Your stories

Janet & Chico, Crick, Grand Union Canal

We decided to follow our dreams and run away to live on a narrowboat eight years ago. I was a Primary Deputy Head and my husband, Mike, was a music teacher working for the County Music Service in Warwickshire.

Tracy, National Waterways Museum, Gloucester

Everyone needs a spiritual shed – a place where they can retreat, think, take time out, reflect and recharge their batteries. Mine is running along the canal and river banks.

Susan & Erin, Worcester & Birmingham Canal

I've known the canal for a long time, but it’s this little lady’s first time. We've come to feed the ducks.

Liz & Alistair, Foxhangers, Kennet & Avon Canal

We like walking. Today we're walking this way, tomorrow we shall be walking the other way. Being a spaniel, Millie loves water and tries to get in whenever she can.

Tony, Worcester, Worcester & Birmingham Canal

I chose to live here because of the canal. I love that I can do a bit of fishing right outside my own home. I haven't got a gate onto the towpath so I just put a step there and climb over the fence with my rod whenever I want to fish.

Long read: Ben & Flash, Oxford Canal

Like thousands of people, I've dreamed of what it must be like to live on a narrowboat but haven’t been in a situation to do it. Fortunately for me, I found myself owning a business that was just about possible to run from a boat whilst exploring the waterways.

John, Caen Hill Locks

Do you know what I did on my 80th birthday? The London marathon! It was my 12th marathon. I'm here walking the towpath with my friend. She's just gone on ahead to explore the locks. She's done the London marathon five times with me too.

Hendricks & Alice

Living on a boat gives us the freedom to go wherever we need to for work and we realised it’s perfect for a dog. Hendricks loves walking along the towpaths, but even more than that he loves exploring new places.

Pam & Mick, Kennet & Avon Canal

We have a little caravan and we're staying on a small Caravan Club CL site near Hilperton. We just looked up where the sites were in the area, and it said you could cycle or walk along the canal straight from the site, so we've just cycled from there. We're very happy.