tiller girl

My name is Melanie and I operate Tiller Girl Canal Holidays at Aquavista Sawley Marina and Waterside in Nottinghamshire.

Tiller Girl is our beautiful 57 foot cruiser stern narrow boat, built in 2014 by JD Narrow Boats in Shardlow. The reverse layout, which means the galley is at the back of the boat, makes it convenient for making snacks and drinks for the skipper whilst cruising!

People who visit us on the Marina often ask us how we keep warm and do we have a toilet and bath! Apart from a Morso multi fuel stove and full central heating we have a full size shower with hot water and a toilet too!

There is ample room for up to 4 people (and dogs are very welcome too) to enjoy relaxed, home from home accommodation, requiring them to bring nothing but clothing and food on board for the holiday. We supply all the bed linen, towels and all those little extras such as hand wash condiments and the all important cling film! Holidays are meant to be stress free and relaxed and this is the experience we aim to provide. Our prices are straight forward and all inclusive apart from the refundable damage waiver to make booking more streamline and stress free.

As a family, along with my parents and brothers, one of whom is a Marine engineer (handy!), growing up in the 60’s and 70’s we enjoyed numerous boating holidays along the British and French waterways and the British coast. This consequently has led to where we all are now, live boards, sailors, marine engineers, boat builders and boat hire operators.

Running a privately owned holiday boat is a world away from a long career with the NHS as a registered Nurse and Midwife. I have been incredibly fortunate to have had an exceptional job, meeting and working with people from all backgrounds and walks of life (childbirth is such a leveler!) For me, this is what makes life interesting and varied.

Using many transferable skills from my NHS background, I now enjoy working in hospitality, people and project management and health and safety. All of which are incredibly important in running Tiller Girl Canal Holidays.

Starting from our home mooring at Aquavista Sawley marina and Waterside, there are routes along the historic Trent and Mersey Canal where you can find Shardlow the oldest inland port in Britain and the Potteries, enjoy the River soar through Leicestershire and the Grand Union canal or the |River Trent through Nottingham City to Newark and its beautiful Castle. Long or short breaks of 3 – 14 nights are available as well as the new offer of skippered days out along the canal with lunch and or afternoon tea!

Every day will be another experience, another view and another adventure.

If it is the first time skippering a narrow boat, don’t worry, we will look after you from the moment you arrive on board with personalized boat handling guidance, 24 hour help and support throughout the holiday and giving a warm welcome back on dry land.

We offer a safe and comfortable holiday experience having sound relationships with reliable, marine based companies who support us 24 hours a day 7 days a week

Now in our 5^th year of service, having beaten 2 years of Covid -19 lockdown and the current financial difficulties that many of us are facing today, we (not the 'royal we' as we are a team along with all our service crew and affiliated companies!) are enjoying another successful season with many more wonderful guests being welcomed on board, new friendships being made and lots of new adventures ahead for Tiller Girl.

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tiller girl

tiller girl canal holidays