FoxTalbot

As ever, a wonderful holiday was had by my family on the Avon and Kennet canal. We will definitely be returning and using Foxhangers canal boats. Always welcoming and happy to help. Thanks again guys

Foxhangers could not have been more considerate and responsive following an incident on the river bank before our holiday had even begun; many thanks again. Thankfully we were able to depart and enjoyed mastering swing bridges and locks during our first day and then a relaxed passage further west to Bath over the aqueducts. The river is tranquil with beautiful views across the Avon countryside, and we were pleased we chose this route which brought back memories.

Hi team From booking through to handing over on the last day we had a great experience, 63ft narrowboat with a family of 5 with no previous experience. The website is very clear, informative and intuitive. Rob was fantastic during initial handover of the boat, the boat itself was perfect for us, excellent condition, and everything we needed as a family. It's a steep learning curve controlling the boat, and coming in for mooring, but in general the community on the canal are very relaxed and willing to help and advise. Foxhangers are doing a great job, and the Kennet & Avon canal is a beautiful stretch of canal. Very glad we chose to do this, and hopefully we'll be back! Many thanks to all of the team. Will

Dear Foxhangers My family and I had the best 7 days cruising up and back to Bath on FoxTalbot. The vessel was first class , clean, well equipped and with most importantly comfortable beds We will be back in 2023 to master the Caen Hill locks, thanks again to all the good guys or Foxhangers.

Thank you so much to all at Foxhangers for a very stress-free, easy and just lovely long weekend away. Rob was very helpful and informative during our handover and gave us everything we needed to know to enjoy our time on the water......(The Brewery Inn was an excellent recommendation and only a short walk past the Barge on the canal). This is something I have been meaning to do with my children for years and actually, I think now they're older, it was much better and well worth the wait. Everyone had a job to do and they all worked together amazingly well (no tears, arguments or punch-ups to be seen!) 😄 Playing cards in the evening together was a highlight and I'd forgotten that we used to have 'games night' once a week so perhaps that should be reinstated! Me and my children are very lucky and grateful to have had such a wonderful time. Thank you so much. The Woodbury Family x

Amazing holiday. The staff at Foxhangers were incredible. Really nice people who went above and beyond expectations for a holiday company. All the help we needed as newbies to drive the boat and deal with the locks, canals, moorings etc. Also really impressed with everything included on the boat. We had 2 adults and 2 kids on a 2 double bedroom boat with pull out beds in the lounge and I thought that was just the right amount of space for a 5 day break. Would definitely recommend these guys.

Dear Sharon, It is a pleasure to give a testimonial after our weekend trip in Fox Talbot. Literally from start to finish - from the lady on the telephone when we booked, and then changed, the trip - to the man who welcomed us back to the Foxhangers base, everyone was unfailingly friendly, patient, and helpful. The boat was superb, with every convenience imaginable and a wealth of storage space . It was beautifully clean and comprehensively equipped both inside and out. We found our bed exceptionally comfortable. So our recommendation is genuinely without qualification. Thank you for doing a superb job,

Thank you Foxhangers for a most enjoyable week aboard Fox Talbot travelling to Bath and back. We appreciated the guidance given before we embarked which was friendly, helpful and informative. Although we are not new to boating it is some time since we travelled other canals, and the talk brought us up to speed on what to do. It would be equally ideal for any newcomers to the canals. Fox Talbot was a lovely boat to sail and live aboard for our holiday. It provided all that was required to live comfortably on the canal. We chose Foxhangers because we felt they provided the best narrow boats with the greatest comfort. We were not disappointed. Once we had got used to handling the boat it proved easy to steer and manoeuvre. Fun in fact. The challenge of Locks and swing bridges was easily met and enjoyed. We did have one wet day and Foxhangers thoughtfully provided 2x waterproofs which came in handy and aren’t provided by other companies. Boating in the rain was quite exhilarating and it’s cosy to be moored and onboard in the warm, with a nice cuppa, whilst watching rain splash into the canal. Other days were fine and warm and then guiding Fox Talbot along the Kennet & Avon became very enjoyable. We frequented pubs and cafes along the route but also enjoyed home cooked food on board using the excellent cooking facilities. As always on canal holidays there was also time to sit back, relax and enjoy the glorious countryside and it’s wildlife. People along the canal are both friendly and helpful which added to the experience. All in all we had the holiday we expected to have and would recommend a similar trip to anyone considering it.

Hi Sharon, the staff at Foxhangers were absolutely brilliant, the boat lovely and so well equipped. We were a party of 4 ladies all in our late sixties game for a challenge. provided. had to call out Sean as bilge pump stuck, he came right away and was really lovely. Foxhangers so good.

We have just returned from our long weekend, what a fantastic break, the staff at Foxhangers were really lovely and helpful, I can't think of any negatives. The boat was brilliant there was nothing we didn't have it was clean and so warm and cosy inside could not fault it. The weather was kind which was a bonus, and we all enjoyed our jobs on the trip skipper, rope man, and two lock operators. Will definitely go again and have already recommended to lots of friends. Thanks Foxhangers hope to see you again.

Must compliment Foxhangers for their very efficient handover which had us cruising within an hour of arrival. The boat was very well equipped and presented. In all a very enjoyable holiday.

We had a fantastic holiday for 4 nights on Fox Talbot. The handover session was very thorough and took about 1.5 hours. We had 4 adults and 3 teenagers on board and were all kept busy with working the locks, steering and making the tea! We managed to get to Dundas Aqueduct and back and we had time to look around Bradford on Avon. Lots of nice pubs to eat at; we ate at The Barge, The Cross Guns and the Three Magpies. We loved the boat and the teenagers didn't want to leave! Many thanks for a lovely holiday.

The staff were friendly, professional and the boat was clean, well presented and in good working order. 10/10.

Many Thanks Foxhangers for an excellent short holiday. The Fox Talbot was very clean and faultless in every way. The detailed handover was much appreciated as only one of our party had been on a barge before! As skipper I really enjoyed the various manoeuvring challenges, and the rest of the party all had fun playing their part on the locks and swing bridges between the wharf and the aqueduct near Bath. All on board definitely want to repeat the trip, maybe next time bring partners too. Many thanks for the discount vouchers, we'll be in touch again soon to use them.

We had a super time on Fox Talbot for 3 nights. The service from Foxhangers, from booking, to handing the boat back was excellent. The boat itself was very comfortable and roomy enough for 2 couples. We managed to get to Bathampton and back. But next time maybe take it slower, so we can look around some of the towns and villages. Some great pubs en route. We took our 12 year old springer as this may be her last year with us. She had the absolute time of her life and if she could write, she would mostly mention the ducks!

We had a really great time regardless of the weather, thanks Foxhangers. Fox Talbot did us proud????????

One company one great holiday what more can you ask for ~ perfect, thank you!

We had an amazing time and will be using you again. Boat was perfect and very comfortable, we had excellent instructions. Very relaxing great scenery, a trip I will never forget.

We had a super few days - the welcome wine/ mug and chocolates were a lovely touch. The instruction on the boat was thorough, and the CD was also a useful addition to make us feel ready for the holiday. Boat was very comfortable and had all we needed. Thank you

Thank you, Foxhangers, for a most enjoyable leisurely trip to Bath and back in September 2017.Our narrow boat, Fox Talbot, was excellently appointed, very clean and tidy when we took command, very comfortable and fun to drive. A chance to slow down the pace of life, marvel at the feats of engineering by our canal-building forebears and enjoy the delights of the towns and hostelries on the way.

We hired Fox Talbot for 4 nights & cruised to Bath. Our boat was very nice, could not fault it! Very clean, well equipped with everything you needed. Even the weather was kind to us. And, an added bonus was we saw a Kingfisher!! Not forgetting to mention Foxhanger staff, a friendly helpful bunch. Many thanks.

What an excellent holiday! From the moment we arrived at Foxhangers we were welcomed and looked after by friendly staff. The boat handover was relaxed and informative with no rush. Any questions we had were fully answered and how to operate locks was fully demonstrated. The boat was clean and fully equipped with everything that we could possibly have needed for our stay onboard. We will definitely be coming back again.

Our second barge from Foxhangers. Barges are well equipped, very clean and the two we had, Wily Fix and Foxtalbot, had good layouts. Staff very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. Booking process easy and email communication excellent. Instructions on arrival very informative whether you are a novice or experienced. I did laugh when one of my friends told one of the staff that she was a 'barge virgin'. His face was priceless! We have hired from many centres over the last 15 years and Foxhangers are highly recommended.

Hi To All the Foxhanger team, Thank you so much for a great weekend. Your service and boat were fantastic. The facilities, information and equipment provided on board and the cleanliness were the best I have experienced. Thank you to for the lovely touch with the chocolates, wine and card. The 5 others travelling with me were new canal users and have gone home hoping to plan a repeat experience - they loved it! " A weekend not to be beaten' was one response.

We all loved the weekend.  The boat was absolutely immaculate, and everything worked very well.  Will definitely recommend it to friends - and next time we come, we plan to tackle the locks up Caen Hill and spend more than a weekend on the boat.  Many thanks.

A group of 11 had a great weekend on Foxtrot and FoxTalbot. Both boats are fantastically equipped, spacious (for a narrow boat) and in very good working order. The Information provided at the start enabled us to make a very good plan that suited our group well. All in all a very good weekend. Many thanks

I would just like to say how stunning the holiday was, just to relax and float away without a care in the world... All the staff were amazing and made us feel at ease straight away, Colin was so helpful. We loved the boat and will be recommending to everyone, we had wonderful weather and met some lovely people along the way... See you all again next year, big thank you to all that made our holiday wonderful

We had a fantastic holiday with the help of a very comfortable and well equipped boat hired from Foxhangers. It had everything we needed for an enjoyable holiday - even good TV reception! and thanks to Colin who very patiently gave us some training to help us on our way. Kitchen was also well stocked with cooking utensils if we didn't fancy a pub meal along the canal route. Went from Foxhangers (near Devizes) to Bath and back (fairly easy beginner’s route). Had plenty of laughs, even the unreliable British weather didn't spoil our fun. A bit crazy on the first day, having a 62ft long boat not quite as easy as parking a car but we soon got the hang of it! Would definitely do it again. To anybody considering a canal holiday we would definitely recommend Foxhangers boats, they seem well organised and cater perfectly to people's needs.

We had great time on our first adventure aboard a Narrow Boat. The efficiency of all fox hangers staff was 1st class. Foxtalbot was a very well equipped and comfortable boat. Thanks to excellent tuition handling the craft soon became easyish. We will be considering another adventure with Foxhangers perhaps next year. Thanks to you all

We’ve already booked to come back in a couple of months time as we had such a good time I want to take my son along next time.

To everyone at Foxhangers We had a fabulous week on your narrow boat Fox Talbot. From the moment of our first enquiry and the pre-departure information received, to the friendly reception on our arrival by your staff, professional briefing , cleanliness and condition of the boat, everything went really well. The handover at the end was quick, courteous and hassle free. We would certainly recommend your services to others and when the time comes make another trip with you. Many thanks for everything.

Dear Foxhangers, A month has passed since we completed our one-week Foxhangers holiday on Fox Talbot, and my wife is still raving about what a great time she had motoring to Bath and back. We want to take this opportunity to tell you about the high points for us. Although I was involved in the boat business in Miami a few decades ago, we had never operated a narrow boat previously, so it was all a new experience for us, unlike the high-speed powerboats and sailboats in my previous experience. As someone with lots of prior boating experience, I was particularly impressed with how well thought-out Fox Talbot was. Foxhangers did an excellent job of anticipating the operation of the boat and where things are when you need them. I was pleasantly surprised at the way hot water appeared at any of the three taps - galley, forward head or aft head - as soon as the water was turned on. It was much better than even in our own home, and that helped us conserve our boat’s limited water supply. We particularly enjoyed the short tour we had of the new boat being fitted out in your workshop. It was very impressive to see the quality of the work you are doing there. We were also pleasantly surprised at the comfort of the bunks. Before the trip, my high-school friend, who is 6’2”, wondered whether there would be room in their bed for himself and his wife, or if one of them might have to sleep in the salon. It turned out that they both slept comfortably in the bed in the aft cabin for the whole week. We want to thank your personnel who gave us our brief introduction to the boat when we picked it up for a very thorough summary of the procedures for operating the hob, filling the water tank, checking the engine oil and water, cleaning the weed hatch, and operating the heads. The onboard manual was also helpful. Everything worked flawlessly. We are looking forward to the opening of the circular route you mentioned and another longer canal holiday after that becomes available.

In spite of wet weather at the start of our holiday we very much enjoyed ourselves. The quality of the information provided before we arrived was excellent. We did not need to hunt for any other guides. The equipment on board compared favourably with what I had experienced previously. Everyone one was very friendly and Gary’s handover briefing was very thorough. He even phoned us because he thought he had failed to explain the central heating (although he had). The engine had clearly been very well maintained. Although the manual was very thorough it was useful to be warned that there were some winding holes that were too short for our boat. We were grateful for advice on the best place to view the Caen Hill flight - we didn’t go that way in the boat of course - and enjoyed a chat with one of the volunteers. We would certainly choose Fox Hangers if we came on the K&A again.

We hired the Fox Talbot for 4 days. The boat was a 7 berth which was comfortable enough for the 6 of us who were on board. It had all of the conveniences we needed. On arrival the staff could not have been more helpful. We were taken through a briefing, which explained the basics of boat maintenance and handling, in addition to the helpful information pack which was sent out on confirmation of the booking. The boat was immaculately clean and tidy throughout. If you want a gentle paced time away from home, where everyone is friendly and helpful, then this is the holiday to have especially when the weather is as good as it was between 26 - 29th May. Will definitely book again.

We had a fantastic Easter weekend aboard Fox Talbot - four days slowly chugging up to Bath and back again. I had canal boated once before many years ago and it soon came back after the tuition session. I really cannot recommend this holiday enough - we travelled with our 3 young children (10, 8 and 4) and had one of the best weekends ever. Thanks very much Foxhangers I think you'll be seeing us again.

Just want to thank you and all the staff at Foxhangers. What a great mid week break we had with you! Your staff are all polite and very helpful and your boats are so clean and all up together. Many thanks we will see you again in 2015. Thank you again

We thoroughly enjoyed our holiday on Fox Talbot and wish to thank all members of your team for all their efforts.  It is not surprising that the holidays on the canal are so popular; it is a unique experience.

The holiday we had (4 adults - first time on a narrow boat) on the Kennet and Avon canal can only be described as excellent. The FoxTalbot was comprehensively equipped to an extremely high standard with everything we required for 2 couples. The introduction we received on arrival covering the boats operation, location of equipment, safety and how to operate the locks and swing bridge was faultless. We travelled from Foxhangers to Bath winding hole and return back to Foxhangers comfortably in 4 days, stopping to take in the scenery on route and eating out each evening in local hostelries. This can only be described as one of the most relaxing short breaks we have had. The staff and boat from Foxhangers being the catalyst to making it possible. I have no hesitation in highly recommending a break of this type to any one and using a boat from Foxhangers. Thanks for a wonderful holiday.

We recently took Fox Talbot for a 3 day cruise. Although we have hired narrow boats many times before this was our first with Foxhangers. I have to say the whole experience was first class. Booking was quick and easy, communication excellent, arrival and boat collection straightforward and friendly. The boat was very well equipped, extremely clean ( the best we have ever had) and in very good condition. We had a most enjoyable time cruising towards Reading and back in spite of the very mixed weather we experienced. Boat return was quick and easy, your canal side crew were as helpful as they were when we set off. I would wholeheartedly recommend Foxhangers to all. Thank you.

My wife and I, together with our daughter, her husband and two children, recently enjoyed a superb 5-day/4-night holiday in the largest of Foxhangers' canal boats called "Fox Talbot".  None of us could think of anything to grumble about, or any suggestions to make for improvement to our holiday.  The company was welcoming, they took proper care to ensure we knew and understood what we were undertaking, and they supplied everything necessary to make our holiday more than a bit special.  The boat was in superb condition and beautifully fitted out.  Overall we could not fault Foxhangers or their boat in any way. A huge "thank you" to all who made our holiday so enjoyable.  We can strongly recommend the company, its services and its craft to anyone considering a holiday on the Kennet and Avon Canal.

We set out on Fox Talbot on 6th August with some trepidation as novices and with four teenagers on board! Foxhangers had been highly recommended to us and the boat met all of our expectations. We received a detailed, informative and entertaining briefing before setting off towards Bath. Having negotiated the first swing bridge and then lock we grew in confidence and settled into a wonderfully recuperative week afloat on the Kennet and Avon canal. Our initial worries about planning where to stop proved unfounded as the onboard info was very useful and reliable, the recommended pubs proving to be excellent for both food and ales. A fantastic holiday in no small part due to the professionalism of Foxhangers. We will definitely return.

To all at Foxhangers, I felt I must send you a quick email to let you know how much we enjoyed our holiday with you last week. This is the second time we have hired one of your boats and have been impressed both times with the quality of them and especially how well equipped they are. We have holidayed with different people each time, and everyone has been extremely pleased with the boats. We hired the Foxtalbot this time from Monday to Thursday and managed to get into Bath and back. We all lead busy lifestyles and it's the perfect way to unwind. We saw some wonderful wildlife - good to see so many kingfishers. Thank you for providing us with such a high quality vessel. I'm sure we will be back in the future- maybe even tackle the Caen Locks!! We have already recommended you to a group of friends, who are really keen to sample this kind of holiday. The lady on the end of the phone was very helpful, as we were a last minute booking and needed to do things in a rush. Thanks again!

Just a quick note to say thank you for the great short break holiday we had with you recently, the narrow boat FOXTALBOT fitted our needs perfectly ( Two mature couples) the boat was immaculately presented, warm and comfortable beds, two toilet showers rooms, we had comprehensive instructions on the workings of the boat from Neil, and the same for working the locks. Also the help we had dealing with a problem with our car. To anyone thinking of hiring a narrow boat on the Kennet & Avon canal head for Foxhangers and do it right! Many thanks again.

My wife and I have now hired narrowboats every year in early spring and have become hooked on the joys of canal boating. This year in late March we hired a lovely boat, Foxtalbot, together with three friends and headed west. We made it to Avoncliffe and back and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves along this rural stretch of canal. As 'seasoned hirers' we are quite fussy about the boats and Foxtalbot didn't disappoint. It was very comfortable with two (quite essential with five of us aboard) shower rooms. We all had a wonderful time and I would recommend the company, the boat and the lovely stretch of canal.

We have just completed a two week vacation aboard the FoxTalbot. Together with my wife and two friends we had two wonderful weeks on the Kennet & Avon which was greatly helped by the great service provided by all the staff at Foxhangers and the superior quality of their boat. The staff answered all our questions in advance of our vacation, provided a thorough briefing before we left and were very attentive when our voyage was shortened due to a problem closing the Caen Hill Locks. The boat was extremely clean and had everything aboard it that you could possibly want. We certainly recommend Foxhangers and have already got friends interested in hiring from them. Thank You everyone.

A young group of us with relatively no boating experienced hired the "FoxTalbot" for a short weekend in late October 2009. (Fri - Sun) We found the information prior to the trip and the website very helpful and the initial briefing was very informative. The boat was surprisingly roomy and comfortable for 3 doubles and was very well equipped and clean. We thoroughly enjoyed our relaxing trip and we travelled as far as AvonCliff Aqueduct and back, stopping in Bradford-on-Avon too. We have found Foxhangers fulfilled our every need with a very relaxed attitude and will definitely be recommending them to friends!

Let us say we had a great time on "Foxtalbot" Congratulations for an outstanding service and a boat (or home) which gave us not only all we wanted but comfortable living on the water. The equipment and kitchen outfit (I was the cook) was outstanding for such little room, in fact better than a lot of "cottages" we know. The ladies want to remark the top cleanness of the boat. We do not have to mention, what a friendly crew you are! All together we are sorry that you have no boats on other canals, we sure would hire again FOXHANGERS.

Thank you for a perfect short break. Foxtalbot took myself, my 76 year old Mum, my husband and my two children ( 12 and 15 years) from Foxhangers to the second aqueduct past Bradford on Avon and back again, between Tuesday at 5pm to Friday at 9 am at a relaxing pace. We feel completely rested and energised at the same time. Foxtalbot gained many admiring glances from other boaters who noticed her beautifully constructed and luxurious interior as we shared locks! We are particularly impressed with the courtesy, knowledge and reassurance of the Foxhangers staff, both before and during the holiday.

We hired Foxtalbot in November, with my wife and our daughter and partner for a 4 night mid-week break. What an amazing way to spend quality time with family or friends. We were blessed with great weather (although cool) but with the central heating, it was no problem! We found the whole experience great fun and would not hesitate using Foxhanger for another trip and have already told our family and friends in New Zealand, to try before they die! The boat was very well appointed, clean and had everything that opened and shut, the Foxhanger staff were friendly and very helpful. We would have no hesitation in recommending or using Foxhangers again in the future. And the pubs were great as well!

We hired the Foxtalbot from 14-18 April; had a marvellous time. Boat very comfortable, well appointed and warm; canal beautiful, weather cold but dry, thank goodness. A very relaxing break. All the staff at Foxhangers were very helpful. We hope to come back again.