Beat the January blues with a trip to your local canal

Let's face it, with Christmas behind us and damp, dark evenings still ahead, we could all do with a little cheering up sometimes. Luckily, your local canal can provide a few suggestions to help you beat the January, February and any day blues without even leaving your favourite cosy chair (if you don't want to).

Escape for 360 seconds

Small changes can make a big difference. Instead of staring gloomily out of the window, immerse yourself in the beautiful world of our canals. Take a 360 trip along the Regent's Canal, take a look around Braunston or soar over the stunning Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.

Take a wintry walk

Our canals and rivers are glorious places to walk in the winter and we have 2,000 miles of pedestrian-friendly towpaths for you to explore. Wrap up warm and you'll quickly discover the benefits of a waterside walk. Maybe you'll come across a welcoming pub or café to help banish the blues even further away.

Get connected with a city stroll

A rural spot is certainly peaceful but you can still find little moments of mindfulness along the most built up of our canals. Some of our everyday urban escapes and city walks may surprise you. As well as help you feel reconnected to the world around you. Take a look at our Top ten city walks

Give back by volunteering

Helping others is a proven way to help ourselves feel better. There are lots of ways you can get involved with our work to make life better by water in your local area. Along the way you could meet like-minded people, learn new skills and enjoy plenty of fresh air. Find out more on our volunteering pages.

Get active on your local canal

Gym membership can be pricy but did you know you can exercise on our towpaths all year round for free? Jogging by the water is much more fun than pounding the pavements, and our level towpaths are just the ticket for a leisurely cycle ride. Fancy something different? Take the plunge and go canoeing in 2024.