned into one of our Regency 4D fleet of boats. 61feet 6 inches long, it will have a rear galley and lounge, 2 cabins with king-size beds, and 2 separate bathrooms. It’ll comfortably take 4 people, or up to 6 when the lounge seating converts to a double bed.

You can see our other Regency 4D (which was new in 2026) at napton-marina.co.uk/boats/regency/regency_4d, where you’ll find has a full layout plan, photos and a 360° internal tour.

We don’t yet have a name for our new boat, so feel free to make some suggestions in the comments. No “Boaty McBoatFace” or variations thereon please!

21/08/2026

Well it’s been a glorious summer so far, but one thing the canal needs is rain, and that’s something we haven’t had for a while. So it was lovely to see some yesterday, and even though it would be good to get some more to top up the reservoirs and water levels, we’re still able to operate from our two bases.

Rest assured, there’s still plenty of routes available to our customers for your summer holiday, and there’s still availability into the Autumn months.

And if you’re caught out in the rain? Well each boat comes with a pair of helmsman’s waterproofs, and every boat is cosy & dry inside! If the rain gets too much for you, you can always moor up for a bit and put the kettle on, or dry out in a canal-side pub. Some people love the rain, of course, and there’s something very special about lying in bed at night and drifting off to sleep, listening to gentle rainfall on the cabin roof.

We like to see the wharf this empty, it means there are lots of customers on our boats having a great time out on the ca...
14/08/2026

We like to see the wharf this empty, it means there are lots of customers on our boats having a great time out on the canals.
We can offer various route options from our 2 bases. From our base at Napton, for instance, there’s a nice, easy, lock free route that makes a delightful weekend trip, ideal for first timers.

Set off on the Friday to the village of Braunston, then next day on to the top of Hillmorton Locks. Turn here, and head back to a mooring deep in the Northamptonshire countryside. The next day sees you return past the base to a mooring at the Folly pub, below the Napton lock flight. This gives you a short cruise back on Monday morning to return your boat.

Don’t forget we currently have a last minute discount: if you book a holiday that you take in the following 2 weeks, we’ll give you 20% off (for bookings of up to 7 days). Details at napton-marina.co.uk/special-offers

07/08/2026

We are very fortunate to work in such a beautiful part of the country, with a diverse range of wildlife right on our doorstep.

Today’s video, hastily filmed on my phone (and not particularly well done, at that!) shows two Red Kites circling on the thermals beside the canal. They seem to be residents of the area this year, and I hope we’ll be seeing them for many years to come.

Historically, by the end of the 19th century Red Kites were extinct in Scotland, England and Ireland due to their intense persecution. However, thanks to projects to reintroduce them, their numbers have increased by 2464% in the years from 1995 to 2023; I don’t think I’ve ever seen as many about as I have this year, and the UK is now home to about 13% of the worlds population.

A large bird of prey, they have wingspans of around 5 feet, and if you’re privileged enough to see one close by, it’s impossible not to be impressed by these magnificent creatures.

For a chance to see these, and lots of other wildlife too, a holiday on one of our boats can be an ideal opportunity. If this sounds like something that would appeal to you, find out more on our website at napton-marina.co.uk.

Another week passes and once again we welcome our customers for their holiday, on a day of warm sunshine, fluffy clouds ...
31/07/2026

Another week passes and once again we welcome our customers for their holiday, on a day of warm sunshine, fluffy clouds and bright blue skies. Some return year-on-year, others arrive nervous for their first experience afloat.

Rest assured that everyone get the personal touch, tailored to your needs: Old hands will have brief refreshers on how the boat works, new people get comprehensive tuition. Then you’re off, hand on the tiller, maybe kettle on the stove, heading round the corner to far destinations

Long, languid days cruising the canal. Working the locks and making friends, cold drinks in welcoming canal side pubs. A good nights sleep on a comfortable bed after a day well spent.

If this sound like your kind of thing, find out more at napton-marina.co.uk.

A popular short break from our Napton Marina base takes you on a long, almost lock-free stretch to the town of Rugby. St...
24/07/2026

A popular short break from our Napton Marina base takes you on a long, almost lock-free stretch to the town of Rugby. Starting in the open Warwickshire countryside, you wind your way to Braunston, a historic village steeped in canal history. Stop here the night, explore a little and perhaps enjoy a meal or a drink in one of the restaurants or pubs.
The next day sees you heading towards Rugby, passing through the only 3 locks of the route. Either stop on the outskirts of Rugby to explore the town, or push on another couple of miles to the village of Newbold-on-Avon. Turning here for the return journey gives you a lovely short break. If you want full details of this route, you can find out more at www.napton-marina.co.uk/routes/Rugby.

You can also find other short break routes and suggestion for longer trips on our website.

17/07/2026

Here at Napton Marina, we have a lovely view of the Oxford canal outside of our office. It’s always nice when something a little different passes by, and this week my ears pricked up at the sound of very old single cylinder boat engine pop-popping away as the boat glided along past our wharf. Of course, I had to nip outside briefly for a video and full appreciation of the glorious deep note, almost musical in its simplicity – if you’re watching this here, make sure you have your sound on!

It’s lovely to see these examples of the canal’s heritage still in use, and gives us a glimpse of the rich history; not just old working boats or preserved machinary, but the bridges, locks and other infrastructure, the lay of the land as an 18th century canal winds its way round the contours of the hills, and towns, villages, wharfs and basins all built to serve the canals and boats that ran on them.

Find your window on the past, from a narrowboat fitted with all modern comforts, by hiring one of our boats for a short break or longer holiday. Until the end of July, we have 15% off short breaks and one-week holidays in August. To find out more and book your break, see napton-marina.co.uk

Address

Napton Marina, Tomlow Road
Napton On The Hill
CV478HX

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm
Saturday 8:30am - 5pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Napton Narrowboats posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Napton Narrowboats:

Shortcuts

Share

Category