Attractions - trip boat Zachariah Keppel

THE BOAT'S STORY Read how this disused and rotting narrowboat, given to the Trust, was restored to become one of the Trust's greatest publicity assets. .... more   LOCATION   Map 6 and Map 7   Road Map

The Wey & Arun Canal Trust runs a 50ft trip boat capable of carrying up to 30 passengers, named the Zachariah Keppel, after the contractor originally engaged to build the canal.   The Zachariah Keppel gives cruises on the idyllic Loxwood Link section of the canal on the Surrey/West Sussex border.       Public trips take place every Saturday, Sunday and public holidays.     CRUISES for 2007 Public trips in 2007 will begin on Saturday, March 31 and run until the autumn. Unless indicated otherwise, all boat trips depart from the jetty to the rear of the Onslow Arms in Loxwood (Map). A large car park for canal visitors is available beyond the Onslow Arms car park. Saturdays, trips depart at 1.00. 2.00 and 3.00pm Sundays, trips depart at 1.00, 2.00, 3.00 & 4.00pm Trips on Public Holidays follow the Saturday schedule. There is a two and three quarter hour trip every Saturday leaving at 3.00pm which will enable people to see the whole length of the restored section of the canal and see the new Drungewick Aqueduct. It is now possible to reserve tickets in advance for the two and three quarter hour cruises by telephoning the office (between 9.00am and 1.00pm, Monday - Friday) but there will always be at least 10 tickets available for purchase on the day. Prices for the shorter trips are:  Adult £4, Child £2 and for the longer trips:  Adult £10, Child (5-16) £5. The duration of a standard or short trip is approximately 45 minutes. Saturdays, trips depart at 1.00. 2.00 and 3.00pm Sundays, trips depart at 1.00, 2.00, 3.00 & 4.00pm Reduced water levels occasionally necessitate trips being altered at short notice - up-to-date information can be found on the Trust Office answerphone and on the Trust notice boards by The Onslow Arms. For latest information, please telephone the WACT Office - (UK) 01403 752403 (weekday mornings + answerphone)     Standard public trips do not require pre-booking, but availability can be confirmed by checking with the WACT office (answerphone at weekends). "Specials" require pre-booking via the office (weekday mornings). Private charter bookings are also available - an ideal way to celebrate a birthday, a special occasion, or a corporate event. In addition to the 30 seat "Zachariah Keppel" the Trust operates the 12 seat "John Smallpeice" for smaller parties. Please contact the office for booking details and prices. Bring-your-own food, picnics and portable music are welcome on Charter Trips, whilst for a corporate event or surprise party, meals, snacks and bottled beer or wine can be supplied by the Onslow Arms. Trust members are able to hire the self-drive dayboat "Pete Wynn" which is powered by an electric outboard and allows the canal to be explored with minimal disturbance to the wildlife."     All skippers and crew are members of the Wey & Arun Canal Trust and are volunteers. The ZK is safety inspected annually by the Marine Safety Agency (an arm of the Department of Trade and Industry). Skippers are in possession of a current Boatmaster's Certificate issued by the Department of Transport. So you are in safe hands.     Cruises usually start from the Onslow Arms, although due to water restrictions cruises may start from one of the two locks on route (see above). Brewhurst Lock is only a short walk from the Onslow Arms, which is alongside the B2133 road in Loxwood (OS Map grid reference TQ 041312). WACT has created a car park adjacent to the Onslow Arms for trip boat passengers. Please follow the signs through the Onslow Arms car park, but do not park in the pub car park itself. Unfortunately, we cannot cater for wheelchair passengers at the moment, but we hope that this will change in the not too distant future. For further information, and for bookings, contact - (UK) 01403 752403 (weekday mornings + answerphone)

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BACK Last updated Mar. 2007