CanalAbility Press - CanalAbility

CanalAbility has been awarded 2 awards. Click for full details.

CanalAbility has won a Heart 4 Harlow community award for its work in providing holidays for disabled people, as well as community and youth groups. Click here for full details.

We are also featured on the Dancing Giraffe Website.

CanalAbility has been featured on Radio Essex recently. Click PLAY below to listen:

We were involved in the Queens Pageant on the Thames to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

A generous donation by The Boshier Hinton Foundation enabled the boat and crew to be “dressed overall” in new regalia, with flags and bunting to ensure they looked at their best on the day.

If you have mobility difficulties, or are a wheelchair user, you'll love our boats!

Each boat has a ramps & lifts to enable access via wheelchair and for people with impaired mobility, and other adaptive technology to allow everyone to take an active part in its operation.

Unlike the majority of canal boats, our boats also have disabled toilet facilities and our holiday boats have full wet rooms rather than just a shower tray or a bath.

See the individual boats for details of their accessibility features.

CanalAbility

5.0

Based on 48 reviews

Tracey Church Mullens

2019-12-15T18:58:43+0000

We had the most wonderful day with the very helpful and friendly crew of Andrew,John and Mike!! The whole family were... able to get involved with steering the boat and helping with the locks. This was our second day out with CanalAbility and we will definitely be back again!! Thank you very much to Andrew,John and Mike for making our day so enjoyable!!!read more

JoJo Bailey

2019-11-11T09:36:22+0000

Lovely trip with friendly informative staff.

Nicky Rodley

2019-09-16T09:22:31+0000

large comfortable boats kitted out for people of any disability with all facilities. The staff (all volunteers) are... helpful, friendly and knowledgeable. They really make the day special for the group.read more

Claire Jones

2019-08-26T10:01:20+0000

Brilliant day out, relaxing, fun and informative. Our crew were lovely and made sure that everyone got the chance to do... everything from steering the boat to opening and closing the locks. Great value for money too.read more

Sharon Smith

2019-07-27T15:19:44+0000

What a fantastic trip out on the river , staff are so friendly, helpful and informative. Would highly recommend for a... relaxing trip.read more

Tracy Banks Jones

2019-07-18T17:45:38+0000

Posting late as we did this in April but a fantastic team and such a lovely experience. The boat we had was very... accessible for our two wheelchair users and we had a lovely picnic at the front. Thanks so much to the team we will come againread more

Nicola Anson

2019-07-17T07:10:15+0000

Had an amazing day out. The crew were so thoughtful and really allowed the children to take an active part! We also... ticked off one of my dads bucket list. A really enjoyable family day, where lots of lovely memories were made. Thank you.read more

Stephen Brunning

2019-07-15T16:46:17+0000

Delightful 4 hour trip with a group from Sanctuary Housing today. The crew were very friendly and most accomodating.... Have no hesitation in recommending this excellent charity.read more

Jenny Lee Norwood

2019-06-16T20:11:05+0000

fabulous day. Even the rain in the morning didn't spoil the day.

Tracy White

2019-05-08T18:41:06+0000

CanalAbility gives access to the pleasures of cruising the waterways to those who would otherwise miss out on the... experience. The boats are adapted for and well equipped to cater for the needs of wheelchair users and differently abled children and adults and their carers so that they may enjoy the many pleasures of time on the river.read more

Maggie Hawkins

2019-04-28T15:40:12+0000

brilliant trip on the Stort, with lovely friendly volunteers. nothing was too much trouble. we will be back!

Simon Harris

2019-04-28T15:10:32+0000

thank you guys . Made to feel very welcome . Whole family had a great day . would highly recommend !

Karen Fraser

2018-10-02T18:06:12+0000

I can’t praise the volunteer skippers enough . They were absolutely fantastic giving their time on what feels like... the one and only wet and windy weekend in the last 6 months ! They were kind , caring and professional and took a lot of stress out of the weekend when I thought we’d struggle with managing Redwatch on our own . Thank you - you made the trip .read more

Mike Richardson

2018-08-06T23:15:13+0000

This was a birthday surprise (well, almost) and could not have been better. Wonderful day on the river, glorious... sunshine, lovely friends and excellent crew. I would recommend this to anyone.read more

Pauline Bliss

2018-08-06T17:12:36+0000

The Residents, some of their relatives and the staff at Cuffley Manor Care Home had two lovely trips on The Stort. a... huge thank you to the excellant crews especially our skipper today Ken with help from Mary and John. Very informative, kind and careing people. we would recommend Canalability for a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Well done to all these voluntees you do a great job.read more

Dawn Cardenas

2018-06-30T16:37:44+0000

Lovely day out - thank you �

Susannah Waciorski

2018-06-30T15:50:37+0000

We’ve just returned from a fantastic day out on the Stort Daybreak with our fabulous crew members Barry, Tony &... Chris. What a wonderful experience and the crew were brilliant with our children from Upwards with Downs. The boat was spacious, could easily accommodate buggies and was well equipped for the journey. The crew were brilliant at teaching us to steer the boat as well as how to work the locks. Would highly recommend xxread more

Michaela Baker

2018-06-29T00:52:28+0000

Amazing crew, boat and views along the stort

Jo Charlton

2018-06-19T18:30:05+0000

Nice way to explore a lesser known river, including a couple of locks on our day trip. The crew are terrific and made... sure our group had a great time.read more

Mandy Reid

2018-06-18T16:24:10+0000

Dan Cliff

2018-06-10T20:45:45+0000

Had a lovely day spending my sisters 40th. My son who is in a wheel chair loved being up top watching the canal views.... All the crew were all so lovely ��read more

Lee Watts

2018-04-11T22:32:11+0000

Had a lovely unique experience for our daughters birthday treat, the crew were outstanding

Sarah Louise Wess

2018-04-08T12:55:53+0000

It was a nice relaxing day thank you for having us

Jackie Holland

2018-02-17T17:28:59+0000

Thank you so much to the crews of both Daybreak and Challenger. Members and staff from Grapevine Essex had a fantastic... day cruising along the River Stort yesterday. This was our fouth trip and we've already had requests to 'do it again'. A lovely relaxing day and the river was beautiful.read more

Dawn Ashworth

2017-12-18T16:24:42+0000

Fantastic day out as always our Christmas wouldn’t be the same without it now .... thank you to our wonderful crew .

Sarah Elizabeth

2017-11-12T21:01:38+0000

Brenda Pegrum

2017-09-11T20:44:56+0000

Brilliant afternoon on the river . Thank you for our certificate for steeering the river boat .. xx .. Highly... recommend. .read more

Jon Ford

2017-07-29T08:51:09+0000

Great afternoon on the river with skipper Barry, first mate Jon and Harriet, Children loved it. Thank you. Highly... recommend �read more

Bradley Chapman

2017-07-27T07:00:00+0000

Andrew Emerton

2017-05-12T11:02:26+0000

I had a great time with our crew of John, Andy & Pete, they were very helpful & friendly. Will recommend to others for... sureread more

David Crowe

2017-02-24T17:09:27+0000

Mike Colbert

2016-10-31T08:11:53+0000

Robert Baker

2016-09-17T15:25:32+0000

I had a wonderful day out with canalability on Thursday 15th of September 2016. A big thank you to Barry are skipper... for the day for making are day out so much fun. The weather was beautiful and sunny and me and all of us from Stevenage Mencap all enjoyed are ice creams at the ice cream shop outside Harlow before we turned back for Harlow. Also I like to thank Barry for his instructions while I was steering the canal along the river Stort after our ice creams. I am so very pleased I kept the canal boat in the middle of the river with his help and I really enjoyed it so very much. I hope Mencap will book another trip with you again very soon. Many Thanks Robert Baker.read more

Norman R. Hunt

2016-09-04T13:29:39+0000

Tree across at Latter lock wide beams cannot get through. Turned and now heading down river

Jennifer See

2016-09-02T18:28:49+0000

Amazing crew, funny, kind and caring. Cannot thank you guys enough for making our trips out so memorable. Thank you. XX

Douglas Noel

2016-08-27T13:50:50+0000

Had a day trip today with canalability very nice people had a great time. Doug

Kerry Wilson

2016-06-16T19:38:17+0000

An amazing team of very kind and helpful volunteers. A superb day out. Highly recommend

Fred Vyse

2016-06-15T21:23:13+0000

Great venue & charity that supports all the patrons with caring staff.

Sonja Castle

2016-05-14T15:05:40+0000

What a lovely day a big thanks to the crew for today ☺

Deborah Kane

2015-12-08T14:51:06+0000

We have had many trips and we always have a great time and are well looked after by the crew

Donna Redding

2015-12-04T18:07:41+0000

Had a great time today. With my friend Marlene and her friends cruising up to Roydon Mill. Enjoyed steering the boat... (mentored) and helped with the lock gates. The staff are very friendly and all three that looked after the boat, Stort Daybreak, do a fine jobread more

Adele Khan

2015-11-26T12:37:07+0000

Great crew! Lovely day....would recommend! ✌

Nigel Atkins

2015-07-19T13:54:30+0000

Hi just to say we spent a fabulous Father's Day with these guys the staff are exceptionally friendly and helpful, the... facilities are great. These guys are doing a grand job and I recommend this to anyone who through a disability wouldn't normally be able to have a trip on the canal. Splendid work people we are much appreciative and we will be back!read more

Tamz Clegg

2014-10-02T16:17:00+0000

Bev Sherlock

2014-06-04T16:06:09+0000

What a great day!! Thank you to the 3 members of staff we had today... Even under pressure they made our day! Would... recommend to all xread more

Next Reviews

CanalAbility

4.8

Based on 35 reviews

Chelle H

18:25 10 Aug 19

Fantastic for children with sen. Great and gave them the opportunity to help steer or with locks if they wanted. Was a... wonderful day out.read more

GRAHAM O'NIONS

18:34 13 Jul 19

Canal ability for physically challenged people worth a visit also close to the canal boat lock and the moorhen pub

Dunc Banks

17:36 02 Jul 19

Most helpful great fun for all

Conal McGuirk

12:16 17 Jun 19

Fun for all, great way to relax

joanne hoyles

13:10 10 Jun 19

son love it, great day out

Selina Ciccarelli

18:55 30 Oct 18

We went when the weather had turned, but they had heating on board so we weren't cold. The crew were very good with our... elderly residents and had a good back up plan when the boat broke down. Well done. We had a good laugh. Well worth another go in the summer months.read more

Jennifer Steadman

22:18 17 Jul 18

Thoroughly enjoy my trips out with canalability. Everybody is welcome to have a go at steering & operating the locks.... The crew are all volunteers who happily give their time for the enjoyment & inclusion of others.read more

Sue Laroche

13:32 26 Jun 18

Lovely trip. Friendly and helpful staff. A beautiful day. So nice they do this for disabled people who otherwise... wouldn't be able to enjoy this. Thankyouread more

Andy Sims

21:55 20 Dec 17

Had a fantastic trip today with the crew - Steve, or as we shall forever know him "Simon" 😂, Richard and Jenny.... Nothing was too much trouble for them, they made us feel very at ease and encouraged and supported us to get involved with the steering of the boat and working the locks. A fun day, thank you for a memorable day out.read more

Weleshboat Ian

12:47 17 Aug 16

Mobility friendly making the most if you are disabled ♿. Great fun

Next Reviews

Great memories.... on this day last year with the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust. @emctrust https://t.co/RkI4FqY8JE 13 hours ago
Great memories.... on this day last year with @emctrust. https://t.co/RkI4FqY8JE 13 hours ago
Support us with ticket from @TheEssexLottery & you could win a jackpot of £25,000! PLUS! Support the lottery by the… https://t.co/hpu70gA6yV 3 days ago
RT @CRTBoating: As @horaland says, the mill in the distance of our quiz question is long gone, but grain of all sorts was an important carg… 3 days ago
RT @Lisa1971harlow: Taking time out and enjoying the outdoors as it has been a hard week @earlyyearshelin @MarciaG321 #riverstort #HealthyL… 3 days ago

COVID-19 UPDATE: WE ARE NOW OPEN!! (SUBJECT TO SOME RESTRICTIONS)READ MORE

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CanalAbility Have Gone Fishing with TV’s Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse!

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Explore the waterways from the comfort of your sofa

Win BIG and support CanalAbility as we launch our Essex Lottery page!

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