How was the 4Cs formed?

The 4Cs was formed by several boaters from around Saul Junction, on the Gloucester  & Sharpness Canal, after a unique and ground-breaking cruise that was undertaken in 2011 by the group to help bring to the public notice the restoration work of Cotswold Canals Trust returning ‘The Stroudwater Canal’ to navigable waters with a connection to the inland waterways network.

A century after that last commercial passage on the Stroudwater and Thames & Severn by the boat Gem,  there was a commemorative cruise by a number of narrowboats to mark the event. Since the route Gem took is currently under restoration, the cruise from Saul Junction on the western end to Inglesham on the eastern end had to be via one of the two routes currently available. Some boats took the northerly route via Stratford on Avon, others took the southerly route via the Severn Estuary and Bristol.

The campaigning cruise was a great success for those involved and a suggestion was made to form a canal cruising club based in the Cotswolds. The Cotswolds Canal Cruising Club was formed.

In 2012, despite atrocious weather, a cruise was made by members of the fledgling 4Cs to visit the Droitwich Canals.  Since then the Club has grown through socialising with other boats while cruising and by word-of-mouth, now there are members with their boats from all over the country.

What the 4C’s do

‘The Cruising Club that Cruises’

Since its inception, the 4Cs has been determined each year to offer what might be rightly considered “outstanding cruises” such as: –

• Estuary and River cruises, including the Thames, Mersey and Wash.
• Festivals, including Stratford-on-Avon, Evesham, Bedford, Gloucester, IWA.
• Restoration / Historic canals, including Droitwich, Chesterfield, Birmingham Canal Navigations.

Mindful of the fact that not all our members have unlimited time to cruise, many of the adventurous cruises are supplemented with others that members may join in and drop out of at will. We will always try to offer something out of the ordinary.

4Cs Members are affiliated members of the Association of Waterways Cruising Clubs, which can provide various benefits when cruising – See 4Cs’ Friends

Ultimately, the 4Cs members want to enjoy sociable boating experiences.  If you feel the same, why not JOIN US

Goal of the 4Cs

Having been formed to promote the Cotswold Canals Trust restoration of ‘The Stroudwater Canal’, the prospect of a 4C’s cruise on the restored waterway is now in sight, 2023-24 ?  Thanks to remarkable progress by the Trust,  taking our boats from Saul Junction up to Stroud and Brimscombe is now a real goal for the not too distant future.