Canal Boat Diaries

Robbie Cumming explores the English canal network, beginning with a journey from Shardlow to Etruria Junction, Stoke-on-Trent, exploring the historic Trent and Mersey Canal. However, not everything goes to plan, and he has to deal with a tricky issue involving his propeller as well as navigating the complicated locks, which raises the boat to a different level on the waterway.

Robbie Cumming continues his life on England's waterways, heading towards his eventual destination of Liverpool. One of the lowest canal tunnels in the country proves a problem for Robbie’s boat, the Naughty Lass, due to the amount of ephemera on Robbie’s roof. He travels through some beautiful, if remote, countryside and then helps out a fellow, stranded boater.

Robbie Cumming continues his canalboat journey along England’s waterways, traveling across the beautiful Pennines from Marple to Huddersfield. Robbie likes to take it slow, but he grounds to a complete halt when his journey is hampered by fallen trees and other obstructions. He passes over the engineering marvel that is the Marple Aqueduct and goes through the longest canal tunnel in the country.

Robbie Cumming continues his adventures on England’s waterways, traveling 32 miles along the Rochdale Canal from Sowerby Bridge to Manchester. He picks up a passenger, his brother Charlie, to keep him company during the journey. But disaster strikes when he runs aground on some rocks, threatening to stop him from reaching his final destination. Will he make it all the way to Manchester?

Life on board a narrowboat with Robbie Cumming hits its final stretch as he travels the 51 miles from Barton Swing Aqueduct to Salt House Dock in Liverpool. But his journey is in jeopardy as both engine issues and a leaky boat hamper his progress. Along the way he witnesses one of the wonders of England’s waterways and pays homage to the spot that was the birth of Britain’s 'canal mania'.

Robbie Cumming starts his journey in historic Ellesmere Port, traveling 35 miles in three weeks to the village of Audlem. Along the way he passes through the walled city of Chester and the ancient medieval town of Nantwich. His progress is hampered as he battles his way through blanket weed on the Shropshire Union Canal, before discovering industrial secrets in Cheshire.