Collins Inland Waterways Guides

Introduction

Collins inland waterways guides, primarily published as the Nicholson Waterways Guides, are established reference publications for exploring and planning navigation on Britain's canals and rivers. Since the first Nicholson guides were produced in 1969, the collection has accompanied users of Britain's inland waterways by combining detailed mapping, navigation information, descriptions of structures, local services and information about the areas along the waterways.

The Collins Nicholson guides are intended for a broad range of users: experienced boaters, people planning their first inland cruise, narrowboat and liveaboard users, walkers, cyclists, canoeists, paddleboarders and visitors interested in Britain's canals and rivers. Their format combines practical information with detailed mapping, making the guides particularly useful during route planning and while travelling.

The collection covers major navigable networks in England, Wales and Scotland, with individual volumes dedicated to specific regions. It therefore provides particularly useful documentation for planning navigation on Britain's inland waterways.

What is a Collins inland waterways guide?

A Collins Nicholson guide is a regional or network-based publication covering a coherent group of inland waterways. It combines detailed mapping with navigational notes and practical information about individual stages.

The purpose is to allow the navigator to understand an itinerary quickly: the location of locks, towpaths, boating facilities, stopping places, services and important points of interest.

Depending on the area covered, a guide may include:

• navigable canals;

• navigable rivers;

• locks;

• bridges and other structures;

• boating facilities;

• towpaths;

• towns and villages;

• mooring and stopping opportunities;

• shops and services;

• places of interest;

• historical information about waterways;

• navigation notes;

• practical information for activities on land.

This combination of mapping and descriptive information is one of the defining features of the Collins Nicholson guides.

A collection covering Britain's inland waterways

The Nicholson Waterways Guides cover the principal network of navigable canals and rivers throughout Great Britain.

The collection includes waterways in England, Scotland and Wales. An individual guide may cover a relatively extensive region, allowing several alternative cruising routes to be planned using a single volume.

The collection includes guides covering areas such as:

• Grand Union, Oxford and the South East;

• River Thames and the Southern Waterways;

• Four Counties and the Welsh Canals;

• North West and the Pennines;

• Severn, Avon and Birmingham;

• Birmingham and the Heart of England;

• Nottingham, York and the North East;

• Norfolk Broads.

This regional organisation makes it easier to identify the guide corresponding to a particular cruising area.

Mapping of canals and rivers

Mapping is a central component of the Collins Nicholson guides. Detailed maps allow users to understand the essential characteristics of the waterway and organise the various stages of a journey.

The maps show features such as locks, towpaths and boating facilities. Depending on the area, they also identify services, shops, restaurants and other points of interest.

Recent editions use detailed mapping that combines the representation of the waterway network with practical information contained in the guide.

This approach is particularly useful when planning a day's navigation and identifying suitable locations for stopping, provisioning or visiting local attractions.

Navigational information

An inland guide does not replace an official nautical chart or regulatory documentation, but it provides valuable practical information for understanding a route.

Navigational notes can help identify structures and specific characteristics of individual waterways. The navigator can therefore anticipate sequences of locks, changes between canals, areas requiring particular attention and places suitable for stopping.

Planning a British inland-waterway voyage also requires consideration of the vessel's characteristics, including:

• length;

• beam;

• draught;

• air draught;

• manoeuvring characteristics;

• range and fuel requirements;

• provisioning needs.

These factors may determine whether a particular route is suitable for a given vessel.

River Thames and the Southern Waterways

The guide covering the River Thames and the Southern Waterways includes several important waterways in southern England.

The area includes the Basingstoke Canal, Bridgwater & Taunton Canal, Grand Western Canal, Exeter Ship Canal, Kennet & Avon Canal, River Thames and Wey & Godalming Navigations.

The River Thames is naturally one of Britain's major inland navigation routes. A voyage can combine the urban and historic areas around London with more rural sections further upstream.

The towns and waterways along the Thames also provide opportunities to combine cruising with sightseeing and exploration of Britain's historical heritage.

Norfolk Broads

The Norfolk Broads represent a distinctive inland-waterway environment. This network in eastern England includes the Rivers Ant, Bure, Thurne, Wensum, Yare, Chet and Waveney.

Navigation on the Broads differs from that on a conventional canal. The network includes tidal waters and numerous areas suitable for recreational boating.

The Collins Nicholson guide dedicated to the Norfolk Broads provides detailed mapping of the waterways and facilities while also giving information about the history and distinctive environment of the region.

North West and the Pennines

North-west England has a particularly dense and historically significant canal network.

The corresponding guide covers waterways including the Aire & Calder Navigation, Bridgewater Canal, Calder & Hebble Navigation, Huddersfield Narrow Canal, Huddersfield Broad Canal, Lancaster Canal, Leeds & Liverpool Canal, Macclesfield Canal and Rochdale Canal, together with several other waterways.

The region includes the Manchester and Merseyside areas. Its canals reflect the historical importance of inland waterways to Britain's industrial development.

For navigators, the density of the network makes it particularly important to identify junctions, locks and alternative routes correctly.

Four Counties and the Welsh Canals

The Collins Nicholson collection also covers Welsh canals and waterways south of Liverpool.

These include the Llangollen Canal, Montgomery Canal, Shropshire Union Canal, Trent & Mersey Canal, River Weaver, Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal and several other Welsh waterways.

The Llangollen Canal is a particularly interesting example of a recreational inland route combining engineering structures, landscapes and heritage.

The guides allow users to plan individual stages while also providing information about places that can be reached on foot or by bicycle.

Documentation beyond navigation

One of the distinctive features of the Collins Nicholson guides is that they extend beyond purely navigational information.

The publications also contain information about places to visit, local services and activities accessible from the waterways. They can therefore accompany cruises where sightseeing and exploration are as important as navigation itself.

Practical information may include:

• pubs;

• shops;

• restaurants;

• historical sites;

• villages;

• towns;

• towpaths;

• walking opportunities;

• cycling routes;

• water-based activities.

The guide consequently becomes a broader travel companion for Britain's inland waterways.

Mapping designed for recreational navigation

The Collins Nicholson guides are designed for practical reference on board. Their compact format and lay-flat spiral binding make them convenient for consultation when preparing an individual stage.

Recent editions use detailed mapping, with scales such as 2 inches to 1 mile, equivalent to approximately 3 cm to 1 km.

This scale provides sufficient detail to identify structures and facilities along many inland-waterway routes.

The guide can therefore be incorporated into the navigator's daily routine: planning the next stage, selecting a stopping place, anticipating locks and identifying services.

Complementarity with nautical charts

A Collins Nicholson guide should not be considered a substitute for official nautical documentation when hydrographic or regulatory information is required.

Depending on the area and type of navigation, additional charting may be necessary. Products from the Shom, Admiralty, NGA and other hydrographic authorities address specific requirements according to their respective areas of coverage.

British inland navigation should also be supported by current regulatory and operational information.

The principal role of a Collins guide is to provide a practical and structured view of the navigable network and its individual stages.

Who are the guides intended for?

Collins Nicholson inland waterways guides are relevant to:

• recreational boaters in Britain;

• narrowboat owners and users;

• liveaboard boat users;

• crews planning inland cruises;

• delivery crews;

• navigation schools and instructors;

• walkers;

• cyclists;

• canoeists;

• paddleboarders;

• travellers interested in Britain's canal heritage.

This broad audience explains why the collection extends well beyond the scope of a conventional nautical guide.

Planning a cruise on Britain's canals

The guide can be used at several stages of voyage preparation.

Before departure, it helps identify the geographical area, select possible routes and locate the principal stages.

During detailed planning, it can be used to:

• determine daily stages;

• identify locks;

• locate ports and boating facilities;

• select mooring opportunities;

• plan provisioning;

• identify places to visit;

• anticipate particular passages;

• organise activities on land.

On board, the guide then serves as a quick-reference publication for preparing the following day's navigation.

Conclusion

Collins Nicholson inland waterways guides provide comprehensive practical documentation for exploring Britain's canals and rivers. Their value comes from combining detailed mapping, navigation notes, information about locks and infrastructure, and practical details concerning towns, villages, services and places of interest.

From the River Thames to the Norfolk Broads, from the Grand Union Canal to Birmingham's waterways, from the north-western network to the Welsh canals, the collection covers a wide range of landscapes and navigation environments.

For planning an inland cruise in England, Scotland or Wales, a Collins Nicholson guide provides a structured overview of the waterway and its principal stages. Used together with appropriate nautical charts and current regulatory information, it is a practical reference for planning and conducting inland navigation in Britain.

FAQ

What is a Collins Nicholson inland waterways guide?

It is a practical guide dedicated to Britain's navigable canals and rivers. It combines detailed mapping, navigation notes and information about infrastructure, services and places of interest.

When were the Nicholson Waterways Guides first published?

The first Nicholson Waterways Guides were produced in 1969. The collection has accompanied users of Britain's inland waterways ever since.

Which parts of Great Britain are covered by the collection?

The collection covers navigable waterways in England, Scotland and Wales.

Do Collins guides cover the River Thames?

Yes. A dedicated volume covers the River Thames and several southern waterways, including the Kennet & Avon Canal and the Wey & Godalming Navigations.

Are the Norfolk Broads covered?

Yes. A dedicated guide covers the Norfolk Broads and several rivers within the network, including the Rivers Ant, Bure, Thurne, Wensum, Yare, Chet and Waveney.

Do Collins guides show locks?

Yes. Detailed maps identify locks and other essential features of the inland-waterway network.

Do the guides provide information about shore-based services?

Yes. Depending on the area, they include information about pubs, shops, restaurants, places of interest and other services located near the waterways.

Do Collins guides replace official nautical charts?

No. They are complementary publications. Navigation requiring precise hydrographic information should also use appropriate nautical charts and publications.

Are the guides suitable for beginners?

Yes. Their practical presentation makes them useful for people planning their first inland cruise as well as experienced boaters.

Are Collins guides only intended for boaters?

No. They are also useful to walkers, cyclists, canoeists and paddleboarders, as well as visitors interested in the heritage and landscapes of Britain's canals and rivers.