On Saturday 25th May, Royal Wootton Bassett Branch held a trial open day to the public.

Blessed with good weather, the boat was able to keep to an hourly timetable, starting from a pontoon landing-stage beside the towpath near to the slipway.

For the first day, the skipper was Karen ‘Kaz’ Smith and her crew-member was Laurene Smith (no relation). Both have many years’ experience steering narrow-boats, and indeed Kaz normally steers a very large trip-boat on the Kennet & Avon Canal.

By comparison, ‘Nonsuch’ is a tiddler, with a maximum of 8 passengers.

Royal Wootton Bassett Branch, plan to operate Nonsuch public trips every alternate Saturday, starting on Saturday 8th June at 10am, from the pontoon slipway beside the towpath just beyond the slipway.

Trips are on the hour, starting at 10am until the last departure at 4pm.

This stretch of the canal has some wonderful woodland to the north and a view of the Broad Town White Horse to the south. It attracts plenty of water-fowl, a large variety of small birds, and real dragonflies and damselflies.

‘Nonsuch’ is like a smaller cousin of ‘Dragonfly’. It is of traditional narrowboat design, with a steel hull and superstructure, and can carry up to 8 passengers and 2 crew. Like Dragonfly, it has room for all passengers inside with heating, so it is comfortable even if the weather is poor. In good weather there is plenty of room for passengers outside the cabin.

Because the boat is shorter than Dragonfly, there is no room for a lift. However, if those with a mobility problem can manage 3 steps with a handrail, they can access the boat from the landing stage.

Our Nonsuch trips run from near the Templar’s Firs slipway, and there is car parking just off Marlborough Road at SN4 7SE, then a walk along the farm track. Please remember that we require a minimum ratio of 1 adult to 3 children.

You can just turn up on the day, but if you want to be certain, please book using this telephone number: 07586 667118. Please Note, text message will not be accepted!

Trips last approximately 45 mins.

Fares are £6 for 14+ years, £3 for children and under 2s are FREE (max 3 children per adult).

Well-behaved dogs are welcome.

We shall also be offering charters for those special occasions.

All trips are dependent on the water depth and on reasonable weather.