Gloucestershire boats

County advice overview

A number of charitable Trusts provide accessible day trips and sight-seeing journeys along the canal network, which are suitable for passengers with reduced mobility and wheelchair users.

Key tips

Always check that the information provided is sufficient for you to fully access services, before you set out. 

As well as confirming boat accessibility, be confident that the quay or wharf, and parking arrangements, will also provide you with easy access.

Operators

Canal & River Trust

The charity provides accessible boat trips, including from The National Waterways Museum in Gloucester.

Boat trips run Tuesday to Saturday, April to October.

Contact: 01452 318 212 or gwm@canalrivertrust.org.uk

Cotswold Canal Trust

The Trust runs a number of trip boats on the canals, including from Saul Junction. The trip boat, Adventure, is fully accessible with a wheelchair lift and an accessible toilet. 

Contact 01453 752 568 at least seven days in advance, to enable volunteer crews to be organised. Or email boat.trips@cotswoldcanals.org.uk.

The Willow Trust

The charity’s two boats are wheelchair accessible and based at Saul Junction, Frampton on Severn, GL2 7LA.

They operate April to October. The two boats, Leonard Matchan and Spirit of Freedom II, travel on the Gloucester-Sharpness Canal with trips for disabled and seriously ill children and adults. Both boats are purpose built and are accessible for all guests. 

Contact 01285 651 661.

Travelling with mobility equipment

Canal & River Trust

The boat, Queen Boadicea II, can accommodate up to four manual wheelchairs on the outside, upper deck. 

Electric wheelchairs cannot be taken on board due to boat space and the ability to evacuate in the event of an emergency. There is one manual wheelchair in the museum available for visitors to use on a first-come first-served basis. Please call for more information. 

Cotswold Canal Trust

The boat, Adventure, has a wheelchair lift at the bow and a fully accessible toilet.

The Willow Trust

Wide heavy-duty ramps ensure easy and safe access onto two boats which are based at Saul Junction. 

Onboard facilities include full wheelchair access to all areas including the wheelhouse so that all guests can take a turn at the helm, an adjustable steering unit, a hydraulic lift which can accommodate even the largest wheelchairs, toilets with an electric hoist and an adult changing bed, a hearing induction loop throughout the boat and room for 30 guests including carers.