Britain by Narrowboat

Running a marathon, selling your home, leaving your job, and launching a narrowboat all in the space of a week would be stressful for anyone, let alone someone with Autism. Colin and Shaun are on a desperate mission to save Colin's mental health by ditching their old lives and buying a narrowboat to live on and travel the canals and rivers of Great Britain. But can they make it through launch day?

Colin & Shaun head east on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal towards the Rufford Branch and Tarleton Lock, where a trip across the Millennium Ribble Link to the Lancaster Canal awaits. The lads find out why narrowboats and fast-flowing tidal rivers aren't an ideal match. Danger awaits! Will their brand new home sink on the Ribble Link?

After crossing the Ribble Link, Colin and Shaun begin their new adventure on the Lancaster Canal. After refilling with fuel and water they explore the Glasson Branch, the only part of the Lancaster Canal to have locks, and moor in Glasson Basin where they discover a dark past and some magnificent views across to Blackpool and the Lake District.

Colin and Shaun continue their journey north on the Lancaster Canal calling at the city of Lancaster, Hest Bank, Carnforth, and reaching the end of the navigable canal at Tewitfield. The last few weeks catch up with Colin and he suffers an autistic meltdown leading to an insight into how mental health issues lead the couple to the canal. This episode contains discussion of mental health issues.

Having completed their journey to the navigable end of the Lancaster Canal, Colin and Shaun head back towards Preston calling at Garstang to meet some friends and take delivery of a new mode of transport. Things don't go to plan on the return crossing of the Ribble Link as the tidal current proves too strong for narrowboat Silver Fox, which loses control and risks being swept away.

Back on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Colin and Shaun begin a new journey, this time heading east towards the Lancashire towns of Parbold and Appley Bridge. Onwards, they explore the canalside history of Wigan. The lads climb the formidable Wigan Flight of 21 locks and look back on their first few weeks living aboard narrowboat Silver Fox.