After protracted planning caused by various stoppages around the country, FBW announces the route of the main campaign cruise for 2026.
The first group left Strawberry Island Boat Club in Doncaster on 12th May and will meet up along the route to Ellesmere Port with other groups from Ashby and Birmingham and other starting points. Here the flotilla will gather in late June at the National Waterways Museum, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, before crossing the tidal Mersey to Liverpool Docks.
As the boats progress across the country they will be visiting boat clubs and events along the way to help spread the word. Please do go along and meet the campaigners if you can – they will be delighted to see you. Here is the schedule…
MAY
12th: First group left Strawberry Island Boat Club
13th: River Trent (Keadby – West Stockwith)
14th: River Trent (West Stockwith – Torksey)
15th: River Trent (Torksey to Cromwell Lock)
16th – 22nd: Cruising the Trent onto from Cromwell Lock to Stafford Boat Club on the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal
24th – 29th: From Stafford Boat Club towards Stoke and Etruria on the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal and the Trent & Mersey Canal
24th – 29th: Boats from Birmingham area cruising to Etruria
24th – 29th: Boats from Ashby area cruising to Etruria
30th – 31st: Etruria Canals Festival where the groups will be meeting up
JUNE
1st – 6th: Strawberry Island group heading up the Caldon Canal to Stoke Boat Club
1st – 6th: Ashby and Birmingham groups cruise to Froghall on the Caldon Canal stopping off at Stoke Boat Club
7th – 24th: Ashby and Birmingham groups cruise on the Macclesfield, Peak Forest and Huddersfield Narrow Canals via Whaley Bridge to Stalybridge to attend the Russell Newbery Register Rally
7th – 12th: Strawberry Island group heads back down the Caldon Canal and up the Trent & Mersey Canal onto the Bridgewater Canal to Runcorn
15th – 19th: Strawberry Island group cruises on the Bridgewater Canal from Runcorn to Lymm
21st – 30th: Strawberry Island group cruises from Lymm on the Bridgewater Canal to the Trent & Mersey Canal and onto the Middlewich Branch and then the Shropshire Union Canal to Ellesmere Port
24th– 1st July: Ashby and Birmingham groups cruise from Stalybridge to Ellesmere Port, where boats will congregate for the safety briefings before crossing the Mersey
JULY
7th: Manchester Ship Canal / Mersey crossing from Ellesmere Port to Liverpool (dependent on weather)
13th – 1st August: Some boats plan to take the Ribble Link to the Lancaster Canal
GREAT OUSE CAMPAIGN CRUISE TO BEDFORD, 13-19 JULY 2026
The Great Ouse Boating Association (GOBA) is organising an FBW campaign cruise from St Ives to Bedford, to arrive at Bedford to take part in the River Festival weekend of 17-19 July. The objectives are to draw attention to the lack of central government/Defra funding to maintain all waterways in a safe and navigable condition, to highlight specific navigation and flood risk issues on the River Great Ouse due to failing infrastructure, and to highlight water quality issues relating to sewage discharge and farm run-off. Briefings have been arranged with all the local MPs, and mayors and councillors will next be targeted. The outline plan (subject to change) is as below and more information is available here or by emailing campaigns@goba.org.uk.
JULY
13th: St Ives Waites & Town Quays, Nobles Field
14th: Huntingdon, Huntingdon Marina
15th: St Neots
16th: Willington Grange Estate, an assembly point prior to arriving in Bedford
Arrive Bedford Friday 17th July pm
