Canal Boat Diaries

Robbie Cumming explores the English canal network, beginning with a journey from Shardlow to Etruria Junction, Stoke on Trent, exploring the Trent and Mersey Canal. However, not everything goes to plan, and he will have to deal with a tricky issue with his propeller as well as navigating the complicated locks on the Trent and Mersey Canal.

A low canal tunnel in Staffordshire proves a problem and Robbie helps out a stranded boater.

A fallen tree and a leaking lock pound hamper Robbie's journey across the Pennines.

Robbie runs aground on the Rochdale Canal - will he make it to Manchester?

There are engine issues and a leaky boat to fix before Robbie reaches Liverpool Docks.

Robbie battles his way through blanket weed on the Shropshire Union Canal and discovers industrial secrets in Audlem, Cheshire.

Robbie gets stuck in the mud in Woodseaves Cutting and explores the charming canal-side village of Kinver in Staffordshire.

Robbie navigates the mighty River Severn and takes an unexpected bath as he takes a tumble at the Tardebigge lock flight in Worcestershire.

On the last leg of his journey across England, Robbie crosses an epic aqueduct near Stratford-upon-Avon and gets stuck in a lock in central Birmingham.

Narrowboater Robbie Cumming begins a 170-mile journey across the north of England and soon runs into difficulty with a problem with his craft's propeller in Wigan.

Narrowboater and film-maker Robbie Cumming crosses the Pennines on the picturesque Leeds and Liverpool Canal, and lends a hand to hire boaters in Gargrave, North Yorkshire. He also encounters Bingley Five Rise Locks, a wonder of the inland waterways.

Jump on board with narrowboater Robbie Cumming as he explores the Victorian village of Saltaire in West Yorkshire on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, moors up in Leeds Dock, and goes in search of an abandoned waterway on the Aire and Calder Navigation.

The real side of boating with Robbie Cumming. On the last leg of his epic journey across the north of England, Robbie tackles the fast-flowing River Ouse and is forced to make an emergency stop. His destination is Ripon Basin at the outer reaches of our inland waterways.

Narrowboater Robbie Cumming begins a fresh set of adventures along the waterways of the north of England and the Midlands. He is forced to make a running repair to his narrowboat the Naughty Lass while on the Tinsley lock flight in South Yorkshire. He then cruises beneath Conisbrough's magnificent viaduct and must wait for an unusual sliding railway bridge to open on the Stainforth and Keadby Canal.

Robbie Cumming tackles the fast-flowing River Trent and is invited to join a night-time illuminated boat parade. However, his journey is hampered by a damaged wall in Worksop and a water shortage on the Chesterfield Canal which threatens his voyage.

Autumnal fog and an overheating engine prove to be problems for narrowboater Robbie Cumming. As he navigates a Roman waterway, it proves to be a journey of many challenges as he runs aground and breaks down in Nottingham.

Robbie Cumming has issues with ice before taking on the famous Foxton lock flight. His destination is Braunston, the spiritual home for narrowboaters.

Robbie Cumming begins a new adventure onboard his narrowboat home the Naughty Lass. A canal journey that takes him through Royal Leamington Spa and the historic town of Warwick with its medieval castle. However, when an action camera falls off his boat, he's forced to jump into the Grand Union Canal to search for it.

Robbie sets out to explore the meandering waterways of inner city Birmingham including the Soho Loop and the Engine Arm Canal. However he has a DIY disaster when he accidentally hammers a hole through his narrowboat which needs urgent attention. Later in the journey the Naughty Lass becomes lodged in a lock on the Titford Canal.

Canal explorer and narrowboat enthusiast Robbie Cumming sets off on a new journey across the Midlands. But disaster strikes when the Naughty Lass collides with a low bridge on the Bumble Hole Canal Branch damaging a chimney. Later Robbie tackles Delph Locks with its impressive waterfall weirs.

Narrowboat enthusiast Robbie Cumming explores the picturesque Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. However, his journey is delayed when he encounters a broken balance beam on a faulty lock gate. Later he receives a visit from his younger brother Charlie, to help him through Wolverhampton's flight of 21 narrow locks.

It's Robbie's toughest trip yet as he battles through water weed on the Bradley Arm and gets stuck in silt on the Ridgacre Branch. His problems continue when a rope gets wrapped around his propellor on the Walsall Lock flight. With all these obstacles will he make it to his destination of Anglesey Basin?

Robbie's forced to jump ship to re-float the Naughty Lass when he becomes marooned in the mud on the Perry Barr Flight. Later in the journey he travels under Birmingham's Spaghetti Junction and his narrowboat takes a nasty knock on the Coventry Canal.

Robbie discovers a mysterious message in a bottle on the Ashby Canal and calls in to meet a mate who lives on an historic narrowboat. Along the way he's forced to carry out a running repair, when the Naughty Lass breaks down in rural Leicestershire.

Robbie takes a tumble at Buckby Locks in Northamptonshire and moors up in a favourite canal village, Braunston the spiritual home of narrowboaters where he meets a mate and buys a new chimney for the Naughty Lass.

A window gets smashed onboard the Naughty Lass and Robbie receives a soaking inside the watery Blisworth Tunnel as he continues his journey down the Grand Union Canal. Along the way he crosses several impressive aqueducts.

During winter weather Robbie gets iced in on the Grand Union Canal and he's forced to fit a new solar panel when his old one gets smashed. To end the journey his mum and dad pay a visit and help him through Marsworth Locks.

Robbie Cumming navigates the scenic Oxford Canal onboard Naughty Lass, explores its twists and turns, and helps tow a stranded broken-down boater.

Robbie navigates the Oxford Canal, bumps into a hire boat and a hedge and tackles large river locks on the scenic Upper River Thames.

Robbie's narrowboat gets a makeover before he explores the River Thames, he moors in Abingdon and tackles an emergency DIY repair to fix a leak.

Robbie visits a former Beatle's home in Henley, uncovers horror history in Marlow and struggles to find a mooring in Maidenhead on the River Thames.

While exploring the Wey and Godalming Navigations, Robbie gets caught in a storm and falls off his narrowboat. He also uncovers rock history in Guildford.

Robbie's narrowboat gets stuck under a low bridge on the challenging Basingstoke Canal as he battles through water weed. Can he make it to journey's end?

Robbie moors by Hampton Court Palace, but disaster strikes when a tree branch smashes a window. His dad joins to help through Hanwell locks.

Robbie returns to where his boating life began, exploring London's canals on Naughty Lass. He travels through Little Venice and moors in Paddington Basin.

Robbie mends a leaky pump on the Naughty Lass on the Grand Union Canal. In Watford, he visits a TV legend's home and buys gas from a friendly fuel boat.

Robbie navigates the wintery Grand Union Canal while preparing for Christmas, and narrowly avoids flooding his boat in a tricky staircase lock.

Robbie Cumming begins a new canal adventure in Wales and encounters towering aqueducts and stunning scenery along the way.

Robbie Cumming's journey on the Llangollen Canal takes an unexpected turn when his boat gets stuck in silt and a passing hire boat comes to the rescue.

As Robbie Cumming leaves the scenic Llangollen Canal, he faces a journey of running repairs and narrowboat maintenance on the old Naughty Lass.

With the Anderton Boat Lift out of action, Robbie Cumming explores the scenic River Weaver onboard a borrowed narrowboat called 'Tench'.