Marinas in Whitchurch and Ellesmere are offering free canal boat holiday taster sessions as part of Drifters Waterway Holidays and Canal & River Trust charity open day.

The sessions, on Sunday, April 7, are being held at the two Llangollen Canal boating centres _ ABC Boat Hire at Whitchurch Marina and Blackwater Meadow Marina, Ellesmere, while the Anglo Welsh at Trevor Basin, near Wrexham, will all be offering free boat trips, between 11am and 4pm.

Nigel Stevens, director of Drifters Waterway Holidays, believes the open days sessions are the best way to see for yourself the advantage of a canal boat holiday.

“Travelling at just 4mph through peaceful countryside, sleepy villages and vibrant waterside towns and cities, canal boat holidays are often described as ‘the fastest way to slow down’," he said.

“Each year around 352,000 people enjoy holidaying on Britain’s canal network and last year, around 3,000 people got afloat at our one of our National Open Day events.

"We look forward to welcoming thousands more visitors this year for the chance to find out what makes canal boat holidays so special.”

Gareth Stephens, national boating business manager at the Canal & River Trust, added: “We believe that waterways have the power to make a real difference to people’s lives.

"Spending time by water makes us all healthier and happier and early research is showing evidence of this.

“Thousands of people already enjoy boating holidays on our beautiful 2,000-mile network of inland waterways, and these free canal boat taster sessions are a great way to see if this sort of holiday could be for you.”

All ages are encouraged to take part and no advanced booking is required.

Further details of the open days and visiting the canal network can be found at www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/trycanalboating