Our Green Story: Griffin Narrow Boat Holidays

If you’re one of the millions planning to swap hurried airport days and flights for something closer to home in 2021, why not have a look at Griffin Narrow Boat Holidays. There you can make your getaway at a leisurely 4 miles per hour on the Silver Ann 2, and glide along the Trent and Mersey Canal in style, aboard a warmly welcoming pet-and-eco-friendly narrowboat. 

Family-owned and full of cosy comfort, Silver Ann 2 is moored at Mercia Marina, a tranquil South Derbyshire haven with a sensory garden, nature trails and windswept wildlife walks. The marina stretches out among 74 acres of beautiful countryside at the heart of canal country.  A perfect spot to begin your meandering journey on the Trent and Mersey. Better still, you can relax in the knowledge that your carbon footprint will be reassuringly light, with Griffin Narrowboat Holidays fully committed to environmental care. Silver Ann 2 uses LED lighting and solar panels, with all linen and towels either made from sustainable cotton or bamboo – hypoallergenic and irresistibly soft! The owners check all their suppliers’ sustainability credentials before using them - local artisan producers provide natural solid soap and liquid shampoo in a re-fillable container.

Griffin Narrowboat Holidays are very conscious of the impact their business has on the environment and provide information for guests on how to protect the wildlife they see, save canal water and preserve the waterways habitats. Complimentary duck and swan food is provided, so you can feed your feathered neighbours a nutritious meal as you travel. And of course, guests can treat themselves too, with tasty breakfasts and ‘Taste of the Shires’ hampers available, bursting with locally sourced delights!

You’ll find plenty of ideas on board Silver Ann 2 to complement the gentle pace of your holiday. There’s an artist’s easel for creative types, fold-up bicycles for intrepid explorers, and fishing rods for those who like to take it a little more-easy.  And of course, there’s always the option to curl up with that book you haven’t got around to reading yet. 

Take in the scenery at your leisure, making peaceful stops wherever the mood takes you. The nature reserve at Fradley Junction, the ancient villages of Alrewas and Repton, the National Memorial Arboretum, the traditional canal village of Shardlow and Branston Water Park are all within a day’s easy cruise – not to mention any number of splendid canalside pubs and restaurants! Details of local walks, geocaching routes, and cycle routes are also on board. There are also endless opportunities to take your four-legged friend for exhilarating walks – with many of the pubs dog-friendly too. Griffin Narrowboat Holidays even provide a dog basket and a doggy life jacket! 

With a holiday aboard the Silver Ann 2, messing about on the waterways has never seemed so appealing.  So, pack up your loved one and your best furry friend, and head for the soothing waterways.