CANAL BOAT HIRE in the SOUTH OF FRANCE
on the
CANAL DU MIDI and CANAL DE GARONNE
Suggested Routes: Le Somail - Canal du Midi
(we also have suggestions for weekly routes.)
SUGGESTED ROUTES FOR WEEKDAY SHORT BREAKS
These 2 routes offer you either a choice of lock-free cruising for total relaxation or, for the more energetic, a cruise through a mixture of single and double (staircase) locks.
Route 1 - Monday 1600 hrs1 Week - Friday 0900 hrs - Beziers (Fonserannes)
| Monday | Stay at Le Somail overnight or travel as far as Argeliers (6 kms) where there is a restaurant and a small shop. | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | Head for Capestang (17 kms from Argeliers). It is a small attractive town with a good range of facilities. There are bars and restaurants clustered round the square and the church is well worth a visit. You can either stop here the night or continue through the Malpas Tunnel to Colombiers (a further 11 kms from Capestang). At Colombiers there is a modern Port area with a range of shops, restaurants and an ATM machine. | |
| Wednesday | From Capestang or Colombiers, head to Beziers (7 kms from Colombiers), and moor at the top of Fonserannes Staircase Locks - they are spectacular. Have a good look round and watch boats negotiating the locks. Afterwards, either visit Beziers or head back towards Colombiers for the night. | |
| Thursday | From Colombiers, head back past Capestang to Le Somail. | |
| Friday | Hand back your boat. | |
Route 2 - Monday 1600 hrs1 Week - Friday 0900 hrs - Ecluse d'Aiguille
| Monday | Stay at Le Somail overnight or travel as far as Ventenac (5 kms). Here there are 2 bars/restaurants, a large Vin Cave and a small shop. Alternatively, continue as far as Roubia, where there is also a restaurant. | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | From Ventenac head towards the first lock at Argens Minervois (9 kms), then start the climb towards Homps - a further 6 kms and 5 locks (1 single and 2 doubles). Homps has an attractive canal frontage with a range of good restaurants and boat facilities.
Be very careful at the second double lock (Ognon) as the water rushes from the sluices and hits the sill, then can splash into the boat. Make sure you shut all bow doors and hatches before going up in locks. |
|
| Wednesday | From Homps continue through La Redorte, stopping for lunch at the locks at Aiguille, famous for the lock keepers sculptures (12 kms and 3 locks away). Turn the boat here before the locks and start the journey back to Homps. | |
| Thursday | From Homps, retrace your steps to Le Somail. | |
| Friday | Hand back your boat. | |
SUGGESTED ROUTES FOR WEEKEND SHORT BREAKS
These 2 routes offer you either a choice of lock-free cruising for total relaxation or, for the more energetic, a cruise through a mixture of single and double (staircase) locks.
Route 1 - Friday 1600 hrs - Monday 0900 hrs - Capestang/Colombiers
| Friday | Stay at Le Somail overnight or travel as far as Argeliers (6 kms) where there is a restaurant and a small shop. | |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | Head for Colombiers (28 kms from Argeliers) passing through Capestang, Poilhes and the Malpas Tunnel en route. Colombiers is a small attractive village with bars and restaurants clustered round the Port/Marina, where there is also an ATM Machine. | |
| Sunday | From Colombiers, get an early start and head back to Capestang. It is a small attractive town with good range of facilities, including a French Produce Market on Sunday mornings in the square. There are also bars and restaurants clustered round the square where a leisurely lunch can be enjoyed and the church is well worth a visit. In the afternoon, start your return journey to Le Somail. | |
| Monday | Hand back your boat. | |
Route 2 - Friday 1600 hrs - Monday 0900 hrs - Homps
| Friday | Stay at Le Somail overnight or travel as far as Ventenac (5 kms). Here there are 2 bars/restaurants, a large Vin Cave and a small shop. Alternatively, continue as far as Roubia, where there is also a restaurant. | |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | From Ventenac/Roubia head towards the first lock at Argens Minervois then start the climb towards Homps - a further 6 kms and 5 locks (1 single and 2 doubles). Homps has an attractive canal frontage with a range of good restaurants and boat facilities.
Be very careful at the second double lock (Ognon) as the water rushes from the sluices and hits the sill, then can splash into the boat. Make sure you shut all bow doors and hatches before going up in locks. |
|
| Sunday | Retrace your steps as you return to Le Somail. | |
| Monday | Hand back your boat. | |